ODA Unboxed: NTT streamlines processes to deliver 25% efficiency increase

NTT, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is among the largest telecommunications companies worldwide. NTT’s business consists of integrated ICT, regional communications, global solutions, real estate, energy, and more, with over 900 subsidiaries globally.

TM Forum is pleased to announce that NTT has been awarded 'Running on ODA' status for their successful implementation of ODA within the real-world environments of their 115 operating companies in Japan. It has helped them to streamline their process by 25% through improved efficiency.

We spoke to Ken Komazawa, Vice President of IT Strategy Office at NTT to understand how ODA benefits their organization and customers.

Why was it important for you to align your architecture to ODA?

Rooted in NTT Group's ambitious 'Your Value Partner 2025' strategy, our journey to transform internally and externally needed a holistic approach. With a thorough assessment of over 100 areas for improvement, reforming four legacy back-office systems was the first step to drive our digital transformation.

We opted for a consolidated "big bang" approach focused on our billing, approval, finance, and procurement systems. To manage 115 companies, we needed a common, standardized enterprise architecture to ensure we had a single view. This is why we chose to adopt ODA as our framework to ensure we developed a structured, uniform data environment.

Aligning our architecture with ODA was a strategic move for us, and it has enabled us to sharpen our global edge. Our group needed an agile, scalable architecture that would adapt rapidly to our dynamic landscape and enable us to introduce disruptive technologies and enable quick management decisions.

One example prior to the ODA implementation, was the absence of a shared architecture which hindered our ability to efficiently utilize and share data across the group, resulting in disparate systems and isolated operations despite our group identity. ODA provided the framework needed to unify our operations, fostering collaboration and efficiency across all the group's entities within Japan.

What tangible benefits did it bring to you and your customers?

Previously, our back-office systems were individually customized to meet diverse business needs, resulting in high operational costs and cumbersome data management processes. Employees had to grapple with switching between systems to input data, leading to inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and frustration.

By transforming our four legacy systems utilizing the ODA architecture, we were able to streamline our processes by 25%. This is projected to deliver significant cost savings:

These savings not only bolster our financial resilience but also enhance our ability to respond swiftly to market dynamics and customer needs.

This is not the only benefit, the transformation positions us to leverage data-driven insights for real-time management decisions, enhancing our responsiveness to market dynamics. Standardizing codes and processes, unifying data flow and warehouse, was the initial step to build a data driven digital platform and help drive strategic business plans that will bring value to our customers, stakeholders, and society.

In essence, the transition to ODA represents more than just a technological upgrade — it signifies a fundamental shift in how we operate and deliver value to our customers. By embracing agility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, we are poised to unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable growth in the ever-evolving telecoms landscape.

What challenges did you face in adopting ODA as your reference architecture, and how did you tackle these?

Our systems were uniquely homegrown based on the Japanese or, moreover, NTT culture using Japanese language. Replacing multiple legacy systems, which were deeply rooted in our Japanese culture and language, to a global standard packaged solution was complex.

To tackle this, we took a dual approach. The group collaborated on the architecture, led by the Holdings company, while also engaging end users through feedback sessions. This inclusive approach reduced resistance to change and facilitated smoother adoption of ODA.

How did your staff gain expertise with ODA and learn how to use it effectively?

At NTT, we have our own R&D team that focuses on studying TM Forum's ODA and standards. When we were designing the enterprise architecture for NTT Group, we relied on the expertise of this team.

Nowadays, the CoE team regularly shares information about ODA, as well as other topics like Open APIs, ODA Components and SID, with the rest of the NTT Group in Japan. This ongoing education helps keep everyone aligned and up-to-date.