Selected for Hiroshima AI Sandbox: Starting Proof-of-Concept Development of an AI-Powered Interior Proposal Platform

Toward a new kind of AI-powered interior proposal

We have been selected for "Hiroshima AI Sandbox," a program run by Hiroshima Prefecture.

Through this selection, together with Sangetsu Corporation, a comprehensive interior company (headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Yasuo Kondo), we will advance the development of new interior proposal services and products that use AI technology, aiming to deliver solutions that help solve the challenges faced by local companies and improve operational efficiency.

What is Hiroshima AI Sandbox?

Hiroshima AI Sandbox is a project promoted by Hiroshima Prefecture to encourage the use of AI.

Its goal is to connect the AI technologies and ideas of companies and startups from inside and outside the prefecture to real business and to solving social issues, and it supports proof-of-concept (PoC) trials and the development of new services.

WAN's proposal, "Coordinate AI," was highly evaluated, leading to its selection for the project.

Click here for Hiroshima Prefecture's official website

Background: challenges in interior proposals

At housing companies, builders, and showrooms, proposing the best products for each customer from a large number of interior products requires a great deal of time and experience.

In addition, it is difficult to give every visiting customer sufficient attention, and it is said that staff are actually able to serve only about 10% of them.

Other challenges include:

• An extremely large number of products
• Difficulty for customers to imagine the finished result

As a result, there is a need for more efficient and easier-to-understand ways of making proposals.

Developing an AI-powered interior proposal platform

The platform we are developing with Sangetsu Corporation aims to use AI to analyze users' preferences and the image they have of their space, and propose the best combinations from a large number of candidate products.

In addition to displaying an image of the finished result, it will present the reasons behind each proposal, such as:

• Why a product suits the user
• What tastes and spatial images it matches

This helps users choose products with confidence.

We are also considering a system that can simulate wallpaper and flooring based on photos of the user's home or reference images, with the aim of creating a service that lets users check the finished result in more concrete terms.

Expected benefits

The AI interior proposal platform we are developing is intended mainly for businesses that make interior proposals, such as housing companies, builders, and showrooms.

(1) More efficient proposal work

By having AI narrow down candidates from a vast product lineup, the time needed to make proposals is shortened, allowing staff to focus on providing higher-quality customer service.

(2) Supporting customer service in showrooms

When a showroom is crowded, it can be difficult to give every visitor sufficient attention.

Using AI for preliminary assessments and product proposals is expected to help make good use of waiting time and increase opportunities to serve customers.

(3) Supporting customers who have not yet settled on an image

Even when a customer has only a vague idea, such as "I want a room with this kind of atmosphere," we aim to enable the AI to analyze their tastes based on their preferences and reference images and propose specific candidate products.

(4) Accumulating data to improve proposal quality

Going forward, by accumulating and analyzing usage data, we also expect to improve the accuracy of proposals according to region, housing conditions, and user trends.

About Sangetsu Corporation

A comprehensive interior company founded in 1849. It holds one of the top market shares in Japan for interior finishing materials such as wallcoverings and flooring, and supports the creation of a wide range of spaces, including homes, commercial facilities, and offices. Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, it operates a broad range of businesses in Japan and overseas, from planning, developing, and selling interior products to spatial design, design, and construction.

Looking ahead

WAN will proceed with proof-of-concept trials in collaboration with Sangetsu Corporation and refine the platform into a service that can be used in real-world settings.

We will also apply the knowledge gained through this initiative to help promote DX using AI in a wide range of fields.

About WAN

World Area Networks Co., Ltd. supports clients in solving their business challenges and promoting DX through system development that uses AI, XR, and 3D technologies.

We place importance on "systems that can actually be used in the field," and provide consistent support from planning and development through proof of concept and operation.

Contact

For consultations on using AI, promoting DX, or improving operations, please feel free to contact us.

WAN provides end-to-end support, from planning and developing AI solutions tailored to your challenges through to proof of concept.