Established in 1979, Kao Logistics Co., Ltd. manages the logistics operations of the Kao Group. The company handles inventory management and delivery for Kao products—ranging from daily household goods like detergents and shampoos to cosmetics—as well as shared delivery services for retail chains. In July 2024, the company implemented the logistics-tailored version of "Weathernews for Business" across its operations, utilizing it to enhance employee safety and optimize delivery planning for approximately 2.4 billion items annually.
To fulfill their management philosophy of becoming "Japan’s safest and most reliable logistics company," how are they leveraging specialized weather data in practice? We spoke with Toshitsugu Miyasaka and Osamu Nakajima of the RC Promotion Department at Kao Logistics Co., Ltd. to find out.
Prioritizing Employee Safety Across 47 Nationwide Sites Through Specialized Logistics Weather Intelligence
The Kao brand embraces a wide array of daily household products deeply integrated into our everyday lives, including well-known names such as Attack, Magiclean, Clearclean, and Bioré. The Kao Group manages the entire product lifecycle in-house—from manufacturing and logistics to sales—establishing a robust system that keeps both stockouts and excess inventory as close to zero as possible.
Relying primarily on truck transport alongside shipping, rail, and air freight, Kao Logistics Co., Ltd. efficiently delivers goods manufactured by the Kao Group to retail stores.
"We operate 47 logistics bases across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, for inventory storage and management. To meet retailer delivery constraints—such as fulfilling morning orders in the afternoon—each base covers a relatively compact area of about two prefectures. Except for certain regions requiring air or sea transport, we utilize roughly 1,300 trucks daily, including both our own fleet and partner companies, to deliver Kao products safely and efficiently. Our in-house fleet consists of 161 trucks, including seven electric vehicles (EVs)," explains Mr. Miyasaka.
However, logistics operations inherently face numerous hazards, including traffic accidents. Establishing effective safeguards against severe weather risks—such as traffic delays caused by road closures, as well as heavy rain and strong winds—is indispensable.
Mr. Nakajima notes, "Previously, employees relied on various different weather forecasting tools. To centralize information, we started using the paid version of the consumer Weathernews app a few years ago, allowing individual staff members to check weather updates relevant to their specific duties. Over time, as we sought to expand access company-wide, managing individual accounts created administrative overhead and cost inefficiencies during personnel rotations. To streamline this, we evaluated 'Weathernews for Business'—a solution tailored specifically for the logistics industry—for unified company-wide adoption. After a trial period, we officially rolled it out across our operations."
Rerouting and Adjusting Delivery Schedules During Severe Weather Events Such as Typhoons and Heavy Snow
"Weathernews for Business" has been rolled out across automated warehouse facilities at all 47 nationwide bases. It is currently utilized by roughly 160 key staff members, including executive management, site operational leaders, and the Responsible Care (RC) Promotion Department, which drives environmental, health, and safety initiatives. The platform is currently leveraged around two core pillars: employee safety and retailer delivery planning.
"Above all else, protecting employee lives is our top priority. To ensure safety, quickly accessing high-precision weather data is indispensable. We continuously monitor conditions during severe weather, assessing whether employees can commute safely to and from work. During summer, we also pay close attention to heatstroke prevention for both drivers and warehouse staff," explains Mr. Miyasaka.
Mr. Nakajima adds, "Equally crucial is our ability to meet retailer requirements. Deliveries to retail stores are conducted according to predetermined schedules, but severe weather demands flexibility. For instance, if there is a risk of road closures due to an approaching typhoon, we proactively switch to safer, more efficient routes. When snow forecasts are issued, we don't just equip trucks with tire chains—we re-evaluate and adjust entire delivery plans. If a typhoon or heavy snowfall threatens major operational disruptions, we use predictive intelligence to decide whether employees should report to work and whether deliveries should proceed."
Accelerating Response Times by Receiving Mobile Alerts and Instantly Verifying Flooding and Road Closure Details on Desktop
Weather events impacting logistics operations range from heavy rain caused by typhoons and torrential downpours to snow, earthquakes, tsunamis, and storm surges. In single-story warehouses used for inventory storage and management, protecting facilities against rainwater inundation is a particularly critical challenge.
"In 2022, sudden torrential rain caused flood damage at our Shunan Logistics Center in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. On clear days, cargo is often kept outside or placed directly on the floor, meaning any water entering the warehouse can lead to significant damage. Now, having forecast data gives us the lead time needed to prepare in advance—such as elevating products on pallets—creating an operational environment where we can safeguard inventory from flood damage," explains Mr. Miyasaka.
In practice, the team receives weather risk alerts via push notifications on their smartphones and then verifies the details through the dedicated desktop website.
Mr. Nakajima notes, "We can now check weather risks for our specific locations with pinpoint precision. Having all 47 nationwide bases plotted on a map of Japan—where we can overlay road risk data, such as typhoon paths, storm zone predictions, and traffic impact forecasts on a single view—has proven invaluable."
Maximizing Mobile App Adoption Across All Locations to Minimize Operational Damage
While mobile push notifications have successfully driven higher usage among employees, adoption rates still vary across regions. Moving forward, the company plans to focus on internal awareness initiatives to boost mobile app engagement company-wide.
"During this year's typhoons, we held response meetings three times a day alongside our sales department, putting the data into action by elevating products on pallets, adjusting work schedules, and suspending deliveries as needed. Moving forward, we want every location nationwide to leverage predictive intelligence even further to keep operational damage to an absolute minimum," says Mr. Miyasaka.
By integrating specialized weather data into their daily operations, Kao Logistics Co., Ltd. continues its dedicated journey to remain "Japan’s safest and most reliable logistics company."
Mr. Miyasaka concludes, "We hold a profound responsibility to ensure a steady, reliable supply of essential products to the public. To fulfill that obligation faithfully, we remain committed to running our logistics operations with safety as our uncompromised top priority."
