[The reality of sales tabulation work in offices and commercial facilities] Approximately half of the work is done non-digitally, using paper or Excel. More than 80% are looking to digital to solve operational issues
~ CIMTOPS Corporation. releases survey results targeting "office building and commercial facility developers"~
table of contents
We recently conducted a survey of 97 real estate company employees with experience in sales aggregation work for office buildings/commercial facilities regarding the actual situation regarding sales aggregation work for office and commercial facilities.
Survey Overview
- Survey name: Survey on sales aggregation operations at offices and commercial facilities
- Survey method: Online survey planned by IDEATECH's research data marketing service "Risapi®"
- Survey period: February 3, 2025 to February 20, 2025
- Valid responses: 97 people in charge of sales aggregation at real estate companies for office buildings/commercial facilities
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Approximately half of companies compile sales data using non-digital methods such as paper, Excel, or spreadsheets.
When asked, "Q1. How do you currently compile sales data? If you were in charge of this in the past, please select the most recent method used at the time" (n=97), 7.2% answered "paper" and 39.2% answered "Excel or spreadsheets."
・Paper: 7.2%
Excel and spreadsheets: 39.2%
・POS register: 10.3%
Dedicated package software: 19.6%
・In-house developed systems: 21.6%
・Other: 2.1%
Regarding non-digital sales aggregation, the burden of "collecting sales data" and "transcribing and aggregating sales data" is felt.
Those who answered "paper" or "Excel or spreadsheets" in Q1 were then asked "Q2. What tasks do you feel or have felt are burdensome regarding the compilation of non-digital sales data? (Multiple answers allowed)" (n=45). The responses were "Collecting sales data" at 48.9%, "Transcribing and compiling sales data" at 44.4%, and "Checking for and requesting corrections of recording errors and omissions" at 37.8%.
Sales data collection: 48.9%
・Transcribing and summarizing sales data: 44.4%
・Checking and correcting recording errors and omissions: 37.8%
・Checking the sales data after compilation and the actual data: 28.9%
・Searching and checking past sales data: 24.4%
・Preparing report materials: 17.8%
・Other: 0.0%
・Nothing in particular: 8.9%
・Don't know/can't answer: 6.7%
The most common issue with non-digital sales calculations was "rework due to calculation or input errors," at 66.7%.
Those who answered "paper" or "Excel or spreadsheets" in Q1 were then asked "Q3. Please tell us about the challenges that have arisen as a result of sales data not being compiled digitally (multiple answers allowed)" (n=45). 66.7% of respondents answered "Compilation or input errors result in rework," 44.4% answered "It is time-consuming to correct or update data," and 42.2% answered "Data input and compilation takes time, which interferes with other work."
・Rework due to calculation or input errors: 66.7%
・It is time-consuming to correct or update data: 44.4%
・Data entry and calculation takes time, which interferes with other work: 42.2%
- It is difficult for multiple people to edit simultaneously, which delays the sharing of information: 26.7%
- Sharing data with other departments and headquarters takes time, leading to inefficient collaboration: 15.6%
・It is difficult to search and analyze past data, making it difficult to make quick decisions: 11.1%
- There is a risk of paper data and files being lost or damaged: 8.9%
・Other: 0.0%
・Nothing in particular: 8.9%
・Don't know/can't answer: 4.4%
There are also issues such as "top-down processes are slow due to information delays" and "only the person in charge understands the process, which makes it inefficient."
In response to the question "Q4.Apart from what you answered in Q3, please feel free to tell us if there are any issues that arise from the non-digital compilation of sales data (open-ended response)" (n=39), we received 30 responses, including "Delays in information make top-down processes slow" and "It's a method that only the person in charge understands, making it inefficient."
<Free response, excerpts>
- Information delays slow down top-down processes.
- The process is inefficient and only the person in charge knows about it, making it difficult to spot mistakes.
- Personnel errors occur.
- It's difficult to teach people who don't understand how to use it.
- It takes time to retrieve past data.
Over 80% expect that digitizing sales statistics will "solve problems"
Those who answered anything other than "Nothing in particular" or "I don't know/can't answer" to Q3 were asked the following question (n= 39): "Q5. Do you think that digitizing (systematizing) the compilation of sales data will solve the issues you answered in Q3? If you answered multiple questions in Q3, please answer about the most serious one." 33.3% answered "I strongly think so" and 51.3% answered "I somewhat think so."
・Strongly agree: 33.3%
・Somewhat agree: 51.3%
・I don't really think so: 10.3%
・I don't think so at all: 0.0%
・Don't know/cannot answer: 5.1%
Dissatisfaction with the sales aggregation system was high, with "worries about support when problems occur" and "the burden of explaining things to tenants"
Those who answered "POS register," "dedicated package software," or "system developed in-house" in Q1 were asked, "Q6. Please tell us what you are dissatisfied with about the system currently used to compile sales data. If you were in charge of this in the past, please tell us what you were dissatisfied with about the system used when you were in charge. (Multiple answers allowed)" (n=50). The responses were "Worries about support when problems arise," 32.0%, "The burden of explaining things to tenants," 30.0%, and "Security risks" 20.0%.
・Worried about support when problems occur: 32.0%
・Explanatory work to tenants is a burden: 30.0%
・Security risks: 20.0%
Difficult to operate: 16.0%
・High cost: 16.0%
・Limited media available: 10.0%
・Other: 0.0%
・Nothing in particular: 22.0%
・Don't know/cannot answer: 4.0%
Approximately half of respondents said that if they had more free time due to the automation and systemization of sales aggregation work, they would like to "deep-dive analyze sales data and create reports."
Those who answered "paper" or "Excel or spreadsheets" in Q1 were asked the following question: "Q7. If the task of compiling sales data were automated or systematized and you had more free time, what tasks would you like to spend it on? If you were in charge of this in the past, please answer assuming that it had been automated or systematized at the time you were in charge (multiple answers allowed)" (n=45). The answers given were "in-depth analysis of sales data and report creation" at 46.7%, "communication to strengthen relationships with tenants and customers" at 37.8%, and "strengthening collaboration and coordination between departments" at 37.8%.
・Deep analysis of sales data and report creation: 46.7%
・Communication to strengthen relationships with tenants and customers: 37.8%
Strengthening cooperation and coordination between departments: 37.8%
・Planning and implementing maintenance plans for facilities and equipment: 28.9%
・Participating in projects to improve internal business efficiency: 24.4%
・Planning new businesses and formulating measures: 17.8%
・Support for team member development and skill development: 15.6%
・Other: 0.0%
・Nothing in particular: 8.9%
・Don't know/can't answer: 6.7%
Necessary support for systematizing sales aggregation operations, including "ensuring sufficient testing and adjustment period before implementation" and "thorough operational training"
Those who answered "paper" or "Excel or spreadsheets" in Q1 were asked "Q8. What kind of support do you think is necessary to systemize the sales data compilation process? (Multiple answers allowed)" (n=45). The responses were "Ensuring sufficient testing and adjustment period before implementation" at 44.4%, "Thorough operational training" at 42.2%, and "Reflecting opinions from the field" at 40.0%.
- Ensuring sufficient testing and adjustment period before implementation: 44.4%
・Thorough operational training: 42.2%
・Reflecting opinions from the field: 40.0%
・Setting up a meeting between the person in charge and the tenant: 33.3%
・Review and improvement of business processes: 33.3%
・Preparation of manuals: 26.7%
・Establishment of a help desk or other inquiry desk: 15.6%
・Other: 0.0%
・Don't know/cannot answer: 8.9%
The most popular function desired in a sales aggregation system was "automatic aggregation and analysis of collected data," at 45.4%.
When asked "Q9. What kind of system do you think would be ideal for sales data compilation work? (Multiple answers)" (n=97), the answers were "Automatic compilation and analysis function for collected data" at 45.4%, "Flexible support for various sales data formats" at 39.2%, and "Input error warning and alert notification function" at 37.1%.
- Automatic aggregation and analysis of collected data: 45.4%
・Flexible support for various sales data formats: 39.2%
- Input error warning and alert notification function: 37.1%
・Integration with a wide range of business systems: 36.1%
・Intuitive and easy-to-use user interface: 32.0%
・Listing sales trends by tenant and property: 28.9%
・Centralized data management in the cloud: 21.6%
・AI-based sales forecasting and proposal functions: 18.6%
・Comprehensive security measures such as permission management: 12.4%
・Other: 1.0%
・Nothing in particular: 3.1%
・Don't know/cannot answer: 5.2%
summary
This time, we conducted a survey on the actual situation regarding sales aggregation work for offices and commercial facilities, targeting 97 people who work in real estate companies and have experience in sales aggregation work for office buildings/commercial facilities.
First, we found that approximately half of companies compile sales data using non-digital methods such as paper or Excel or spreadsheets. Meanwhile, those in charge of non-digital sales compilation feel burdened by "collecting sales data" (48.9%) and "transcribing and compiling sales data" (44.4%), and face challenges such as "rework due to compilation or input errors" (66.7%). In response to these challenges, over 80% hope that digitizing sales compilation will "solve these issues," and expressed a desire to use the time saved by automating tasks for "deep analysis of sales data and report creation" (46.7%).
This survey highlighted the inefficiencies in sales aggregation operations in office buildings and commercial facilities. In response to this situation, many companies are calling for increased business value through digitalization. Furthermore, by improving operational efficiency, companies can expect to be able to allocate the time saved to strategic tasks, leading to more effective business operations.
For digitizing field reports, use "i-Reporter"
"i-Reporter" is a field report system with the top market share in Japan*. Anyone can easily digitize reports generated in stores, such as inventory management tasks like receiving and shipping and stocktaking, and QSC checks. Digitized reports can be simplified with various input efficiency functions, such as automatic input, photography, and barcode reading, reducing input errors and omissions. It also speeds up the sharing, aggregation, storage, and search of information after reporting. Anyone can easily digitize familiar field reports using the same layout, so it's easy to use without the need for training on-site staff.
*｜Fuji Chimera Research Institute, Inc. published on August 8, 2023
Industry-specific IT Investment/Digital Solutions Market 2024 Edition
I-2 Paperless on-site document solutions market share: 48.6% (vendor share and volume in FY2023)
