Agricultural machinery manufacturer Oreck introduces "UPWARD AI Scan" AI image analysis service

(Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryusuke Kaneki; hereinafter "UPWARD") announces that Oreck, Inc. (Location: Hirokawa-cho, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture; President: Kenji Imamura; hereinafter "Oreck") has introduced the AI image analysis service "UPWARD AI Scan. Oreck Co.

OREC is an agricultural machinery manufacturer based in Fukuoka Prefecture that manufactures and sells small agricultural machinery. Its main product, self-propelled mowers, boasts the top market share in Japan and is exported to more than 50 countries overseas. Sales activities are mainly conducted through regular visits to distributors and dealers.

Background of Introduction

When Oreck receives a request from a dealer for a product demonstration, a sales representative brings the machine to the dealer for demonstration and loan-out. In the past, the management of loaned machines was done manually by paper or Excel at each location, making it difficult for sales representatives to check the status of machine loans or to omit log.

The company, which has been using "UPWARD" since last year for the purpose of visualizing its sales process, was also considering improving its lending management operations. To this end, the company conducted a PoC (proof-of-concept) experiment at some of its sales offices to improve the efficiency of loan management operations by using "UPWARD AI Scan," which can automatically obtain "model and model numbers" by photographing machines. As a result, the effectiveness of the system was confirmed, and the system was highly evaluated by users, leading to the full-scale introduction of the system.

How to use "UPWARD AI Scan" and the effect of its introduction

The workflow was renewed so that the loan management ledger is built on Salesforce* and the ledger entry is performed by "UPWARD AI Scan". The "model" and "model number" that need to be entered into the ledger are automatically obtained through image analysis, and the loan destinations are automatically linked with the stay detection, thus greatly reducing the input load. In addition, the input results are linked to Salesforce in real time, allowing all sales representatives to keep track of the latest machine rental status.

In addition, the loan control ledger and loaner master are linked, and when a machine not registered in the master is registered for loan, a new registration is made on the master side. The UPWARD AI Scan also streamlines the maintenance of the loaner master.

*For more information on "UPWARD AI Scan": https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000138.000015260.html
* Salesforce is a trademark of Salesforce, inc.

Mr. Yoshiaki Arakawa, Sales Planning Group, Domestic Sales Department, Oreck Co.

There were many requests for product demonstrations and exhibitions, and during the busy season, we had to repeatedly lend and pull out our products. In doing so, we sometimes forgot to take notes, or even if we did take notes, we sometimes failed to write them down in the ledger. We tried using Excel and other software to find a better way, but it did not reduce the amount of time and effort required, and the large number of GPS devices also made it difficult to keep up with the costs.

Then we heard that "UPWARD AI Scan" would be released, which would be linked to dealers simply by scanning them with a camera, and we felt that this would improve our efficiency. At first, we were perplexed about how to build the system to fit our company's needs, but in the end, the sales offices where we conducted the PoC test told us that it had become easier, and we decided to implement the system on a full-scale basis.

It needs to be established in the future, but since it is easy to use, I expect that it will make it easier for all sales office staff, improve operational efficiency, and broaden the use of Salesforce. We are also reflecting the information on the map, so we will analyze which regions have the most requests for which products, etc., to further improve efficiency so that we can stay ahead of the curve. 

UPWARD" INNOVATES THE LAST MILE IN THE FIELD

UPWARD is an AI-based sales support service specialized for outside sales and door-to-door sales. It provides various AI functions specialized for outside sales, log automatic logcustomer touchpoint using our patented "advanced geo-fencing technology". UPWARD is being used by more than 400 companies, including Kubota Corporation and Rinnai Corporation, and is being utilized as a next-generation digital transformation platform for sales.
UPWARD" introduction material: https://upward.jp/downloads/allservicematerials/