Interview participants:
Huis Ten Bosch Corporation
Mr. Hiroyuki Mori, Managing Executive Officer, CFO
Ms. Mitsuko Shida, Accounting Section, Accounting Department

Issues: Fixed asset inventory operations that are now outsourced, and an aging backbone system.

-Please tell us about the background and issues you faced when you introduced HUE.

Mr. Mori:
The impetus for our decision was the end of support for the system we had been using, and we considered replacing it. We attended a WAP service briefing held in Fukuoka Prefecture, and decided that this type of system would be desirable if we were going to replace our old system.

Mr. Shida:
Previously, we used a separate dedicated system for fixed asset management and fixed asset inventory management, but "HUE" includes inventory management. Before migrating to "HUE," the inventory management system was temporarily managed in Excel because it was no longer supported. From there, we created asset lists, distributed them to each department, and had the accounting department return the survey results to us for tallying, which took several days just to create the asset lists.

How was the implementation project led by the accounting department and completed by a two-person team?

-What were some of the points that you took care of when introducing HUE?

Mr. Shida:
Although we sometimes asked the Information System Department to help us with areas related to the system setup, basically, two members of the Accounting Department were responsible for the implementation work. It was of course difficult because we had to work in parallel with our normal duties, but we tackled the project through a process of trial and error. The most difficult part was the master design. It was necessary to proceed with a clear understanding of which items in the master needed to be changed and how they would change in consideration of subsequent maintenance.

Mr. Mori:
I think it took about a year to design the master. It was difficult when the version of HUE was upgraded while we were preparing to introduce the system, but the detailed design of the master was essential to ensure that the system could respond flexibly to our business needs.

The key to success: Understanding and devising ways to use the "high degree of freedom".

-What are the features of "HUE" that you have found in the process of introducing it?

Mr. Shida:
I had a chance to talk with people from other companies, and what I felt again was that it is very important to have a good understanding of the master. If you don't understand how the system works, you will not be able to make full use of it. However, if we understand the master, we can configure the system according to our own image of what we want to do, and this will lead to ideas such as "I want to add this condition as well.
Because HUE has a high degree of freedom, we can communicate our image of what we want to do to WAP, and it can respond accordingly, which is a very big advantage.

Effect] Fixed asset inventory preparation work has been reduced from several days to one or two hours. Fixed asset inventory preparation went from several days to one to two hours, and the system was well received by the field.

-Please tell us about the scope of use, usage status, and changes in your business after the introduction of "HUE".

Mr. Shida:
The most effective implementation of HUE is the fixed asset management (HUE Asset). We can now track the history of assets and manage them with images, which makes management easier than with the previous system.
In addition, the system can automatically extract a list of assets and assign them to the person in charge by setting the conditions once, so the preparation work can be completed in one to two hours. Inventory results can be directly linked to fixed asset management, and once read, they are automatically reflected in the fixed asset ledger. Using HUE has greatly reduced the amount of time the accounting department used to spend preparing for inventory, which has been very helpful. Even after the inventory work, each department can check their own assets whenever they need to, which has been well received by the field.

-You have also introduced an inventory management application since 2023. What is the current usage situation?

Mr. Shida:
Now that it is also compatible with Android, the scope of use has expanded from just after its introduction. We often use PCs instead of smart devices, but by reading the barcodes on the inventory management screen with a tablet or other smart device, we can proceed smoothly with the inventory process, and corrected asset information can be reflected in the system in real time. Since a history is kept of who was in charge of inventory, it is easier to inquire when making inquiries.

-How have you been affected by the legal changes such as the invoice system?

Mr. Shida:
In 2023, a function to support the invoice system will be added to "HUE" to allow electronic receipts to be stored. We were able to change the format of invoices smoothly without having to incorporate new calculation formulas, etc., since all the materials to be changed had already been prepared for us. Even if there is a change in the law, such as the Electronic Bookkeeping Law, we do not need to request anything, and the system itself responds as needed, so we do not have to think about it much.

How do you feel about using the multi-dimensional balance inquiry function in General Ledger?

Mr. Shida:
Multi-dimensional Balance Inquiry allows the person in charge of each department to select and save the conditions that are easy for them to output, eliminating the need to set up and output each time. For example, we have heard that the system is easy to use in the field because it is possible to save conditions such as outputting only for this store, and then output every time. It is also good that not only the general ledger but also the balance sheet, trial balance, etc. can be easily switched on the same screen. It has become more convenient than before, where we had to go to the menu to make an inquiry.

Future Prospects: Expectations for further computerization and compliance with new standards

-Please tell us about your vision for the use of HUE and any requests you have for WAP.

Mr. Shida:
As for our future outlook, we would like to computerize our workflow. For this purpose, automatic updating of the master of personnel information is an issue, and we would like to proceed as needed. HUE is also equipped with functions for lease accounting that are compatible with the new lease accounting standards, so I would like to make full use of these functions as well.

Mr. Mori:
Because we are a company that is evolving and growing, there are inevitably many changes that require manual modification of the master and rearrangement of calculation formulas. Therefore, I think it takes more time to maintain the system than other companies, and there are still some areas where HUE is not fully utilized. We look forward to WAP's support in the future, including the design part.

Message】Make a system that "fits your business" rather than just "forcing it to fit the system.

-Please give a message to companies that are considering implementing HUE.

Mr. Shida:
By understanding how the system works and being able to touch the master ourselves, we can use it in a way that better suits our company. The appeal of "HUE" is that we can design the system as we want because of the flexibility of the standard functions without having to develop add-ons.

Mr. Mori:
We have bi-weekly meetings with WAP, and we are able to consult with them whenever we have problems, and they respond to legal revisions and other issues. We hope that WAP will continue to support us in these areas as it has in the past.

This article is current as of June 2025.