Works Applications

Works Applications Co., Ltd. is a Japanese enterprise software company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Its business has centered on the development, sale, and support of packaged business systems, particularly enterprise resource planning software for large organizations. The company’s offerings have covered human resources, payroll, financial and operational administration, supply-chain management, electronic commerce, learning management, project administration, and corporate information portals. The company was established on July 24, 1996. In September of that year it introduced its COMPANY human-resources series, establishing the product family that became the core of its enterprise-software business. COMPANY was designed for organizations with complex administrative structures and large employee populations, rather than for small businesses seeking lightweight, general-purpose accounting or office software. Its customers have included Japanese government agencies, major trading companies, manufacturers, and other large companies in Japan and overseas. The company stated that it served more than 7,000 customers by 2016, while Bloomberg described it in 2015 as Japan’s largest vendor of business software for payroll and human resources. Works Applications expanded the COMPANY portfolio throughout the 2000s. Web Service functionality was introduced in 2001, followed by assignment and project management in 2002, a knowledge-information portal in 2003, and additional human-resources, learning-management, supply-chain, and electronic-commerce products. These additions broadened the business from a human-resources specialist into a provider of integrated enterprise applications. The company also established an Advanced Technology & Engineering Division in 2008, indicating a dedicated effort to develop technologies beyond conventional packaged software. Artificial intelligence became a prominent part of the company’s product narrative in the 2010s. In 2014 Works Applications announced AI Works, an AI-based enterprise resource planning system. The product was described as a cloud-based ERP platform using machine-learning technologies to analyze operational log data, predict what tasks may be required, and provide each employee with a personal assistant. This approach positioned the company around automation and process improvement within large-scale administrative environments. AI Works received a Good Design Award in 2015 from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. The company also pursued international and adjacent technology expansion. India-based Infoview Technologies Pvt Ltd was consolidated with Works Applications in 2015, and Ariel Networks was consolidated with the company in 2016. Other initiatives included the shipment of the LaKeel Messenger product, the provision of a My Number management platform for Japan’s national identification-number administration, and the establishment of an AI and natural-language-processing laboratory in Tokushima in 2017. Works Applications received an AWS leadership award in 2014 and was recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute in 2017. Detailed information about its current ownership, operating status, leadership, website, and product availability is not established by the supplied reference material.

Works Applications was founded in Japan on July 24, 1996. Its first major product was the COMPANY human-resources series, officially launched in September of that year. The product established the company’s focus on packaged enterprise applications for organizations with demanding payroll and personnel-management requirements. The company expanded the COMPANY family during the early 2000s. COMPANY Web Service was launched in 2001, followed by Assignment & Project Management in 2002 and a Knowledge Information Portal in 2003. The human-resources product reportedly held the largest share of the Japanese market in 2003. The COMPANY AC series began official shipment in 2004, while COMPANY Learning Management was launched the same year. These additions extended the platform into employee development, internal information management, and broader organizational administration. Works Applications was listed on the JASDAQ market in December 2001. It later widened its enterprise-software scope with the COMPANY SCM series in 2009 and the COMPANY EC series in 2010. The company’s customers included government agencies, major trading companies, manufacturers, and other large organizations in Japan and outside Japan. It reported more than 7,000 customers as of 2016, and contemporary business coverage characterized it as a leading Japanese vendor of payroll and human-resources software. Technology research became more prominent after the establishment of the Advanced Technology & Engineering Division in 2008. In 2014 the company announced an AI-based ERP system called AI Works. The system was described as cloud-based and designed to use machine learning to study operational log data, predict tasks, and provide employees with personalized assistance based on their work and position. A related company product, LaKeel Messenger, was officially shipped in the same year. Works Applications also participated in a joint industry, academic, and government research project concerning economic analysis of human-resources allocation. The company pursued international consolidation and new administrative software initiatives in the middle of the decade. Infoview Technologies Pvt Ltd in India was consolidated with Works Applications in 2015. That year the company also announced free provision of the My Number Keeping System, intended to support management of Japan’s national identification-number information. Ariel Networks, Inc. was consolidated with Works Applications in 2016. In February 2017, Works Applications established the WAP Tokushima Laboratory of AI and NLP. Recognition during this period included an Amazon Web Services Think Big AWS Leadership Award in 2014, a Good Design Award for AI Works in 2015, and workplace recognition from the Great Place to Work Institute in 2017. The supplied reference material does not establish the company’s current ownership, leadership, listing status after its JASDAQ period, website, or the present availability of its historical product lines.

• 2017

  Tokushima AI and NLP laboratory established

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The company established a laboratory in Tokushima focused on artificial intelligence and natural-language processing.

• 2016

  Ariel Networks consolidated

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Ariel Networks, Inc. was consolidated with Works Applications.

• 2015

  Infoview Technologies consolidated

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  India-based Infoview Technologies Pvt Ltd was consolidated with Works Applications.

• 2014

  AI Works announced

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced an AI-based ERP system intended to apply machine learning to enterprise operations.

• 2008

  Advanced Technology & Engineering Division established

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Works Applications created a technology research division known as ATE.

• 2003

  Human-resources product reaches leading Japanese market position

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The COMPANY human-resources product was reported to hold the largest share of its market in Japan.

• 2001

  JASDAQ listing and COMPANY Web Service launch

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced COMPANY Web Service and was listed on the JASDAQ market in December.

• 1996

  Company established and COMPANY HR Series launched

  [1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Works Applications was established in July, and its COMPANY human-resources series was officially launched in September.

Enterprise software provider focused on complex human-resources, payroll, ERP, and administrative requirements of large companies and public-sector organizations.

• Enterprise resource planning and human-resources software · 1996

  COMPANY

  COMPANY is the company’s principal enterprise-software family. It began with human-resources and payroll functions and expanded into web services, assignment and project management, knowledge portals, learning management, supply-chain management, and electronic commerce. The suite was aimed at large employers and organizations with complex administrative requirements.

• Cloud-based AI-enabled ERP · 2014

  AI Works

  AI Works was announced as an ERP platform using machine-learning technologies. It analyzes operational log data, uses information about the current task and the user’s position, and makes predictions intended to automate work or provide a personal assistant for employees. The product was presented as a cloud-based extension of the company’s enterprise-software strategy.

• Business communication software · 2014

  LaKeel Messenger

  LaKeel Messenger was officially shipped by Works Applications in 2014. The supplied reference identifies it as a company product but does not provide sufficient detail about its technical functions, target segment, pricing, or current availability.

• Identity-number data management · 2015

  My Number Keeping System

  The My Number Keeping System, also described as MKS, was announced as a platform for managing information associated with Japan’s national identification-number system. Works Applications announced free provision of the system in 2015; the supplied material does not establish its later commercial status.

• 2016

  Consolidation of Ariel NetworksM&A

  Background

  The company continued to broaden its technology and software portfolio.

  Action taken

  Ariel Networks, Inc. was consolidated with Works Applications.

  Aftermath

  No transaction value or subsequent integration outcome is provided in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2015

  Free provision of My Number management systemOther

  Background

  Japan’s national identification-number framework created administrative requirements for organizations handling My Number information.

  Action taken

  Works Applications announced free provision of the My Number Keeping System to support management of that information.

  Aftermath

  The supplied material does not report adoption levels, financial impact, or the system’s later status.

  Source

• 2015

  Consolidation of Infoview TechnologiesM&A

  Background

  Works Applications pursued expansion involving an India-based technology company.

  Action taken

  Infoview Technologies Pvt Ltd was consolidated with Works Applications.

  Aftermath

  The supplied material does not specify transaction terms, ownership percentages, or operational integration results.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch strategy for AI WorksProduct launch

  Background

  Works Applications sought to extend its established enterprise-resource-planning business into artificial-intelligence-enabled software.

  Action taken

  The company announced AI Works, a cloud-based ERP system designed to use machine learning and operational logs to predict tasks and assist employees.

  Aftermath

  AI Works received a Good Design Award in 2015. The supplied material does not provide adoption, revenue, or later product-status data.

  Source

• 2017

  Works Applications establishes Tokushima AI and NLP laboratory[1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Works Applications established a laboratory in Tokushima focused on artificial intelligence and natural-language processing.

• 2016

  Ariel Networks consolidated with Works Applications[1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Ariel Networks, Inc. was consolidated with Works Applications, adding to the company’s corporate technology portfolio.

• 2015

  Works Applications consolidates India-based Infoview Technologies[1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The India-based company Infoview Technologies Pvt Ltd was consolidated with Works Applications as part of the company’s international and technology expansion.

• 2015

  Works Applications provides My Number management platform[1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Regulation

  The company announced free provision of the My Number Keeping System, a platform intended to support management of Japan’s national identification-number data.

• 2014

  Works Applications announces AI-based ERP system AI Works[1]Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Works Applications announced AI Works, an ERP system intended to use artificial-intelligence and machine-learning technologies to analyze operational data and automate or assist with business tasks.

1. 1Works Applicationsen.wikipedia.org