I mentioned earlier that we will expand the value provided through the edge IoT strategy by industry and sector. The Konica Minoltas edge platform that lies at the core of this is shared. Until now, for example, if we suppose that the office solutions, manufacturing, security, healthcare solutions, nursing care and retailing businesses written here were spun off into separate companies, just when you would think this would result in their activities being scattered, they opt to use the Konica Minolta edge IoT platform as a shared platform. At that point, we incorporate the IT know-how and the human resources we have cultivated through acquisitions into the whole, and also pull into the whole Group the monitoring and sensing capabilities of Viztek and Radiant that we obtained through acquisition, and provide insights into implicit challenges by industry and sector.
Only Konica Minolta can move forward with such a particular and nuanced approach to these six domains. With regard to why this leads to barriers to entry for other companies, the appendix to these materials contains explanations on the specific initiatives in each of those six domains, so please refer to that.
The important thing is to be close to the customer; in other words, as our sales companies call this the "Go To Market" strategy, combining the strengths we possess with the strengths of our partners to transform ourselves into integral value providers from the point of view of the customer. We will then reinforce the BICs, active at five major regions around the world, to work as IoT business centers. In other words, we will make our IoT plans where the business is, carry out any necessary development where the business is, and also incorporate our work with partners where the business is. From fiscal 2017, we will start creating these IoT business centers at five major regions around the world. We move ahead with absolute confidence that if we succeed in doing it this way, it will without doubt allow the businesses of Konica Minolta to differentiate their solutions and add value in three years' time.
With regard to the manufacturing industry solutions discussed here, in April we held a specific exhibition at Hannover Messe, while also announcing an alliance with leading sensing manufacturer SICK AG, and we will expand manufacturing industry solutions globally, primarily in Germany.
Only Konica Minolta can move forward with such a particular and nuanced approach to these six domains. With regard to why this leads to barriers to entry for other companies, the appendix to these materials contains explanations on the specific initiatives in each of those six domains, so please refer to that.
The important thing is to be close to the customer; in other words, as our sales companies call this the "Go To Market" strategy, combining the strengths we possess with the strengths of our partners to transform ourselves into integral value providers from the point of view of the customer. We will then reinforce the BICs, active at five major regions around the world, to work as IoT business centers. In other words, we will make our IoT plans where the business is, carry out any necessary development where the business is, and also incorporate our work with partners where the business is. From fiscal 2017, we will start creating these IoT business centers at five major regions around the world. We move ahead with absolute confidence that if we succeed in doing it this way, it will without doubt allow the businesses of Konica Minolta to differentiate their solutions and add value in three years' time.
With regard to the manufacturing industry solutions discussed here, in April we held a specific exhibition at Hannover Messe, while also announcing an alliance with leading sensing manufacturer SICK AG, and we will expand manufacturing industry solutions globally, primarily in Germany.