In this era powered by AI, businesses are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize their operational frameworks and enhance efficiency. Shidax, a prominent Japanese hospitality and food service provider, stands as a leading example among these pioneering enterprises, adopting innovative technologies to streamline their operations and boost productivity. A central aspect of this transformational journey has been adopting low-code development, a method that simplifies the creation process through rapid application development and deployment instead of traditional hand-coded programming. This approach has been particularly instrumental for companies like Shidax, enabling them to develop custom solutions rapidly and with fewer resources compared to conventional software development.
At the heart of this strategy lies the Tailor Platform, a prominent low-code development platform. This platform has been pivotal in enabling Shidax to swiftly adapt to the evolving digital landscape. Through Tailor, Shidax has been able to design, build, and deploy applications that are specifically tailored to their unique operational needs, significantly reducing the time and cost typically associated with software development.
This case study delves into the ways Shidax has effectively leveraged the Tailor Platform to catalyze its digital transformation (DX). By focusing on the practical applications and benefits derived from low-code development, this analysis provides insights into how Shidax has not only streamlined its internal processes but also enhanced user experience and introduced a technical cultural shift. It further explores the broader implications of this approach, demonstrating how low-code platforms like Tailor are reshaping the technological strategies of companies in the hospitality and service sectors, setting new benchmarks for operational efficiency and innovation in a rapidly digitizing world.
The Challenge: Catering to Diverse Business Needs
Shidax, like many other forward-thinking enterprises, frequently encounters a significant business challenge when it comes to software solutions. This challenge lies in bridging the gap between the capabilities of Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms and existing packaged software. Customizing packaged software to align with the specific needs of their operations can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, often requiring extensive resources and expertise.
On the other hand, while SaaS offers a more streamlined and cost-effective solution, it frequently falls short in terms of flexibility and customization. SaaS solutions, being designed for a broad user base, often lack the nuanced functionalities necessary to meet the particular requirements of a specialized organization like Shidax. This dilemma presents a critical obstacle in their pursuit of operational efficiency and technological advancement. It forces businesses to weigh the trade-offs between cost, customization, and flexibility, all of which are crucial factors in maintaining competitive edge and ensuring customer satisfaction in the dynamic world of hospitality and food services.
Tailor Low-Code Development: Shidax's Strategic Choice
To effectively tackle these challenges, Shidax adopted an innovative approach by turning to low-code development, a methodology that has revolutionized how businesses build and deploy custom software solutions. Low-code development enables rapid and efficient system development that can be precisely tailored to meet the specific needs of different departments within an organization. This approach significantly reduces the need for extensive coding, making it easier and more cost-effective to create bespoke applications.
Recognizing the potential of this approach, Shidax chose the Tailor Platform, a leading low-code development environment, to implement this strategy. By adopting the Tailor Platform, Shidax has been able to effectively utilize low-code development to its fullest potential. The platform's intuitive design and powerful capabilities allow for the creation of customized applications that align perfectly with the unique requirements of each business unit.
This ensures that the solutions are not just efficient but also highly relevant and effective in addressing the specific challenges and objectives of different segments of the organization. The Tailor Platform, therefore, stands as a pivotal solution for Shidax, bridging the gap between the need for custom software and the challenges of traditional development methods, thus enabling the company to achieve its operational goals with greater precision and efficiency.
Distributed Agile Development: A Game-Changing Solution for Shidax
The integration of low-code development through the Tailor Platform has been a transformative step for Shidax in its pursuit of distributed agile development methodologies. This innovative approach has fundamentally changed the way developers work. Traditionally, a significant portion of development time was consumed in the tedious task of implementing individual Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) APIs for database management. However, with the advent of the Tailor Platform, this is no longer the case. Tailor Platform stands out by automating the generation of backend CRUD APIs as soon as an Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram is defined. Seiya Izumi, a senior frontend developer for Shidax, commented on the integration of the Tailor Platform, stating, “The integration of Tailor Platform into our Shidax workflows has been a smooth transition. It's amazing how quickly we can move from design to deployment now, all thanks to Tailor's rapid backend API generation.”
“The integration of Tailor Platform into our Shidax workflows has been a smooth transition. It's amazing how quickly we can move from design to deployment now, all thanks to Tailor's rapid backend API generation.”
— Seiya Izumi, Senior Frontend Developer
This pivotal feature eliminates the need for developers to manually create these foundational elements of the database layer, freeing them to concentrate their expertise on more complex and value-adding aspects of development, particularly the implementation of business logic. Frontend developer Margaux Flores reflected on the impact of adopting the Tailor Platform, saying, “Since we started using Tailor Platform, it's like we've unlocked a new level of efficiency. No more getting bogged down in CRUD API development; now it's all about focusing on what really matters - the business logic.” The time and resources saved are substantial, accelerating the development process and enhancing efficiency.
“Since we started using Tailor Platform, it's like we've unlocked a new level of efficiency. No more getting bogged down in CRUD API development; now it's all about focusing on what really matters - the business logic.”
— Margaux Flores, Frontend Developer
Moreover, Tailor Platform's approach aligns perfectly with the principles of agile development. It facilitates rapid iterations, quicker feedback cycles, and more responsive changes to development projects. By reducing the time spent on routine tasks, developers can focus on innovation and problem-solving, leading to higher-quality outcomes. Speaking about the new dynamics in their development process, Yutaro Hongo, a Product Manager, said, “The introduction of Tailor Platform into our workflow has turbocharged our agile development. We're now capable of rapid prototyping and quicker feedback loops, which is essential for true agile development.” In essence, Tailor Platform is not just a tool for Shidax; it's a game-changer in their agile development journey, enabling them to stay ahead in a fast-paced technological landscape.
“The introduction of Tailor Platform into our workflow has turbocharged our agile development. We're now capable of rapid prototyping and quicker feedback loops, which is essential for true agile development.”
— Yutaro Hongo, Product Manager
Digital Transformation in Action: Digitizing Daily Reports
A prime illustration of Shidax's journey towards digital transformation is the successful digitization of their daily reporting processes. This significant initiative was aimed at transforming the traditional method of managing employee work reports from a paper-based system to a digital one, thereby significantly reducing operational costs and easing labor burdens. Previously, Shidax's reliance on pen and paper for daily work reports was not only inefficient but also time-consuming, often leading to delays and potential inaccuracies in data collection and analysis. The shift to a digital approach, facilitated by the Tailor Platform, has streamlined these administrative tasks remarkably.
By adopting the Tailor Platform for this digital transition, Shidax has been able to move these daily reports online, creating a more efficient and accessible reporting system. This change has allowed for the immediate collection and visualization of data, significantly enhancing the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle within the organization. As the CIO of Shidax, Shusaku Setoguchi has overseen a major digital shift in the company, detailing its impact by saying, “The shift to immediate data collection and visualization has greatly enhanced our PDCA cycle, accelerating decision-making and leading to more agile, responsive management practices.” The rapid access to accurate and up-to-date information has, in turn, sped up decision-making processes, allowing for more agile and responsive management practices.
“The shift to immediate data collection and visualization has greatly enhanced our iteration cycle, accelerating decision-making and leading to more agile, responsive management practices.”
— Shusaku Setoguchi, CIO Shidax
The Tailor Platform, with its low-code approach and user-friendly interface, has been instrumental in this transformation, proving to be a perfect solution for Shidax's need to modernize their reporting systems without the extensive costs and complexities typically associated with traditional software development. This successful implementation stands as a testament to the potential of digital solutions like the Tailor Platform in revolutionizing business processes and driving digital transformation.
Cultural Shift: The Tailor Platform Driving DX at the Core of Shidax's Operations
The implementation of the Tailor Platform at Shidax has had a profound impact not only on their operational efficiency but also on the very culture of the organization, marking it as the primary catalyst for a significant cultural shift towards DX. This transition extends far beyond the immediate operational benefits. It has ushered in a fundamental change in how the company perceives and approaches its operations.
Shusaku Setoguchi, elaborated on the company's technological advancements, stating, “With the Tailor Platform, we've seen a profound impact on our operational efficiency and a significant shift in our organizational culture, truly embracing a low-code approach in our operations.” Shidax has successfully integrated the Tailor Platform, adopting a DX mindset and acknowledging the critical importance of digital processes in enhancing business efficiency and effectiveness.
“With the Tailor Platform, we've seen a profound impact on our operational efficiency and a significant shift in our organizational culture, truly embracing a low-code approach in our operations.”
— Shusaku Setoguchi, CIO Shidax
This cultural transformation is rooted in the realization of the potential that digital tools and processes hold in revolutionizing traditional business practices. The Tailor Platform, a leading low-code development environment, has demonstrated how technology can be leveraged to not only streamline operations but also empower employees, encouraging innovation and efficiency at every level of the organization. As a result, Shidax has witnessed a paradigm shift where digital solutions are no longer seen as mere tools but as integral components of their business strategy.
This shift has led to a more agile, responsive, and forward-thinking organizational culture, one that is better equipped to adapt to the rapidly changing business landscape. The Tailor Platform, therefore, stands at the forefront of this cultural revolution within Shidax, highlighting the transformative power of digital technologies in reshaping business mindsets and practices towards a more efficient, innovative, and digitally-driven future.
Final Thoughts
Shidax's digital transformation journey, underpinned by the Tailor Platform, stands as a significant example of operational and cultural reinvention in the digital era. The shift to low-code development and agile methodologies, facilitated by Tailor, has greatly enhanced operational efficiency and redefined the organizational culture at Shidax. This platform has bridged the gap between the need for custom software solutions and the challenges of traditional development, enabling rapid creation and deployment of applications, thereby reducing both time and costs.
The digitization of daily reports exemplifies the practical benefits of this transformation, streamlining administrative processes and accelerating decision-making. This shift from a paper-based to a digital system, enabled by the Tailor Platform, highlights the tangible impacts of digital transformation in day-to-day operations. More than operational improvements, the adoption of the Tailor Platform has catalyzed a profound cultural shift within Shidax. It has instilled a DX mindset at the organization's core, fostering a more innovative and agile culture and fundamentally changing how Shidax integrates technology into its business strategy. This transition has not only made Shidax more efficient and productive but also more adaptable and forward-looking.
Shidax's experience with the Tailor Platform demonstrates the transformative power of digital tools in operational and cultural realms. The Tailor Platform has emerged not just as a tool but as a driver of comprehensive organizational change, showcasing how the right technological approach can pave the way for businesses to excel in the digital age.
