Otsuka Warehouse announced that it began digitizing delivery slips for deliveries to Itochu Foods Akishima Logistics Center on November 11th.
<Itochu Foods Akishima Logistics Center begins digitizing delivery slips>
The initiative utilizes "DD Plus," a system for digitizing and sharing invoices provided by Japan Pallet Rental.
The expected benefits include increased efficiency for the consignor, Otsuka Warehouse, in printing, sorting, and collecting and managing stamped receipts. For the consignee, Itochu Foods, it will reduce the workload for receipt matching, receipt issuance, and receipt storage space. For the transportation company, Otsuka Warehouse's partner company, a reduction in driver workload (waiting for stamps, managing receipts, etc.) is expected.
Currently, approximately 40 manufacturers deliver goods to the center daily, but the company aims to digitize delivery slips for half of that number, approximately 20 companies, by the end of fiscal year 2026. Furthermore, Itochu Foods plans to gradually expand the number of centers digitizing its delivery slips beyond the Akishima Logistics Center.
Up until now, the government has recommended the digitization of delivery slips as a guideline, and numerous pilot projects have been conducted. However, full-scale implementation has not been achieved, and the entire food industry has been stuck in a stalemate, waiting for "when the number of partners increases" or "when other companies adopt it." To break this deadlock, in November 2024, a pilot test was conducted at a center operated by Itochu Foods with the cooperation of various companies, with a view to full-scale implementation. The test confirmed the significant effects of improved operational efficiency and paperless operations on both the consignor and consignee sides. Following the test, full-scale implementation of digitized delivery slips has now commenced at the Itochu Foods Akishima Logistics Center in cooperation with Otsuka Warehouse.
