About Us
Mitsui’s DX
Business Transformation & Innovation with Digital
Mitsui engages in a broad range of businesses all over the world.
This means we have a diverse front line where we can acquire valuable data based on actual experiences.
By using digital power based on this precious front line, we continue “Challenge and Innovation.”
This is Mitsui’s Digital Transformation.
Message from Chief Digital Information Officer
We are now living in an era in which the business environment is changing rapidly due to climate change, digitalization, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and structural changes in society and industry are accelerating. It is so difficult to see the future that we will reconsider our raison d'être and enjoy the changes from the bottom of our hearts without being satisfied with the current situation, and always take on the challenge of creating new businesses. For that purpose, digital power is essential, and we believe that DX will be the source of our future growth.
April 2023
Toru Matsui
Senior Executive Managing Officer
Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO)
DX Comprehensive Strategy
What is Digital Transformation at Mitsui?
We have a broad range of front line where we can acquire valuable data based on actual experiences.
Mitsui's DX uses digital power based on this precious front line, which means, we aim to reduce costs and expand sales through efficiency improvement and optimization, and create new business model by multiplying Operational Technology(*1) with Digital Power(*2).
*1：OT (Operational Technology): Full trading company operational knowhow including product knowledge, business expertise, marketing skills, logistical functions, legal matters, human resources and project management.
*2：Digital Power: AI / IoT, robotics and bigdata
Outline of vision for Mitsui’s DX Comprehensive Strategy
Mitsui’s DX Comprehensive Strategy consists of 2 strategies : “DX Business Strategy” and “Data-Driven (DD) Management Strategy.” In DX Business Strategy, we aim to strengthen our business by creating new value through multiplying data held by each front line with digital power. In Data-Driven Management Strategy, we aim to make faster and more accurate decisions and strengthen business management by thoroughly using data.
In order to carry out these two strategies, it is essential to make digital as a basic standard for all officers and employees, and we will continue to innovate with DX steadily as our corporate culture.
DX Business Strategy Vision
Two directions
Mitsui’s DX framework categorizes digital transformation into the following 3 initiatives;
- Solution 1 (S1) which aims to reduce costs through productivity enhancement, efficiency, and optimization
- Solution 2 (S2) which aims to expand sales through strengthening engagement with our partners and customers
- Transformation (T) which aims to create new businesses and business models from a standpoint that differs from existing businesses
By overlaying this DX Framework on our Medium-term Management Plan 2023, we have organized 2 directions in DX Business Strategy to realize our “Transform and Grow” visions.
Over the short to medium term, by thoroughly implementing S1/S2, we aim to strengthen and advance the profitability of existing businesses in the Mitsui Group, and over the medium to long term, by implementing T for next-generation businesses, we aim to create a future business foundation, including in new domains.
Furthermore, we have identified the following 6 key strategic domains to focus on.
As domains targeting quick wins over the short to medium term by implementing S1/S2, we extract business areas with strong affinity for DX, where we have the strength of real front line.
In domains targeting big wins over the medium to long term by implementing T for the next generation, we focus on social infrastructure where we have strength and take on the challenge of DX from the viewpoint of utilizing new technologies and industrial destruction.
Six Key Strategic Areas
Legend
Mobility: Mobility Business Unit I, Mobility Business Unit II
Chemicals: Basic Materials Business Unit, Performance Materials Business Unit
Iron & Steel: Iron & Steel Products Business Unit
Energy: Energy Business Unit I, Energy Business Unit II
Mineral & Metal Resources: Mineral & Metal Resources Business Unit
WL: Wellness Business Unit
AP: Asia Pacific Business Unit
ICT: IT & Communication Business Unit
ES: Energy Solutions Business Unit
N&A: Nutrition & Agriculture Business Unit
Infrastructure Projects: Infrastructure Projects Business Unit
Mobility: Mobility Business Unit I, Mobility Business Unit II
Chemicals: Basic Materials Business Unit, Performance Materials Business Unit
Food: Food Business Unit
Iron & Steel: Iron & Steel Products Business Unit
Energy: Energy Business Unit I, Energy Business Unit II
Mineral & Metal Resources: Mineral & Metal Resources Business Unit
Retail: Retail Business Unit
WL: Wellness Business Unit
AP: Asia Pacific Business Unit
ICT: IT & Communication Business Unit
ES: Energy Solutions Business Unit
CD: Corporate Development Business Unit
N&A: Nutrition & Agriculture Business Unit
Our DX example
Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.
Data-Driven Management Strategy Vision
Mitsui has built a Data Management Platform (DMP) where valuable data accumulated from wide range of business domains in various countries/regions can be provided at a required frequency and granularity towards all hierarchical levels from management to employee. Concurrently, the promotion of increase in efficiency of data collection/integration through unification of data input forms and digital optimization of processes have substantialized a Data-Driven environment.
Our executive officers and employees are making full use of data dashboards to share and accumulate Quick Wins. Further, the utilization of cutting-edge tools such as AI will predict values to increase accuracy/quality of decision-making and link to creation of new businesses. The repeated process of collecting, integrating, using, and analyzing data will continue its upward spiral to strengthen our Data-Driven business.
DX HR Strategy
The following three types of human resources are required to promote the DX Comprehensive Strategy.
a. Business Professionals
b. DX Business Professionals
c. Technology Professionals
Mitsui’s diverse employees possess professional expertise in a wide range of business domains, products, fields and regions. However, many of our current employees are a. Business Professionals, so we provide companywide DX basic educations to all officers and employees to make digital as a basic standard .
c. Technology Professionals, who are top digital experts, are produced in-house mainly at IT strategic subsidiaries, but a certain number will be produced in-house at Mitsui ourselves.
Finally, b. DX Business Professionals, who are highly knowledgeable about both business and digital and can connect a. Business Professionals and c. Technology Professionals, are essential for promoting DX.
We plan to develop more than 100 DX Business Professionals in-house by FY March 2024.
In FY March 2022, we launched the Mitsui DX Academy, and The DX Talent Recognition System has commenced for DX professionals training.
The Mitsui DX Academy:
- DX skills training: DX skills training ranges from basic training for all employees and officers to applied training for advanced DX professionals and other employees who need to learn specialized skills.
- Boot Camp: DX Business Professionals are trained through OJT at frontline sites and participation in practical DX projects.
- Executive Education: Executive Education equips participants with cutting-edge DX skills and knowledge, and includes courses at overseas universities so that participants can network with other advanced DX experts.
The DX Talent Recognition:
23 DX Business Professionals have been recognized at Mitsui. Starting with the third edition, which is scheduled for FY March 2023, applications will be expanded to include overseas offices.
We are actively hiring DX talent by holding a DX business model competition for interns continuing on from FY March 2021, and are strengthening our hiring in other Asian countries and in Latin America. We are readying DX talent hired around the world for projects in our Strategic Focus areas and are sending employees to Europe, North America and the Middle East to expand our global activities.
