OBC Enhances 'Bokan Cloud Edge' with Multilingual Support, Covering Nearly 90% of Languages Spoken by Foreign Workers to Foster Inclusive Work Environments

OBC (Obic Business Consultant Co., Ltd.; President and CEO: Narifumi Wada; Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo), a developer and provider of core business systems such as Bokan Cloud and Bokan Accounting, has enhanced its employee-facing service 'Bokan Cloud Edge' with multilingual support covering approximately 90% of languages used by foreign workers (*1). This initiative supports the creation of inclusive work environments where diverse talent can work with confidence.

(*1) Notification status from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 'Status of Foreign Employment' (as of October 31, Reiwa 7)

Background

Japan has been expanding the acceptance of foreign workers due to labor shortages. Foreign workers now account for over half of the increase in domestic employment in 2025 (*2), becoming a vital part of corporate operations. However, the growing number of foreign workers has intensified language barriers between HR staff and employees, making it essential to establish multilingual work environments, especially for HR and labor procedures.

For foreign workers, HR and labor procedures often involve complex terminology, making it difficult to understand content in a non-native language. As a result, many report difficulties such as 'not knowing the correct way to submit attendance' or 'not understanding how to fill out year-end tax adjustment forms,' leading to delays and filing errors.

HR staff also face increased workloads due to follow-ups with non-Japanese-speaking employees, verification of submissions, and reprocessing rejected applications. The inability of foreign workers to smoothly complete HR procedures has become a burden for both employees and HR personnel.

In response, 'Bokan Cloud Edge,' designed to reform employee workstyles, now supports the languages used by approximately 90% of foreign workers in Japan. This update aims to eliminate language-related anxiety and errors, supporting the creation of safe and inclusive work environments.

(*2) Notification status from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 'Status of Foreign Employment' (as of October 31, Reiwa 7)

Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 'Labour Force Survey (Basic Results) 2025 (Reiwa 7) Average'

Multilingual Support in 'Bokan Cloud Edge'

In addition to the previously supported Japanese and English, the service now supports 10 languages in total, including Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Burmese, Portuguese, Korean, Thai, and Spanish.

Employees can simply select their preferred language, and menus and fields will be automatically translated, enabling them to understand content accurately and proceed with procedures without confusion.

This multilingual support is available in 'Bokan i Cloud HR DX Suite,' 'Bokan Edge Labor Management Digitization Cloud,' 'Bokan Edge Attendance Management Cloud,' 'Bokan Edge Payroll Statement Digitization Cloud,' and 'Bokan Edge Year-End Adjustment Filing Cloud.'

Benefits of Multilingual Support

◆ Supporting Employee 'Ease of Work'

Employees can manage daily attendance and labor procedures in their native language, enabling smooth and error-free submissions while reducing processing time. They can also review payroll statements in their native language, accurately understanding payment amounts and eliminating language-related anxiety—contributing to a more secure and comfortable work environment.

Additionally, the smartphone app 'Bokan Edge,' designed to support employee convenience, is also multilingual. With intuitive operation from familiar smartphones, foreign workers can use it effortlessly, reducing procedural burdens.

◆ Supporting HR Staff 'Efficiency'

With employees now able to understand and operate procedures in their native language, HR staff experience a significant reduction in inquiries and individual follow-ups. Furthermore, the suppression of filing errors and omissions reduces time spent on verification, corrections, and reprocessing—achieving both workload reduction and improved efficiency for HR personnel.

Future Outlook

OBC has previously worked through 'Bokan Cloud Edge' to enhance accessibility, including English support and improved web accessibility, aiming to provide equitable services for all employees and support corporate DX.

Going forward, OBC will continue evolving as a business infrastructure that enables diverse talent to thrive, supporting the creation of work environments where everyone—regardless of nationality, language, or background—can work with confidence.