Starting a Large-Scale Core System Development Project to Support the Future of Food Service
At the request of a food service company, we have joined a project to develop a large-scale core system for institutional food service, taking on the role of project manager. This is a large-scale project driven by several companies working together in co-creation, and a comprehensive effort aimed at solving serious social challenges facing the industry and realizing the next generation of food services.
Project Background and Social Significance
Social Challenges Facing the Food Service Industry
The food service business faces several serious challenges. While the market for food for older people is projected to grow to ¥204.6 billion in 2025, the industry as a whole suffers from a structural problem of chronic labor shortages. Kitchen work that requires specialists tends to depend on specific individuals, and it remains difficult to introduce a full two-day weekend or improve operational efficiency.
There is also a growing need to meet diverse requirements, such as responding to individual needs based on each person's chewing and swallowing ability, reducing food waste, and standardizing business processes. These challenges are difficult to solve through the efforts of a single company alone, and a fundamental transformation of operations through technology is needed.
Limits of the Existing Systems
The existing systems currently used in the food service business have the following structural problems.
Inefficient data management Data entry work is extremely cumbersome; registering food and menu master data alone takes around 200 hours. The systems lack the flexibility to handle a wide variety of meal types, and menus have to be registered by hand, which is a source of human error.
Lack of integration between systems Multiple systems run independently, making data integration difficult. As a result, the same information has to be entered into several systems, causing data inconsistencies and inefficient operations.
Challenges in information sharing Sharing menus and other information depends on external file-sharing services, and customer inquiries are scattered across phone and email, making them complicated to manage.
Lack of future extensibility The current systems are not designed to keep up with future technological developments such as the use of AI and integration with external systems, which constrains business growth.
The Project's Vision and the Value It Delivers
This project is not a simple replacement of the existing systems, but a comprehensive digital transformation with an eye on the future of the food service business.
A Dramatic Improvement in Operational Efficiency
Seamless data integration between systems will significantly raise productivity across the organization. The time spent registering food and menu data will be cut dramatically from 200 hours to a few hours, various reports will be generated automatically, and input errors will be reduced. This creates an environment in which specialists can concentrate on their real work: delivering high-quality food services.
Standardizing Business Processes and Reducing Labor
Business decisions that depended on specific individuals will be standardized, and kitchen work that requires specialists will be turned into simple operations. This achieves both reduced labor and greater operational efficiency, and also contributes to work-style reform, including the introduction of a full two-day weekend.
A Better Customer Experience
Enhancing the web ordering function will greatly improve convenience for customers. Faster responses through a new inquiry management function and more efficient information sharing will raise customer satisfaction. Mechanisms such as letting customers check changes made after the order deadline will make a highly transparent service possible.
Ensuring Future Extensibility
We will put in place a technical foundation to support future business growth, including a foundation for integrating with an AI menu suggestion system, an API design for integration with external systems, and multi-tenant support with franchise expansion in mind. The system is designed not only for a single operator, but with the business strategy and future expansion of the entire group in view.
Overview of the Systems Being Developed
In this project, the following systems will be developed in phases.
Initial Development Scope
Core business system The central system that standardizes and streamlines business processes. A unified UI/UX shortens the time needed to become proficient and reduces training costs.
Make-to-order production system (partial implementation) Efficiently manages order information from customers and links it with production planning.
The main features to be implemented are authentication, master data management (customers, employees, facilities, food composition, and suppliers), and operations management.
Future Expansion (Next Phase and Beyond)
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Full implementation of the make-to-stock production system
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Expanded features for the web ordering system
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Introduction of an AI menu suggestion system
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Integration with IoT devices
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Building a big data analytics platform
Technical Innovation
This project also supports technical innovation in the food service industry. The "New Cook-Freeze method," which uses ultra-low-temperature quick freezers at minus 60°C, enables long-term storage while maintaining the quality of freshly cooked food, helping to reduce food waste. The system also supports a scheme that offers four types of food texture, matched to each person's chewing and swallowing ability, at the same price.
Project Structure and Our Role
This is a large-scale project in which the food service company, a product manager, and several companies including us work together as co-creation partners, carrying it through from requirements definition to development and release.
We have joined as project manager, responsible for managing the progress, cost, quality, and risk of the project as a whole. Working closely with our co-creation partners, we will complete the project as planned, support our client's business growth from the technology side, and contribute to the sustainable development of the food service business.
What Comes Next
The knowledge and know-how gained through this project will be a valuable asset in advancing the digital transformation of the food service industry as a whole. Drawing on our project management expertise and our track record in large-scale system development, we will continue to support, as a co-creation partner, companies working to solve their industries' social challenges.
If you are considering large-scale system development, a co-creation project, business DX, or an industry-specific system, please feel free to contact us.