San-in Godo Bank Decides to Implement “UPWARD,” an AI Agent for Field Sales

To further deepen our relationships with each and every local customer, we will leverage features such as “AI Speech” and log detection” to maximize the potential customer touchpoint.

UPWARD, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Ryusuke Kaneki; hereinafter “UPWARD”) and Uhuru, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and CEO: Takashi Sonoda; hereinafter “Uhuru”) announced that San’in Godo Bank, Ltd. (Head Office: Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture;President and CEO: Hiroshi Yoshikawa; hereinafter “San-in Godo Bank”) has decided to implement a new CRM system and “UPWARD,” and development is currently underway with the goal of going live in March 2027.

In this implementation, UPWARD will provide its AI agent “UPWARD” for field sales, while Uhuru—which supports data utilization through the development and integration of a new CRM system—will participate as an implementation partner. San-in Godo Bank plans to utilize the system in its client relationship management activities.

"UPWARD" is app uses mobile technology to streamline the collection and management of field sales activity data, thereby helping to improve operational efficiency in the field and maximize the value customer touchpoint. The background behind this implementation at San-in Godo Bank and the objectives of the solution utilizing "UPWARD" are as follows. 

Background to the Decision to Implement

In banking operations, log rely on free-form text, which presents the following challenges:

• The information recorded varies depending on the person in charge and is not stored as usable data.
• It takes a tremendous amount of time log.
• It is difficult to accurately assess activity status log, and supervisors are unable to provide adequate guidance.

To address these challenges, we determined that we needed log anyone to easily and accurately log, so we decided to adopt “UPWARD,” which integrates seamlessly with our new CRM system.

The Purpose of the Implementation and Expectations for “UPWARD”

By implementing “UPWARD,” a system specialized for field sales, we anticipate the following benefits:

• Visualizing Field Visits: By leveraging our core features— log ” and “AI Speech”— log the date and time of visits, the client locations, and summaries of business discussions. By enabling the organization to accurately track all customer interactions, we prevent missed follow-ups and establish a system that allows for detailed, personalized support.
• Creating Time for Dialogue: By using “AI Speech” to automatically generate summaries of sales meetings, we reduce the burden log. This frees up time that can then be devoted to engaging with customers and understanding their needs.
• Improving Proposal Quality: By visualizing and analyzing activity data using the new CRM system, we will help enhance the proposal skills of our account managers and support their professional development. Our goal is to deliver higher-quality products and solutions. 

Future Outlook

San-in Godo Bank, Uhuru, and UPWARD plan to begin log visualizing the sales representatives’ visit activities and log, and then gradually expand their efforts toward enhancing proposal activities by leveraging the accumulated data.

Going forward, we will continue to leverage “UPWARD”’s features tailored for field sales and the expertise we’ve cultivated through our track record of supporting clients to strengthen our initiatives, thereby using digital technology to support outreach activities that are closely attuned to the needs of each and every local customer.

San'in Godo Bank, Ltd. Comment

Mr. Masaaki Mochida, General Manager of the Sales Planning Department

"UPWARD" integrates seamlessly with Salesforce’s CRM and features a user-friendly UI/UX that even those unfamiliar with the system can operate intuitively. By utilizing this product, users can quickly and accurately log, regardless of their level of experience in B2B sales. Furthermore, we believe that visualizing this accumulated data within the CRM will lead to greater efficiency in both sales activities and employee development.
Once the system is up and running, we will combine on-the-job training (OJT) with “UPWARD” to improve the quality of our proposals to customers and deliver even greater added value.

Uful Co., Ltd. Comment

Naoya Sakamoto, Managing Director and Executive Officer　

Uhuru leverages data and AI to transform information scattered throughout an organization—both internally and externally—into value, thereby supporting better decision-making and the creation of new value. We are very pleased that, through this initiative, we can contribute to San’in Godo Bank’s efforts to create an environment where it can provide greater value to each and every one of its local customers. Moving forward, we will continue to support the sustainable growth of regional financial institutions and the development of local communities through the use of data and AI. 

UPWARD Co., Ltd. Comment

Kohito Wakaizumi, Executive Officer and General Manager of the Sales Division

The environment surrounding regional banks is undergoing a major transformation, driven by factors such as the transition to a “world with interest rates” following the end of negative interest rates and population decline. In this era of change, where regional banks are required to deepen their relationships with customers and leverage their consulting capabilities, we are deeply honored that UPWARD can support San’in Godo Bank’s client relationship activities.
By combining the automatic generation of activity templates—linked to our patented presence detection technology—with AI-powered meeting minutes, we can automatically generate activity reports covering everything from arrival at the client’s location to a summary of the business discussion. We are committed to providing full support—from establishing operational systems to ensuring their adoption in the field—so that your client relationship managers can be freed from log and focus on their core strength: “dialogue with local customers.”

UPWARD" INNOVATES THE LAST MILE IN THE FIELD

"UPWARD" is an AI-powered sales support service designed specifically for field sales and customer visits. It offers logcustomer touchpointlogcustomer touchpoint its patented "advanced geofencing" technology, as well as various AI features tailored to field sales. It has been adopted by approximately 450 companies, primarily large enterprises that rely on face-to-face interactions with customers as their primary sales channel.

Service website: https://upward.jp/
"UPWARD" introduction material: https://upward.jp/downloads/allservicematerials/

About Sanin Godo Bank, Ltd.

Sanin Godo Bank, Ltd. is a wide-area regional bank with a branch network centered on the Sanin region—comprising Shimane and Tottori Prefectures—and extending to the Sanyo, Kansai, and Tokyo regions. Guided by its management philosophy of “The Creative Best Bank that Fulfills the Dreams of the Region and Our Customers,” the bank works to solve the challenges faced by local customers through relationship banking.

Company Name: San-in Godo Bank, Ltd.
Head Office Address: 10 Uomachi, Matsue City,Shimane Prefecture
Representative: Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Representative Director and President
Founded: December1878
Incorporated: July 1941
Business Activities: Banking

About Uhuru, Inc.

Guided by the philosophy of “Creating a sustainable society through technology and innovative thinking,” Uhuru supports and promotes digital transformation and data utilization for businesses digital transformation.We offer a one-stop solution—from the edge to the cloud—that includes the implementation and operation of cloud services, as well as consulting and system development, all integrated with our proprietary products and solutions. Furthermore, digital transformation regions and digital transformation beyond the scope of corporate activities, we are engaged in research and development in the IoT and blockchain fields while making proposals for the implementation and standardization of mechanisms for reliable data distribution required for smart cities and smart supply chains.

Company Name: Uhuru, Inc.
Address: 23rd Floor, Kamiyacho Trust Tower, 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takashi Sonoda, President and CEO
Year Established: February 2006
Business Activities:digital transformationimplementationdigital transformation, IoT solutions, etc.