TOKYO – Sansan, Inc., a provider of digital transformation (DX) services that reshape how we work has recognized THAI TAKENAKA INTERNATIONAL LTD. (“THAI TAKENAKA”) with the Sansan Innovator award. Presented at Sansan Innovation Award 2024,^*1 this award recognizes Sansan solution users that have made changes and innovated in their business and work styles. THAI TAKENAKA was recognized for its positive results from implementing Sansan’s Bill One cloud-based invoice management solution.

Bangkok-based THAI TAKENAKA, a subsidiary of architectural engineering company TAKENAKA Corporation, has a 50-plus-year history in the construction business. In Thailand, analog business practices persist, with 90+% of invoices still exchanged using paper.

THAI TAKENAKA received upward of 2,000 paper invoices per month, placing a heavy work burden on its field staff and accounting staff. To overcome this problem, the company introduced Sansan’s Bill One, which digitizes invoices in all formats, including paper and email, with 99.9% accuracy.^*2 By digitizing all invoices received at its 38 locations, including the head office and construction sites, THAI TAKENAKA was able to save approximately 4,800 work hours per year while speeding up its monthly account closing. It also established a system to preemptively detect problems, such as missing information, in invoices at an early stage, strengthening corporate governance.

Background

The 2,000+ monthly paper invoices burdening THAI TAKENAKA with analog workflows had grown into a considerable problem. This paper-based communication also made it impossible for the head office to grasp the actual status of on-site transactions. Moreover, payment and monthly closure faced potential delays if incomplete documents were discovered just before the closing date. The company decided to introduce Bill One to digitize its invoice workflow and accelerate monthly closing.

Operation and results

By using Bill One, THAI TAKENAKA has established a system that enables digital circulation and confirmation of the 2,000+ paper invoices received each month across 38 locations, including the head office, branch offices, and construction sites.

・Faster monthly closing through reduction of ~4,800 work hours

Before THAI TAKENAKA started using Bill One, it received 2,000+ invoices per month on paper, and each required about 20 minutes of processing to circulate and manually input into the system. Bill One cut that time to about 8 minutes, freeing up around 400 hours each month, or 4,800 hours each year, and speeding up monthly closing of accounts.

・Stronger corporate governance via early detection of inadequate invoice

Previously, accounting staff could not keep track of the status of invoices received at each location or how invoice processing was proceeding. Also, because it takes time for invoices to reach the accounting staff at the head office, there was a risk of delayed payment when invoices were incomplete. Using Bill One, the company has established a system that lets accounting check the status of invoices online in real time and detect any invoice discrepancies at an early stage.

・Centralized, cloud-based invoicing Increases employee productivity

What used to be paper-based invoice receipt, payment application, approval, and other tasks are now performed within Bill One, which can be integrated with the accounting system, enabling consolidation of all accounting staff at the head office. This process has enabled smoother coordination of information among accounting staff and training of these members, which improves employee productivity.

Yutaka Kajikawa (in charge at time of introduction), Group Leader, General Affairs & Personnel Group, Finance/Accounting, HR & Administration International Division, commented on the implementation of Bill One:

“Paper-based business practices are deeply rooted in Thailand, and inefficiencies caused by analog workflows have become an ongoing issue. Also, global competition is intensifying in the Thai construction industry and, in addition to technical capabilities and relationships of trust with customers, cost and governance are becoming important. These factors mean that improving productivity and strengthening corporate governance in accounting operations have become urgent issues.

“When we introduced Bill One, we had to change our familiar workflows. It was a challenge to gain the understanding of our accounting staff, on-site managers, and vendors. However, thanks to detailed explanations and training for internal and external parties, and the dedicated Bill One staff’s support, most of our vendors agreed to switch to online invoicing using Bill One.

“By digitizing the invoice process, the accounting staff can now work faster. In the future, we aim to use the time freed up by Bill One to become a business partner that enables accountants to quickly collect and analyze financial data and make suggestions needed for management. As a company, we hope to make precise and rapid business decisions and return value to the market and our clients.”

THAI TAKENAKA accounting staff checks invoices on Bill One

About THAI TAKENAKA
Company name: THAI TAKENAKA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Representative: Hiroshi Kittaka, President
Established: March 18, 1974
Business activities: Construction
Employees: 334 (as of end July 2024)
URL: https://www.takenaka.asia/thailand

*1: Sansan, Inc. Sansan Innovation Award 2024 for recognizing users that have achieved DX that reshapes how we work (announced July 5, 2024). https://jp.corp-sansan.com/news/2024/0705.html (in Japanese)
*2. Digitization accuracy when conditions specified by Sansan, Inc. are met.

Bill One – For fast monthly closing
Bill One is an invoice management solution from Sansan. It resolves companies’ accounting challenges, from invoice receipt and issuing to expense reimbursement. Bill One digitizes inefficient, analog processes, so you can achieve faster monthly closing.
https://global.bill-one.com/en/

About Sansan, Inc.
With the mission of “creating innovation through encounters,” we provide digital transformation (DX) solutions, in Japan and overseas, that reshape how we work. Foremost are the Sansan sales DX solution, Eight business card app, Bill One cloud-based invoice management solution, and Contract One contract DX solution.

Established: June 11, 2007
Website: https://www.corp-sansan.com
Head office: Aoyama Oval Building 13F, 5-52-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001, Japan
Capital: 6,744 million yen (as of May 31, 2024)
Business: Planning, development, and sales of cloud-based solutions that promote digital transformation and reshape how we work

Sansan: https://www.sansan.com/en/
Eight: https://8card.net/en/
Bill One: https://global.bill-one.com/en/
Contract One: https://contract-one.com

Contact for press inquiries
Sansan, Inc. Corporate Branding Department
Email: pr@sansan.com