System Origin is based in Shizuoka-city, Japan, and specializes in applications development for the taxi industry. The company needed a long-term secure operating system for its Super Taxi System solution that would reduce validating test requirements, and provide increased revenue opportunities for its customers. System Origin partnered with Ryoyo Electro Corporation to deploy Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems as the operating system for its computer telephony integration/customer management software, “Telehai”. The selection of Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems has ensured that Systems Origin has product availability for 15 years, minimizing validation test requirements. The Super Taxi System is now used by almost 900 taxi companies and has improved the operations of their taxi fleet, resulting in increased sales for System Origin customers.
Situation
System Origin Co., Ltd. is a software developer with its headquarters and Research and Development Center located in Shizuoka-city, Japan. The company began operations in September 1982 and was established as a corporation in February 1983. What distinguishes System Origin is its specialization in application development for the public transport industry, specifically taxi cabs. As a result of its expertise, nearly 900 taxi companies out of 7,000 nationwide have adopted System Origin’s products.
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By adopting the latest hardware and operation systems from Microsoft, we can concentrate on the development and distribution of the applications- this is the basic philisophy of our conpany. |
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Takehide Kato, Executive Director, System Origin |
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The taxi cab industry has traditionally been slow in the uptake of technology. Various electronic devices were introduced in the 1980s for the purpose of dispatching taxis or easing the burden of taxi drivers. Operation rate is an important factor in the success of taxi companies, and to boost this, many taxi operators in Japan have adopted a dispatch control system.
Tomoyuki Unno, Vice President, Representative Director, System Origin, explains: “When the taxi call center receives a phone call from a potential customer, the dispatch control system dispatches a taxi using radio instruction to the nearest taxi that meets all required conditions.”
System Origin developed the “Super Taxi System”, a solution which consists of two applications: “Takukon” and “Telehai”. These can be operated either as stand-alone applications or as a client server system, depending on the needs of the taxi company. The main feature of the office work/business management solution, Takukon, is its semi-customized software equipped with basic functions such as driving control system, payroll calculation, outstanding payment management, accident management and financial accounting. The software was designed by System Origin’s sales engineers to meet the unique circumstances of each geographical area and specific requirements of each taxi company.
The customer telephony integration (CTI)/customer management software, Telehai, is a highly-specialized product designed to control hardware such as telephone and radio frequency for taxis. Telehai software controls CTI and automatic vehicle monitoring (AVM), and enhances efficiency and quality from receiving a call to sending a dispatch order.
The key feature of Telehai is the CTI, which searches the customer database based on the caller’s phone number and provides the dispatch operator with the destination history, which appears on a computer screen. When a call comes in from a new customer with no record in the database, the operator can check the roadmap/residential map based on the destination address provided by the customer. As the result, the operator can deliver a rapid and accurate dispatch order to a taxi driver.
To enhance the basic systems, “AVM D-800” is available as an advanced feature. It integrates with radio and connects to the AVM system, which transmits details of localities obtained from a GPS device loaded in cars, as well as status information--hired or available--through a radio frequency for taxis. By sending such information to the Telehai server, the taxi company can track and locate quickly the nearest taxi available when they receive a call from a customer.
When Microsoft Partner Ryoyo Electro learned that System Origin had been struggling with the large number of man-hours required for validation testing when completing upgrades for its existing Open License operating system, the company proposed a solution.
Akihiko Kitamura, Group Leader, Sales Group 1, Ryoyo Electro Corporation, explains: “Telehai is a system which links closely with hardware, and its computer telephony integration system, interactive voice response system and wireless device need to be controlled from the PC. Such systems require an enormous amount of validation testing each time the operating system is upgraded.”
Solution
Ryoyo Corporation proposed Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems due to its long-term availability and industry standard appeal. Reviewing the proposal as well as the terms and conditions, System Origin made a decision to adopt Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems for its Telehai software. Katsuhiro Tajima, Unit Leader, System Division 2, System Origin, explains the reasons for the selection. “The price was attractive as was the simple purchase process.”
Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Runtime Edition for Embedded Systems were built into all the CTI terminals as the server operating system and database for Telehai.
No modification was needed to the Telehai application when deploying the new operating system, enabling the company to keep its focus on its customers.
Takehide Kato, Executive Director, System Origin explains, “Because we knew there would be complete compatibility between our solution and the embedded operating system, we did not need to modify the applications. By adopting the latest hardware and operating systems from Microsoft, we can concentrate on the development and distribution of the applications – this is the basic philosophy of our company.”
System Origin also selected Windows Server 2008 as the server operating system, Windows 7 as the client operating system, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 for data storage for its Takukon software.
Benefits
By adopting Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems with its long-term availability, System Origin has reduced the number of the validation tests needed due to an extended time between operating system upgrades, and consequently has reduced the hours needed for such tests.
Increases Business for Customers
System Origin is using Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems to add value to its customers who are taxi companies. Specifically the organization is focused on enhancing operating rates and reducing the wait times of taxi customers. Unno comments, “By adopting our Telehai software, the taxi company can cut the time it takes from receiving a phone call to dispatching a car to a customer. This means that the customer’s wait time can be reduced significantly, making it easier for the taxi operator to attract new customers and keep regular customers.” The end result for System Origin’s customers is an improved operating rate and the potential to increase sales. There is a flow on effect to the operator’s labor costs because a simplified dispatch control can be operated by a greater number of employees.
Enhances Sales Opportunities
System Origin appreciates the numerous development tools and technical information available for Windows, which supports its software development process. “As the Embedded products come with the guaranteed 15-year product availability, our customers can choose the same version if they purchase additional terminals later,” says Kato.
A reduction in the number of validation tests means quicker time to market for solution enhancements. “Validation tests required for upgrades used to require a large number of man-hours over a three month period. Minimizing this is a great advantage for us,” confirms Kato.
Ensures Product Availability and Compatibility
By adopting Windows Server 2003 for Embedded Systems as the operating system, System Origin has reduced the man-hours required for validation testing, and feels confident in its adoption of an industry standard operating system. Unno comments, “Windows is the de facto operating system, and we value its continuity highly. Since a new version is released at an appropriate time and cycle; a troubleshooting facility is always available; and patches are regularly released; we have a strong sense of security. Windows also has high compatibility with commonly-used desktop applications such as Microsoft Office, so all our customers are satisfied.”
Provides New Product Opportunities
Striving to create a taxi business model for a new era, System Origin has developed a new concept, “Ubiquitous Taxi”, which makes use of technology to improve service levels to customers. Unno explains, “To enable customers to take taxis of their preferred choice, at any time and place, we have created the concept of the Ubiquitous Taxi. We think it could be achieved through the centralized management of a customer database that contains the requests of taxi customers and information about taxi companies as well as driving conditions.”
Keywords: Server; Embedded Server
Windows Embedded
Windows Embedded is a high-performance and highly reliable platform used by innovative OEMs to deliver devices that stand out through rich user experiences and seamless connections to the world of Windows. The Windows Embedded family of products includes Windows Embedded CE, Windows Embedded Standard, Windows Embedded Enterprise, Windows Embedded POSReady, Windows Embedded Server and Windows Embedded Automotive.
For more information visit:
www.microsoft.com/embedded
For More Information
For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to: www.microsoft.com
For more information about Ryoyo Electro Corporation products and services, call +81-3-3546-5050 or visit the Web site at: www.ryoyo.co.jp
For more information about System Origin products and services, call +81-54361-0210 or visit the Web site at:
www.system-origin.jp
This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
