Fax Is Enough

Mid-term plan under consideration

Miyazono, CEO of AMADA Bussan, arms crossed, looking past the camera — Miyazono, CEO of AMADA Bussan. In July he was Japan's only name on Forbes's list of thirty world leaders who do not use AI.

Internal HR Sent A CorrespondentThe Internal HR desk caught word that AMADA Bussan, a mid-size Japanese trading house, has been posting unusually high profit margins. We sent a correspondent of our own.

Through the two-thousands, peer firms poured money into PCs, smartphones, and anything called digital transformation. AMADA Bussan kept to the telephone, the dinner table, and the fax. It still does.

Ninety-Seven Percent Gone, Then A ReboundAfter the pandemic of 2020, AMADA Bussan could not use Zoom for two years. Sales fell ninety-seven percent. Through that stretch the firm kept negotiating by letter and by telephone. In the autumn of 2022, after an investment from the Japanese capitalist Dai Komori, it recovered in a V. It still plans no spending on AI or IT. Surplus profit goes to employee bonuses.

Why Refuse The New MachinesWe asked Miyazono why a firm that has spent decades refusing technology now draws the world’s attention. “We were profitable enough when the IT industry rose,” he said. “Cutting costs with IT so we can take still more profit felt greedy as management. Letters, fax, and the telephone are enough. We still write invoices by hand, with no Excel. Customers prefer it.”

Average Age Fifty-FiveAsked whether the flood of AI news might change the policy, he said it would not. “Our average age is fifty-five. Forcing people to learn new tools and change how they work would lower productivity, not raise it. Most of the staff have presbyopia. A late digital migration is not under discussion.”

“We have nothing useful to say about other companies’ policies. For us, employees are the only management resource. That they work in comfort, and with some pleasure, is the first priority.”

Visitors, Then The Mid-Term PlanAMADA Bussan now receives about ten company visitors a day, from around the world. On the strength of what the correspondent brought back, otiose corp. is weighing whether to put the following into the mid-term plan.

Software DiscouragedDuring working hours, the use of PCs, smartphones, and software of any kind, including SaaS, is to be discouraged.

Ninety-Nine Percent To StaffNinety-nine percent of annual profit is to be returned to employees. One half of one percent goes to shareholders. One half of one percent is held as next year’s surplus.

Harmony Over AbilityStaff are not to be graded on ability. Smooth and harmonious communication, inside the firm and outside it, is to be the chief measure.

Filed for the record

Questions to Internal HR, Floor 4. Prefer fax. Do not open a ticket.

OTIOSE-IHR-010 · NOT AI, BUT HUMAN · 否AI

This is the seventh issue. It is numbered six. The numbering was reviewed and left as it is.

otiose corp. · Internal HR · Floor 4 · circulation: desk only

Fax Is Enough

Mid-term plan under consideration

Miyazono, CEO of AMADA Bussan. In July he was Japan's only name on Forbes's list of thirty world leaders who do not use AI.

Internal HR Sent A Correspondent — The Internal HR desk caught word that AMADA Bussan, a mid-size Japanese trading house, has been posting unusually high profit margins. We sent a correspondent of our own.

Through the two-thousands, peer firms poured money into PCs, smartphones, and anything called digital transformation. AMADA Bussan kept to the telephone, the dinner table, and the fax. It still does.

Ninety-Seven Percent Gone, Then A Rebound — After the pandemic of 2020, AMADA Bussan could not use Zoom for two years. Sales fell ninety-seven percent. Through that stretch the firm kept negotiating by letter and by telephone. In the autumn of 2022, after an investment from the Japanese capitalist Dai Komori, it recovered in a V. It still plans no spending on AI or IT. Surplus profit goes to employee bonuses.

Why Refuse The New Machines — We asked Miyazono why a firm that has spent decades refusing technology now draws the world’s attention. “We were profitable enough when the IT industry rose,” he said. “Cutting costs with IT so we can take still more profit felt greedy as management. Letters, fax, and the telephone are enough. We still write invoices by hand, with no Excel. Customers prefer it.”

Average Age Fifty-Five — Asked whether the flood of AI news might change the policy, he said it would not. “Our average age is fifty-five. Forcing people to learn new tools and change how they work would lower productivity, not raise it. Most of the staff have presbyopia. A late digital migration is not under discussion.”

“We have nothing useful to say about other companies’ policies. For us, employees are the only management resource. That they work in comfort, and with some pleasure, is the first priority.”

Visitors, Then The Mid-Term Plan — AMADA Bussan now receives about ten company visitors a day, from around the world. On the strength of what the correspondent brought back, otiose corp. is weighing whether to put the following into the mid-term plan.

Software Discouraged — During working hours, the use of PCs, smartphones, and software of any kind, including SaaS, is to be discouraged.

Ninety-Nine Percent To Staff — Ninety-nine percent of annual profit is to be returned to employees. One half of one percent goes to shareholders. One half of one percent is held as next year’s surplus.

Harmony Over Ability — Staff are not to be graded on ability. Smooth and harmonious communication, inside the firm and outside it, is to be the chief measure.

Filed for the record

Questions to Internal HR, Floor 4. Prefer fax. Do not open a ticket.

This is the seventh issue. It is numbered six. The numbering was reviewed and left as it is.

otiose corp. · Internal HR · Floor 4 · circulation: desk only

Fax Is Enough