BCP Planning Progresses, Yet Challenges in Personnel Verification and Information Consolidation Persist; Importance of Paper Documents During Power Outages Highlighted

Epson Sales Japan Corp. conducted a survey on Business Continuity Plan (BCP) awareness and practices among companies and local governments nationwide. The survey analyzed the status of BCP formulation and the practical challenges faced during emergencies to identify necessary preparations for maintaining business and administrative functions. While BCP formulation is progressing amidst diversifying risks such as natural disasters, communication failures, and cyber threats, the survey revealed significant operational challenges in real-world scenarios.

Key findings indicate that while BCP formulation rates exceed 50%, approximately 30-40% of organizations have experienced operational shutdowns. 'Employee safety verification' was identified as the most significant challenge, suggesting that initial information gathering and sharing processes heavily influence subsequent responses. Furthermore, over 60% of respondents recognized the necessity of 'paper documents' during power or communication outages, highlighting the importance of analog output methods. Additionally, about 20% of organizations invest over 10 million yen annually in BCP measures, indicating proactive preparation.

By industry, local governments showed the highest formulation rate at 80.2%, while nearly half of the manufacturing sector reported experiencing operational shutdowns, underscoring industry-specific risk profiles. Epson aims to support resilient operations by leveraging low-power multifunction printers and projectors to create hybrid information-sharing environments that combine digital and analog capabilities.