Seven-Eleven Japan Promoting Paperless Accounting in Stores

Seven-Eleven Japan Co., a major convenience store chain in Japan, has moved toward a paperless system by converting to the use of electronic data instead of paper for most supplier transaction and accounting records. All company stores switched from a paper-based to an electronic accounting system on October 1, 2005.

The new store accounting system uses electronic tracking for invoices and packing slips related to purchase orders that were generated by computer. By introducing the system, the company aims to (1) simplify the work of collecting and processing invoices and packing slips, and thereby increase efficiency; (2) reduce the number of accounting records kept at stores; (3) improve the accuracy and productivity of accounting procedures; and (4) cut costs and protect the environment by reducing paper consumption.

By moving toward paperless operations, the company estimates that it can reduce the amount of invoices, packing slips, and accounting records by about 90 percent, or about 220 million pieces of paper per year. Counting affiliated stores, suppliers, and the company itself, Seven-Eleven Japan estimates that the cost reductions associated with transaction records and related personnel costs will amount to about 1.4 billion yen per year (about U.S.$12 million).



Posted: 2006/01/18 08:48:21 AM
Japanese version