Image of utilizing 'CO-URIBA' within Okamura's company.

Okamura Corporation (Representative Director and President and Executive Officer Masayuki Nakamura / hereinafter referred to as Okamura) and Hitachi, Ltd. (Executive President and CEO: Keiji Kojima / hereinafter referred to as Hitachi) have started collaboration (hereinafter referred to as co-creation) aimed at enhancing employee well-being by creating office spaces that promote employee interaction, based on the results of Hitachi's unmanned communication store 'CO-URIBA' within Hitachi.
Specifically, in order to eliminate the lack of communication due to the increase in remote work and promote interaction among employees, a small unmanned communication store 'CO-URIBA' combining signage, sensor functions, and biometric authentication will be installed in Okamura's office. Here, employees can not only make smart purchases hands-free by checking in with facial recognition and picking up items, but also use the thank-you coupon feature to send gratitude coupons from the company, between employees, and from colleague to colleague. This will promote activation of communication in the workplace, foster empathy and mutual assistance with colleagues, and verify the activation of remote communication based on conveying gratitude as well as the added value of spaces where 'CO-URIBA' is installed.
In the future, based on the results of utilizing 'CO-URIBA' within Okamura's company in the co-creation, Okamura and Hitachi aim to expand 'CO-URIBA' as one of the communication activation tools in offices, to various corporate office locations, and propose new office spaces combining Okamura's solutions with 'CO-URIBA'.

Background

In recent years, with the spread of human capital management and health management in companies, employee well-being has been gaining attention, and companies are required to promote working methods that enhance well-being. In particular, with the penetration of hybrid work combining office attendance and telework, there is an increasing number of companies facing communication challenges due to a lack of communication. In offices, initiatives to activate communication and create spaces where individuals can feel connected with others have been attracting attention. Feeling connected promotes well-being both mentally and socially, leading to improved engagement and motivation.
At Okamura, the state of achieving harmony between mind and body and enhancing vitality is referred to as "WELL at Work," and to support this realization, employees are proposing the creation of spaces and work styles aimed at improving work motivation for each individual. Additionally, within Okamura, the company has obtained the highest rank of "Platinum" in the international certification system for creating healthy spaces - "WELL Building Standard v2 (WELL Certification v2)" with their own office "CO-EN LABO" aiming to achieve "WELL at Work".
Hitachi aims to realize a sustainable society and support people's happiness through data and technology in the 2024 midterm management plan. As part of this, they are pursuing the realization of employee happiness and well-being. Prior to this collaboration, Hitachi has set up "CO-URIBA" at 15 locations within the Hitachi Group for the purpose of improving employee well-being and promoting communication. The survey results reveal certain effects, with over 80% of respondents stating that it led to enhanced communication and motivation for going to work.

About the unmanned communication store "CO-URIBA."

Users can register payment information such as biometric data and credit card information in advance. When using it, they can check-in with facial recognition, pick up products from the shelves of" "CO-URIBA," and the sensor will automatically select the product and complete the payment. The signage installed in "CO-URIBA" can timely provide valuable information for employees, not only about product promotions but also office events from the company.
Moreover, the 'Thank You Coupon' feature allows employees to express gratitude with coupons from the company, colleague to colleague. These coupons can be sent anytime, anywhere from the "CO-URIBA" website. By sending an 'Thank You Coupon' to others, both the sender and recipient can use the coupons to shop at "CO-URIBA." Even if they are in different locations, expressing 'Thank you' casually promotes communication by conveying gratitude, fostering connections with others.

Overview

In this collaboration, "CO-URIBA" is installed in two of Okamura's office locations to cultivate communication where employees in different locations can convey gratitude. Drawing on the utilization results at Okamura and Hitachi locations, they will connect "CO-URIBA" to new space proposals. Furthermore, they will also consider new value creation utilizing data such as user purchasing information and behavioral logs.

Utilization image of 'CO-URIBA' thank you coupon.

Installed 'CO-URIBA' in Okamura's office.

<オカムラ社内における「CO-URIBA」活用の概要>

Period: September to November 2024.
Installation locations: Okamura Lab Office 'We Labo' (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), Okamura Lab Office 'CO-RiZ LABO' (Chuo-ku, Tokyo).
Target departments: Space design department and consulting department working at 'We Labo', sales department and space design department working at 'CO-RiZ LABO'.
Initiative content:

• Installation of unmanned communication store "CO-URIBA" in Okamura's 2 office locations.
• Verification of activation of remote communication based on conveying gratitude.
• Verification of added value of the space where "CO-URIBA" is installed.
• Analysis of data such as user purchase information and behavioral logs.

Future initiatives

Okamura and Hitachi will continue to consider expanding "CO-URIBA" to various company office locations as one of the communication activation tools in the office. Additionally, by combining Okamura's solutions with "CO-URIBA", they aim to propose office space improvements for further employee well-being and create new value through the utilization of user data, purchase information, behavioral logs, and analysis.

Related Information

About Okamura Okamura Corporation aims to realize the mission of "creating a society where people can thrive" by contributing to society through rich ideas and reliable quality, creating environments where people can thrive. We strive to provide high-quality products and services in various scenes such as offices, education, medical, research, commercial facilities, logistics centers, etc. We are committed to enhancing corporate value further and addressing social issues, aiming to realize a society where all people can work and live with a smile.

Okamura Corporation, with the purpose of "creating a society where people can thrive," has a mission to contribute to society through rich ideas and reliable quality, creating environments where people can thrive, at scenes such as offices, education, medical, research, commercial facilities, logistics centers, etc., by providing high-quality products and services. We are committed to further enhancing corporate value and addressing social issues, aiming to realize a society where all people can work and live with a smile.

About Hitachi

Hitachi is promoting the Social Innovation Business, which aims to realize a sustainable society through data and technology. Under the three-sector business structure of "Digital Systems & Services," which supports the digital transformation of customers, "Green Energy & Mobility," which contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society in the energy and railway industries, and "Connective Industries," which provides solutions that connect products in a wide range of industries with digital technology utilizing IT, OT (control and operation technology), and products, we solve customers' and society's challenges through Lumada solutions. We aim to grow through co-creation with customers driven by digital, green, and innovation. The sales revenue for the three sectors in the fiscal year 2023 (ending in March 2024) was 8.5643 trillion yen, and as of the end of March 2024, the consolidated subsidiaries were 573 companies, with approximately 270,000 employees worldwide.

Contact

Hitachi Ltd Sponsored ADR Financial System Sales Planning Headquarters [Contact: Senba, Takashima]
1-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8220