Expansion of IT tools, including a system to support franchisee sales

「As a sales-enhancement measure, we strengthened the automatic contract-generation function of our AI contract-document system.」

「To improve operational efficiency, we introduced a system that automatically transfers property and government-office inspection data to the contract system, as well as a system that automatically generates contract documents by using AI to process document data accumulated across the franchise network.」

「We also added to the automated sales and purchase agreement preparation system a function that automatically transfers the results of on-site government-office and property inspections, in order to improve franchisee operational efficiency.」

「In addition, we added functions to the core 21Cloud customer management system to facilitate confirmation work on smartphones and tablets and ensure thorough customer management through SMS and LINE.」

「First, as a measure to promote an increase in new franchise participation, the company revamped its marketing automation (MA) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems for new franchise sales from the third quarter. It will strengthen the acquisition of new franchise stores by linking data from web inquiries, inside sales, and outside sales more efficiently.」

「We also partnered with 株式会社Facilo to improve franchisee operational efficiency, incorporating into the sales support system 21Cloud a function that efficiently organizes property information and enables it to be provided promptly to customers.」

「We also released AI Comment-kun, which significantly improves the efficiency of franchisee property registration. In addition, we formed a business partnership with スマサテ株式会社 and released for franchisees an AI-powered rental appraisal system that significantly reduces the time required to extract comparable nearby properties serving as the basis for rental appraisals, conduct rental appraisals and prepare appraisal reports.」

「We revamped the 21Cloud customer management system used by franchisees to improve its design and usability and visualize customer behavior. In response to the 2022 amendment to the Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Act, we also released the Century 21 Electronic Contract System for franchisees, enabling smooth online execution of contracts with customers in remote locations.」

「We strengthened digital support measures using owned media as part of efforts to expand customer acquisition, while also developing mass-media branding initiatives, including measuring the effectiveness of television advertising and radio time-signal advertising on FM stations nationwide.」

「Next, to strengthen support for franchisees' digital transformation, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and reducing costs, we began providing franchisees on 11 May with an electronic contract system supplied on an OEM basis and developed by Japan PropTech Co.,Ltd.」

「We also began providing franchisees with the new core system Connect21. The system shifted expense items that previously required some bank transfers to automatic withdrawals, improving franchisee administrative efficiency.」

「We began providing franchisees with the new core system Connect21, which had been undergoing redevelopment to improve operational efficiency. The system has improved administrative efficiency by shifting expense items that previously required some bank transfers to automatic withdrawals. We are also working to strengthen system security and pursue data-driven marketing using an integrated database.」

「As part of efforts to strengthen franchisee information security and business continuity planning, we began providing Microsoft's cloud storage service Microsoft 365 and the Information Security Support Program, comprising information security e-learning and a dedicated guidebook.」

「Next, as part of our IT strategy, in addition to the support described above for acquiring properties for sale, we entered into a business partnership with イタンジ株式会社, which offers ITANDI BB, a one-stop service for rental real estate operations.」

「To support the use of IT to improve franchisee operating efficiency, the company entered into business alliances with AR株式会社, which handles VRROOM, a VR app for real estate, and イタンジ株式会社, which handles ITANDI BB, a one-stop service for rental real estate operations through digitization.」

「We have been promoting use of the customer and follow-up management system, one of the functions within the 21Cloud sales support system released in May 2018, and sharing examples of its use. The number of franchisees using it is also increasing steadily.」

「We entered into a business partnership concerning the use of Ouchi Direct, a real estate transaction platform jointly operated by ソニー不動産株式会社 and ヤフー株式会社. The partnership will enable franchisees to conduct sales activities more effectively and efficiently through an end-to-end, one-stop service covering the entire real estate brokerage process and delivered through IT. We aim to make the service more attractive and convenient for customers by maximizing the use of more than approximately 25,000 annual sales transaction records held by the Century 21 network, ソニー不動産's advanced technology and ヤフー's ability to attract customers online.」

「We added and improved functions such as AI Torikomi-kun and inquiry analysis in the sales support system 21Cloud, released in December 2016. We newly developed the widely requested customer management function and released some of its functions at the end of April 2018. The system has been well received by franchisees for improving operational efficiency and increasing inquiries, and its usage rate has exceeded 90%. We will continue promotional activities to encourage its use.」

「As an IT initiative, the franchisee usage rate of the new sales support system 21Cloud exceeded 80% following promotional activities, and it has begun contributing to increases in inquiries and completed transactions. Development of the AI-powered automated property intake system AI Jido Torikomi-kun has also been completed, with the aim of improving franchisee administrative efficiency and productivity.」

「We continued initiatives to promote use of the new sales support system 21Cloud, which has begun producing results such as increased inquiries and completed transactions at some franchisees, as well as developing new systems, including an associated customer management system and an AI-based property intake system.」

「As an IT service for franchisees, we began pilot operations of a system that uses AI-powered chat-based customer service to refer customers to franchisees, together with our capital and business partner 株式会社ietty.」

「Released the new sales support system 〈21Cloud〉, which had been under development for some time, and introduced a web seminar/meeting system for all franchisees to strengthen training for franchisees in remote locations.」

「We implemented various measures, including introducing a web seminar/meeting system for all franchisees, to facilitate closer communication with franchisees in remote locations and contribute to sound store operations.」

「We also released part of the new sales support system 〈21Cloud〉, which was under development, and continued strengthening IT-enabled sales by holding SEO training to increase responses generated through the website.」

「i) Expanding and newly developing the franchisee sales support system and other IT tools, and further promoting digitalization」