Strengthening the Digital Foundation Strengthening the Digital Foundation to Foster Business Achievements
Human Resources and Organization | Preparing to Use Digital Technology as a Matter of Course
Digital talent development through the DX Dojo
Since 2021, Kirin has been working to develop digital talent through the DX Dojo program, which has a cumulative total attendance of approximately 3,800 people. In recent years, the company has been steadily improving operations through holding courses such as case study explanationcourses and generative AI utilization courses within Kirin. In addition, starting in 2025, in order to achieve more from the program, we will redefine five roles of the business architect and implement a more practical curriculum by defining the skills required for each role as KIRIN-DSS (Kirin Digital Skills Standards).
Strengthening the organizational structure to accelerate DX
Kirin Holdings has established the DX Strategy Promotion Office within the Digital ICT Strategy Department. While engaging in dialogue with management, the office promotes DX initiatives across departments at each group company. At the same time, in order to shift to a structure that allows each group company to autonomously plan business tasks and make investment decisions quickly while accomplishing group strategies, we began assigning CIO (Chief Information Officer)/CDO (Chief Digital Officer) and digital talent to each operating company.
Corporate Culture: Fostering a “Let's Just Try It” Mindset
DX initiatives are not always successful. What is important is that we build a corporate culture that encourages people to keep trying, and continue to “Try and Learn,” without being afraid of failure.The Kirin Group has been holding the “Kirin DX Award” since 2023 as a place to celebrate the challenges of each employee who promotes DX and shares learning. Through the diverse DX case studies of group companies in Japan and overseas, the ingenuity and achievements born on the front lines are spreading throughout the entire group.At the DX AWARD ceremony in 2024, the president and other members of the management team attended. A toral of more than 700 people participated both on-site and online. There was a lively exchange of opinions between participants. In particular, the award-winning case studies are shared across the company and are used as hints for new business improvements. Furthermore, the exhibition of the latest technologies gave employees practical knowledge about AI and data utilization, helping them to further promote DX in their workplaces.
Through these initiatives, DX promotion originating from the front lines is accelerating, and a corporate culture that encourages employees to take on challenges with a “Let's Just Try It” (just-try mentality without fear of failure) is fostered by continuing to Try and Learn.
(Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.)
(Blackmores Ltd., Australia)
Human Resources and Organization | Preparing to Use Digital Technology as a Matter of Course
Group-wide AI and data utilization platform
We are building an AI and data platform that can be used across the entire Kirin Group, contributing to better business results and synergy creation of each group company. By providing a secure environment for using AI in business, we are implementing initiatives to increase productivity and value creation in a variety of business areas. In addition, we are preparing the data platform for future, with which we anticipate using AI and robotics.
Thus, we will dramatically improve productivity.
Strengthening infrastructure and security
We are working to address the “legacy systems” issue in our infrastructure, which was pointed out by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in the “2025 Cliff” announcement. We are moving to a cloud-first policy in various infrastructure environments that the Group shares. In addition, we have established the “KIRIN-CSIRT” to respond to increasingly serious cyber-attacks and are working to strengthen countermeasures for unauthorized external accesses and more.In addition, to maintain the online safety of diverse work styles, we are training employees through e-learning and other methods and taking necessary security measures such as virus infection countermeasures for each employee's PC environment.
Governance | Creating Group Synergy
Common indicators for promoting DX
In order to achieve “KDV2035”, the Kirin's DX goals, Kirin Holdings and all group companies are working together to discuss and implement strategies using common indicators. Such indicators are the number of people trained as digital talent through the DX Dojo, the ratio of productivity improvement through the use of generative AI, and whether investment budgets are allocated for innovation and growth. In addition, we share information and hold discussions amongst group companies or departments to demonstrate group synergy such as accelerating initiatives to address shared issues of common operation areas.
Maintaining the Requirements of DX Certified Businesses
Kirin has been selected as a DX Certified Business by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. We regularly check the vision set under the Digital Governance Code, which summarizes the actions required of DX management, so that Kirin's DX-related activities are better communicated to all stakeholders.
