Marubeni Corporation, a leading general trading company, reconstructed its Tokyo headquarters building and began operations at the new headquarters in May 2021. As part of the relocation to the new headquarters, Marubeni adopted an extensive lineup of DTEN devices in the conference rooms.

 Marubeni Corporation, a leading general trading company, reconstructed its Tokyo headquarters building and began operations at the new headquarters in May 2021. As part of the relocation to the new headquarters, Marubeni adopted an extensive lineup of DTEN devices in the conference rooms.

Marubeni operates globally in a broad range of fields, including lifestyle, food and agriculture, metals, energy and chemicals, power and infrastructure services, finance, leasing and real estate, aerospace and mobility, information solutions, next-generation business development, and next-generation corporate development. Founded in May 1858, the company currently operates 130 locations worldwide and employs more than 50,000 people across the entire group.

The new headquarters aims to serve as a hub for the seamless integration of business, urban life, nature, daily activities, and the arts. It features state-of-the-art offices and performance capabilities alongside facilities dedicated to fostering community engagement and development.

The new headquarters has also fully embraced Zoom as its primary conferencing system, utilizing DTEN as the chosen devices for implementation. To suit the sizes of the conference rooms, approximately 200 devices were installed, including both 75-inch and 55-inch DTEN D7 all-in-one video collaboration devices, as well as DTEN ME all-in-one desktop video conference solution.

■ Reason for Choosing DTEN

Previous use of various conferencing systems

Marubeni is currently reforming its in-house work style and communications as a key initiative within its digital transformation (DX) strategy. The company is dedicated to “anytime, anywhere, with anyone” communication through the efficient use of remote communication technologies, specifically web conferencing services.

In anticipation of the headquarters relocation in 2021, the IT Service Section, Information Strategy Department began evaluating and comparing solutions for large touch-panel displays and conference systems in May 2018. The company had long utilized videoconferencing, web conferencing, and audio conferencing as integral components of its meeting system. However, according to Mr. Kojima, General Manager of IT Service Section, IT Service Section, Information Strategy Department, “video and audio conferencing present various challenges, including the need for specific devices for each.”

A conference system centralized on Zoom, emphasizing DTEN’s all-in-one solutions

The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of web conferencing technology, particularly centered around Zoom, have led to a strategic consolidation of Marubeni’s efforts into web conferencing. Marubeni decided to make Teams available to our partners and began looking for devices that satisfied our requirements.

When selecting devices, our primary concern was compatibility with Zoom. We also placed significant emphasis on the costs associated with installation and usage, as well as functionality, convenience, and the simplicity of the physical wiring.

 DTEN’s D7 and ME models are certified by Zoom Communications Inc. as “Zoom Rooms(*) Certified Hardware,” and the all-in-one displays include microphones, speakers, and cameras, greatly simplifying wiring.

*Zoom Rooms is a solution that allows meetings to be initiated, meeting rooms to be reserved, content to be shared, and participants to collaborate via HD video from office conference rooms or other locations.

The DTEN D7, launched in 2018, was still considered cutting-edge technology when we began considering it. “Initially, we were evaluating microphones, speakers, cameras, and monitors individually. However, prioritizing cost efficiency and convenience, we decided to concentrate our efforts on all-in-one display solutions. As this was our first time adopting the D7 in Japan, we met with the CEO of DTEN and considered suggestions from Hakuto Co., Ltd.,” recalls Ms. Kotake of the IT Service Section, Information Strategy Department.”

■ Results of Adoption

Incredibly convenient one-tap meetings earn high praise following implementation

The DTEN device screens installed in Marubeni’s conference rooms currently feature a “Meeting” icon for instantly initiating a Zoom meeting, a “Join” icon for participating in a Zoom meeting, and a “Microsoft Teams” icon for accessing Teams meetings. The company includes about 6,000 Zoom users with about 10,000 meetings organized each month, with around 25%—approximately 2,500 meetings every month—initiated via the “Meeting” and “Join” icons on DTEN devices.

Following installation, significant internal feedback was reported within the company. Following the adoption of the new conferencing system in May 2021, a regular user survey was conducted in September of the same year. The results indicated that the new devices were well received with approximately 50% of respondents rating the system as “Very good” or “Good.” Additional efforts to promote usage were enforced, and a user survey conducted in September 2024 showed an increase to 74%.

According to the survey, in-house users highlighted several positive aspects of using the system. They noted that “The hybrid model of teleworking and office attendance is operating smoothly,” “The screen sharing feature of the web conferencing system makes creating a paperless environment easy,” and “It’s a big advantage to have access to both Zoom and Teams.”

DTEN’s patient response to and resolution of the issue of air conditioning noise during Teams meetings

 At Marubeni, the use of Teams with DTEN devices is facilitated by the Direct Guest Join feature in Zoom Rooms, which allows users to participate in Microsoft Teams meetings via Zoom Rooms. However, when first using this feature to join Teams meetings, audio disturbances caused by the acoustics of the meeting room, sound masking, and interference from air conditioning noise were a problem.

The IT Service Section, Information Strategy Department addressed requests from in-house users regarding this problem and worked with DTEN to resolve the situation.

“We received substantial support from DTEN. We tested firmware that had been adjusted to address the issue, and when the problem persisted, we requested other modifications, which were met with a patient and accommodating response. This critical issue has now been resolved, and the system is receiving high praise from in-house users,” notes Ms. Kotake.

■ Future Developments

More than four and a half years have now passed since the implementation of the DTEN D7 in May 2021. Since then, the successor model, the DTEN D7X, has also been launched. Marubeni actively began purchasing additional units of the latest D7X model in September 2024. This initiative was tied to the establishment of new conference rooms and aligns with the maintenance cycle requirements of the existing DTEN D7 units.

 In discussing future utilization of DTEN devices, Mr. Kojima notes, “We are exploring the integration of generative AI to enhance functionalities such as real-time transcription of meeting audio, generation of meeting minutes and summaries, creation of task lists, and other applications.” He emphasizes the importance of DTEN devices in accurately capturing audio during conferences to ensure effective communication. 

“DTEN has provided a wide range of invaluable support, including in enhancing the audio quality of our Teams platform. In addition, DTEN devices serve as essential conferencing devices, improving user efficiency. We look forward to their continued support and the introduction of the latest features,” Mr. Kojima said about his expectations of DTEN. He concluded, “In our endeavor to enhance the IT environment, we hope to leverage AI-powered features and other ICT capabilities to elevate the digital proficiency of the entire Marubeni Group and to cultivate the skills of each individual.”

Company name: Marubeni Corporation

Address: 1-4-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Established: December 1, 1949

Number of employees: 4,337 (50,200 employees in the Marubeni Group) *As of March 31, 2024

URL: https://www.marubeni.com