Canon IT Solutions (Canon ITS) and 日本ATMビジネスサービス received the Operations Research Society of Japan's 46th Case Study Award for mathematical methods used in joint ATM cash-replenishment planning. The award recognized the contents of a journal article on methods for automatically forecasting ATM-specific daily cash inflows and outflows and developing optimized replenishment plans.
Canon IT Solutions (Canon ITS), jointly with 日本ATMビジネスサービス, received the Operations Research Society of Japan's 46th Case Study Award on 10 September 2026. The award recognized the paper "Development of a Joint ATM Cash-Replenishment Plan That Balances Route Efficiency and Optimal Cash Holdings," based on content published in Volume 70, Issue 5 of the society's journal Operations Research.
The study automated a planning method for joint cash replenishment, which centrally manages ATMs operated by multiple financial institutions. The method combines cash inflow and outflow forecasts that account for day-of-week fluctuations, annual events and salary payment dates with the latest cash balances, while simultaneously optimizing visit frequency, travel distance, cash held in storage and workload. Daily automated planning also helped reduce reliance on individual planners for planning operations.
The reasons cited for the award included integrating ATM- and denomination-specific cash inflow and outflow forecasts with cash management and workload limits, as well as applying multiple metrics, including reduced visit frequency, improved travel efficiency and maintained service levels, to actual operations. As of January 2025, automated planning had been implemented for approximately 20 banks and about 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Reported quantitative results included a maximum 45% reduction in visit frequency and a maximum 20% reduction in monthly cash held in storage.
Going forward, the companies said they would expand the application of mathematical technologies beyond the financial sector, with the aim of supporting decision-making across a broad range of fields, including production, logistics, the environment and transportation, using demand forecasting and optimization.