SME owners face challenges in delegating administrative tasks to focus on strategy

Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in Japan face challenges in delegating administrative tasks, often spending excessive time on scheduling, document preparation, and routine communications. This prevents them from focusing on core strategic priorities such as business development and human resource training.

Mari Ito, representative of Nekonote Co., Ltd., suggests that business owners must distinguish between tasks that require their personal involvement and those that can be outsourced. The company provides support through ‘Executive Attendants’ (EA®), who handle not just administrative duties but also assist in decision-making and workflow organization. This model offers a flexible alternative to hiring full-time employees for inconsistent workloads.

Additionally, the integration of generative AI presents opportunities to automate back-office functions like drafting documents and creating meeting minutes. However, experts warn that AI alone is not a solution; businesses must first optimize complex workflows to avoid merely digitizing inefficient processes. Effective management requires a strategic balance between automated AI tools and human judgment for tasks involving interpersonal coordination and complex decision-making.