"Working whenever and wherever" in a safe environment is the basis of "Work Style Reform"

In "Work Style Reform," it is necessary to provide an environment that allows people to work comfortably anywhere, anytime according to their individual circumstances and the needs of their businesses. Since 1977, NEC has focused on the integration of computer and communications technologies under the concept of what is known as "C&C." In November 2003, NEC announced the UNIVERGE — which would achieve C&C offices by integrating the computer and network technologies based on this concept.

Using IP technology to seamlessly connect business systems with communication systems, the UNIVERGE creates an environment where workers enjoy secure access to business systems and are able to collaborate with coworkers no matter where they are or what time it is. Over the years, the UNIVERGE has continued to evolve new solutions to keep pace with advances in IT and changing social needs, as well as incorporating new developments in smart devices and adapting to diversifying work styles while adding various solutions. Today the UNIVERGE stands as one of NEC's main products.

While the popularization of BYOD helped provide an environment where commuting was no longer necessary for working, there was another problem to deal with — the unusability of business applications on home computers or smart devices. That's why we developed Remote Desktop Software that simulates the business desktop on devices used outside the office.

With the Remote Desktop, workers can execute the same tasks as they could in the office thanks to the ability of the software to produce a virtual display of their office desktop on devices on which business applications are not installed. Only screen information is displayed on the device outside the office while the actual data remains in the in-house system at the company. Since this can prevent the risk of information leakage, it has attracted significant attention as one of the most promising solutions for "Work Style Reform."

Even when an environment is provided that allows you to work on your own anytime and anywhere, actually completing the work is not always possible on your own. You will need to interact and collaborate with your fellow workers from time to time. For example, meetings are of critical importance when multiple members are involved in a project. And if meetings can't be held without making the involved members feel distant from each other, then "Work Style Reform" cannot succeed.

That's why we developed the "ComforMeeting" series — which makes it possible to hold an intimate web meeting with multiple members that transcends distance. This system features unmatched convenience that enables you to share materials on screen and write on them, in addition to real-time meeting capability while connecting multiple locations.

Sophisticated security measures are indispensable to the achievement of "Work Style Reform"

The most crucial issue in a mobile work environment that allows you to work anytime and anywhere is how to attain reliable security measures. NEC has thus far implemented a variety of security measures. Nonetheless, because threats to security are becoming more and more sophisticated and complicated day by day, countermeasures need to be continually revised by implementing the latest technologies. To enhance security measures for mobile work, NEC is supporting "Work Style Reform" by offering enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. EMM solutions integrate the functions of three mobile systems: mobile device management (MDM), which manages device conditions and system settings; mobile application management (MAM), which manages mobile applications; and mobile content management (MCM), which manages local data and content.

Increasing productivity through the use of robots and AI

Another important theme of "Work Style Reform" is to change the way of working per se to better suit the needs of the times. For example, tasks such as processing and data aggregation will be performed by AI and robots, while employees are shifted to advanced tasks such as analysis and strategy planning. Maintenance and security guarding tasks that operate around the clock can be performed by surveillance cameras and robots that incorporate facial recognition systems, while physical distribution tasks and construction machinery operation can be handled by employees without advanced operation skills or physical strength by taking advantage of autonomous driving technology. When technology is fully utilized, the productivity of each individual can be increased and even elderly or physically challenged individuals will be able to cope with a much wider range of tasks.

NEC launched a robot development project in 1997 and announced a communication robot called PaPeRo in 1999. As for facial recognition technology, NEC started R&D in 1989 and has gained international recognition for its leadership in the field as evidenced by its receiving the highest performance evaluation in the facial recognition technology benchmark tests conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) four times. We are striving to make full use of this kind of advanced NEC technology in "Work Style Reform."

What's more, NEC is actively supporting the promotion of Japan's "Work Style Reform" by providing various technologies and solutions such as the Work Style Visualization Service which performs data collection and visualization of working conditions in offices as well as teleworking at home and in transit, the Kinkakuji which is a cloud-based system for management of employees' attendance/absence using GPS and facial recognition technology, and the Workplace Environment Improvement Support System which uses the stress check results to coordinate the processes of flows of operations with a view to improving the environment of workplaces.

(Published March 19, 2018)