Manual creation of freight logistics system
Reduce the burden of development tasks through short-term outsourcing

NTT DATA KANSAI CORPORATION Overview

・Established: March 7, 1990

・Capital: 400 million yen

・Number of Employees: 1,002 (As of April 1, 2022)

・Business Contents：

　- Development, maintenance, sales, and leasing of data communication systems

　- Development, maintenance, sales, and rental of software and equipment related to data communication systems

　・Contracting for construction work related to information systems, other building construction work, and facility construction work

　・Research, training, consulting, and other services related to the above

・Freight Forwarding System：https://www.nttdata-kansai.co.jp/kaika/

Services

・Manual Creation Service

Project Overview

- Your department is "Back Office Solutions Department" in the first corporate business division, could you please tell us about the job responsibilities of Mr. Imanishi and Mr. Kotera?

Mr. Imanishi: I am in charge of system development for companies in the trade and logistics business, even among those in the back office solutions department. For example, we provide solutions to companies in the trade and logistics industry, such as freight forwarding companies that handle export and import procedures on behalf of their clients.

- This time, we were asked to create an operation manual for a specific customer's maritime logistics system. Could you please tell us about the background that led to this inquiry?

Mr. Imanishi: For this system development project, we started in December 2020 and launched in March 2022. However, in late October 2021, we had two vacancies in the leadership team. We had to reorganize the project and fill the positions, but manual creation was left hanging. Therefore, we decided to outsource to a specialist and contacted Human Science Co., Ltd., which has a track record within the NTT Data Group companies.

I was in a hurry, so I asked for the request after the meeting.

- How was it actually starting the project?

Mr. Kotera: We held a kickoff meeting in mid-December and provided system operation instructions in the last week of December. The schedule was very tight, and we needed to submit a draft version of a 200-page manual by the end of January, as well as weekly draft versions for each task from the second to fourth week of January. Despite the short production period, we were grateful that the deadline was met.

In addition, this time, the unique system of our affiliated company, IntraMart, was also related to the ocean freight system. Despite not having any experience using it, the writer was able to quickly grasp the key points of what should be included in the manual.

From the perspective of someone who has been involved in this system development work from the beginning, there was initially some concern about whether it could really be done in just 1-2 weeks. However, I think that a concise and accurate manual was created by focusing on the key points.

I felt that they were truly professional manual specialists.

How was the quality of the manual?

Mr. Kotera: Although it may not be a perfect score of 100 points, it is above passing grade given the limited time. There were some comments from the client, but those were things that our company did not explain, so there were no issues with other parts.

How was it in terms of communication?

Mr. Kodera: As for improvement points, there were times when we couldn't talk face-to-face, but I think we should have increased the frequency of communication. By doing so, we could have provided immediate answers to questions about system functions and improved the accuracy of the manual.

For example, in the submitted manuscript, there were comments written as questions from the writer, but if there were any questions during the writing process, responding promptly also helped to improve the accuracy of the manuscript.

―― How would you rate it overall?

Mr. Imanishi: As a Project Manager, if I were to evaluate Human Science's movements, I would be completely satisfied with all aspects of QCD. When I opened the first version of the file, I thought, "It's amazing that a professional was able to produce a manuscript of a certain level for a system manual that I'm seeing for the first time, even with such a short deadline."

We are planning to start a project to expand our functions in August for our clients, so we would like to ask Human Science Co., Ltd. and the same Education Writer to work on it again.

Interview Cooperation:
NTT DATA KANSAI CORPORATION
First Corporate Business Division
Back Office Solutions Department
Ms. Mari Imanishi
Mr. Takashi Kotera

Related Services

Manual Creation and User Manual Creation