Shimizu Corporation enhances data infrastructure with Denodo

Denodo, a company specialising in data management, has announced that Shimizu Corporation has implemented the Denodo Platform to enhance its data infrastructure.

This move aims to increase data utilization across the organisation, improve operational efficiency, manage rising construction material costs, and streamline compliance with updated overtime regulations.

Shimizu Corporation’s decision to adopt the Denodo Platform followed a two-month proof of concept (POC) phase. The platform was operational within three months, enabling various departments to share data at the user level while simultaneously enhancing data quality, freshness, standardisation, and governance. This approach to data freed it from silos, allowing for company-wide access.

The Denodo Data Catalog provides users with immediate access to all types of data through a unified interface. Yoshitaka Okazaki, Group Leader of the Data Management Group in Shimizu’s Information System Department, said, "The Denodo Platform made it easy for me to label data entities with sensible names, and this makes it easier for users to find the data they need."

Shimizu Corporation has reported several benefits from using the Denodo Platform. Notably, the platform reduced lead times for data-centric projects, which also resulted in cost savings. Standardised reporting lessened the workload on both the head office and branch offices. Additionally, in-house report development saved substantial amounts that would have otherwise been spent on vendor services. The platform’s low-code/no-code development capabilities also enabled various departments to create their own applications, thereby reducing the burden on the company’s Digital Strategy Promotion Office.

The company plans to extend its use of the Denodo Platform further. This includes providing maintenance and construction data not only in text format but also as images and other formats. "We are planning to utilise the Denodo Platform for 100% of our data," said Takashi Handa from Shimizu's Digital Strategy Promotion Office.

Shimizu Corporation, faced significant operational challenges due to an aging workforce, rising material costs, and new regulations. To address these issues, they implemented a data fabric using the Denodo Platform, which centralized their data management and improved efficiency.

The results:

• Enhanced data accessibility and governance.
• Reports that previously took 1-2 weeks to deliver now can be delivered in less than a day.
• Improved collaboration and data sharing across departments.
• Significant cost savings with efficient reporting and low-code development.
• Integration of IoT and unstructured data for innovative solutions.

"Shimizu's digital transformation journey is about streamlining operations, reducing costs, and positioning the company for future innovation and sustainability," it says.