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Strengthening Our Internal Structure |
Strengthening our Internal Structure Our traditional backbone information system was plagued by a host of problems that included poor compatibility with the Internet, slow information processing speeds, and high costs of storage capacity. Determined to eliminate these problems, in April 2002 Yamato Transport rebuilt its information network into an open system that operates 24 hours a day, has a large-volume database, and eliminates restrictions on product and service-related information. This new system is expected to play a key role in allowing us to better respond to customer needs. Buyback of Company Stock As one effective use of cash, Yamato Transport announced a buyback of 4.5 million Company shares at a cost of ¥10 billion. This buyback resulted in a decrease in the total number of shares issued by the Company as well as an accompanying decline in shareholders equity. As a result, income per share and ROE rose, contributing to an increase in shareholder value. |
Fortifying Our Sales Network Within a ten-year period, we are planning to open a large number of small-sized sales outlets, thus expanding our network of outlets from 2,800 at present, to 5,000. By increasing the size of our network in this manner, we will be better able to propose more convenient and pleasant lifestyles to consumers. Although there is a possibility this will lead to higher overall rental costs, we are making our best efforts to maintain capital efficiency through measures such as switching away from the use of high-rent buildings leased during the era of Japan's bubble economy to lower rent facilities, as well as improving efficiency by taking such steps as consolidating business affairs and striving to minimize costs. |
Fortifying Our Service for Customers and Shippers |
Fortifying the Quality of Our
Deliveries As both a pioneer in the parcel delivery industry as well as a market leader, Yamato Transport boasts an approximately 35% share of the entire parcel delivery market. The approximately 40,000 drivers who deliver parcels cover 46,000 million households, or 1,150 households per driver. Drivers are assigned specific areas, allowing them to establish bonds of trust with customers, a feature of our operations that distinguishes us from our competitors. The enhanced quality of this parcel delivery service is the wellspring of Yamato Transports competitiveness as well as an ongoing theme of the Companys operations. Developing Products and Enhancing Services to Respond to the Age of IT Yamato Transport has developed new products and enhanced its services in tandem with advances in IT. While basing its operations on the consumer-to-consumer (C2C) market, Yamato Transport is upgrading its services that utilize IT in all business-to-consumer (B2C) fields. During the fiscal year under review, we launched a TA-Q-BIN e-mail notification service that notifies customers of delivery dates and times as well as allows customers to change delivery dates and times. |
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Note: U.S. dollar amounts have been translated, for convenience only, at the rate of ¥133 to US$1. |