Does your company have any of the following concerns?
We want to invest in the latest technologies such as AI, Spatial Computing or IoT to make a difference, but we don’t know where to start. We would like to focus on further cost reduction and operational efficiency, but we recognize that our current IT infrastructure has its limitations. We want to leverage subsidies that are available to us to transform our business model using the latest IT technologies, but we don’t know where to start.Our R&D department will help you
We will suggest the best way to utilize the latest technologies for your company
We will support the verification of new solutions using latest technologies
We will support you when introducing new technologies using subsidies
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What is R&D, PoC, PoV and PoB?
R&D
R&D is an abbreviation for “Research & Development“. Companies conduct research and development related to their business fields and create new services by acquiring new knowledge and technology.PoC, PoV and PoB
PoC, PoV, and PoB are abbreviations for Proof of Concept, Proof of Value, and Proof of Business, respectively. These represent the deliverables we provide for all our research and development projects. A positive Proof of Concept, Proof of Value, and Proof of Business signifies that the new service or product under research is technically feasible, offers value to you or your customers, and is economically viable. A negative Proof of Concept, Proof of Value, or Proof of Business indicates the presence of concerns that require attention regarding the concept, the value this project brings to you or your customers, or its economic viability.Why is it better to invest in R&D?
The purpose of R&D is to gain technological superiority and improve corporate competitiveness. By conducting research and development, you accumulate knowledge and technology that is unique to your company. This knowledge and technology unique to your company differentiates you from other companies and gives you a technological advantage. New technology can lead to the development of services that only your company can provide, and by obtaining patent rights for the technology, you can also earn royalties. In this way, R&D can improve a company’s competitiveness.Why did Set Japan Corporation establish an R&D department?
Research and Development (R&D) plays a pivotal role in enhancing a company’s competitiveness. When a company neglects R&D investments, it heightens the risk of being outpaced by competitors who are committed to continuous improvement. Recognizing that sustained growth requires more than maintaining the status quo, we made a strategic decision to establish an R&D department. This move underscores our belief that investing in R&D is the most effective means to not only survive but thrive as a company and foster enduring growth.Services provided by the R&D department
Research and Development
We offer research and development services focused on the creation of proof of concept, proof of value and proof of business applications, source code and related documentation. Our services look for answers to similar questions as the following ones.
“Is the envisioned mechanism technically feasible ?” “Can the technology achieve the necessary effects?” “Does the accuracy and quality meet standards?” “What specific specifications are needed to realize the technology?” “Do we need to use 3rd party services?” “What is the cost of running it?”
It’s important to note that our research and development services don’t extend to the implementation of a Minimum Viable Product (commonly abbreviated to MVP). Implementing a MVP is a much more involved and detailed process that is out of the scope of the research and development services.
Consulting
We offer consulting services for companies that are interested on learning about the latest technologies in the IT field and how these technologies can improve their companies. We also offer follow up consulting services to help in the implementation of new services and products based on our PoC, PoV and PoB applications, source code and related documentation. This includes during the implementation of Minimum Viable Products and operations.
Advantages of using our services
① You can control the risks of new initiatives
By conducting a PoC, technical feasibility, user needs, and profitability can be confirmed in advance, and if there are any problems, appropriate solutions can be selected and development can proceed. If any issues are found to be difficult to resolve, we can withdraw from the project at an early stage to minimize losses.
② Reduce unnecessary costs in development
PoC allows the feasibility of a new business to be verified with a small budget, preventing development costs from being wasted after full-scale development is found to be unfeasible. It also enables efficient planning and management of man-hours and manpower by reducing unnecessary development of functions and unexpected course corrections, and selecting more efficient policies.
③ Provide decision-making materials to investors
The information obtained from the PoC is useful for both internal and external decision making. If the feasibility and effectiveness of the product or service can be demonstrated, it will be easier to obtain investment from investors and to proceed with partnerships with outside companies and technology offerings. In addition, the increased profile of the project will make it easier to attract the necessary human resources.
Disadvantages of using other companies research and development services
① Risk of increased costs due to unnecessary verification
We evaluate the feasibility of a project early and inform you immediately if we determine that it is not feasible. Since R&D can be very expensive if poorly managed, we avoid unnecessary verification and ensure proper ROI (Return on Investment) management while maintaining a balance between cost and effectiveness.
② Risk of information leakage due to improper management
Because of the risks involved in sharing ideas with other companies, we strictly protect the ideas, technologies, source code, and documentation provided to us. These are made available through secure channels only to members of the R&D Department. We also provide a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Examples of R&D
A client was interested in developing a proof of concept for a recommendation system that leveraged aggregated data from a third-party API. Our team investigated the feasibility of collecting data from the third-party API and using it to train a recommendation system. We also advised the client on the potential risks associated with using third-party APIs and suggested several strategies to mitigate these risks. The proof of concept yielded positive results, and the MVP was successfully implemented and launched. This new service has enhanced the client’s company value, and we anticipate it will also increase the company’s attractiveness to potential future investors interested in the ongoing development of the service.
A client was interested in researching and developing a warehouse picking system utilizing wearable devices, specifically augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) devices. Our research explored the feasibility of employing these devices to direct operators to items within the warehouse, and while feasible, we found that with current technology, it was not yet practical. During the proof of value (PoV) research, it became clear that although the proposal was not as effective for daily operations, it offered significant value for training new operators. This was particularly beneficial during peak seasons when there was insufficient time for experienced operators to train newcomers. The new operators could independently follow the instructions on the device, reducing the need for guidance from seasoned personnel. An MVP was not developed for this project due to the current limitations in AR and XR technology. Nevertheless, a patent was filed, and the project is set to resume when the technology matures.
A client sought to research and develop a booking system for a large hotel chain. The main objective was to implement a proof of concept for a modular reservation system, enabling hotels to define all their accommodation offers. The proof of concept was successful, and the proof of value also yielded positive results. However, the proof of business needed some work, as the new system was challenging to set up. Eventually, the MVP was implemented and deployed. Following one of our proposals, a series of training courses were prepared , and the system operated with minimal technical support for over 10 years. The new system allowed the hotel chain to simplify and unify operations across all hotels. This enabled the chain to finally replace the old reservation system with a more modern and global one. During its operational period, the system processed millions of bookings, valued at millions of yen.
What the R&D department can do
Technologies
A.I.
Our research and development department team has been working with AI since 2016. Most of our experience is on computer vision but we also have experience with training models for natural language processing. We can train models for image and text classification, object detection in images and videos, and models for recommendation systems. We also have experience with large language models (LLMs). We can implement solutions based on OpenAI API and META Llama 2 models. This includes prompt engineering and fine-tuning models for specific tasks.Spatial Computing
Our research and development department team has been working with spatial computing devices since 2016. We can build proof of concepts for Unity, OpenXR and native SDKs. We are also firm believers on how this technology is going to change the way we consume content and how we access information in the near future.Software Development
Our research and development department team has been implementing software solutions and software architectures for more than 25 years. These are some of the technologies that we have experience with. Please feel free to consult with us if what you want to use is not in this list .
Team
Our team consists of members with expertise in diverse fields, each playing a crucial role. We strive to be a team-first organization, where the sharing of knowledge fosters collective growth. Our team leader, with a background as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), evaluates new business opportunities from a technical standpoint. Not only do we develop using cutting-edge technologies, but we also build and manage project teams. Our full-stack developers are adept at quickly mastering new technologies and can effectively communicate in English with international colleagues. Our QA specialists ensure project success by facilitating clear understanding between engineers and clients, and are proficient in using English to liaise with global engineering teams. Additionally, we focus on managing return on investment (ROI), which is critical for proof of concept (PoC) stages. Set Japan Corporation’s R&D department is at the forefront of integrating new technologies into our work style.
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