In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, more and more services are being established to help small and medium-sized businesses introduce and operate teleworking systems. Because many small and medium-sized companies lack the cost and expertise to introduce teleworking programs, large companies with information and communications technology and telework know-how are supporting small and medium-sized companies, leading to the creation of new businesses.
Even when teleworking, documents such as bills and written estimates are often required. Canon Inc. and Fuji Xerox Co. offer services that allow documents to be viewed from outside of the workplace using a data cloud that manages documents online.
Ricoh Co. has begun a service that lends home printers at a fixed rate so that users can print from their home as they would at the office. The amount of toner used is managed online and more is automatically delivered when it decreases.
A subsidiary of Secom Co. has introduced a service that responds to incoming calls on behalf of corporate offices. The calls are received at call centers and the information is passed on to clients via email. Anticipated questions registered in advance can also be answered.
Konica Minolta, Inc., in cooperation with a social insurance and labor consultant, has begun a service to support teleworking labor management and the establishment of in-house systems. Their strategy aims to deepen relations with small and medium-sized companies by responding to their needs in detail, such as assisting with applications for complicated subsidies.
Busyu Kogyo Co., an auto parts manufacturer in Tokyo, got their teleworking service fully underway in May. The company said it had difficulty setting up a secure communications environment due to a lack of manpower. "This is not a job that employees can do in their spare time," said Chairman Hideo Hayashi. "Utilizing other companies' services while developing specialized human resources is vital."
According to a survey conducted by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry between the end of May and the beginning of June, 67.3% of the 1,111 companies that responded said they had experienced teleworking, a 41.3-percentage point increase from the previous survey conducted in March. However, only 45% of companies with fewer than 30 employees had a teleworking system in place. The smaller the company, the lower the teleworking rate.
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