Mr. Daisuke Yoshihara, General Sales Manager, Robotics Business, Yamaha Motor Europe

Has inflation or higher interest rates caused a slowdown in 2023, and are you expecting a rebound in business in 2024?
In 2023, even with challenges like higher prices and interest rates, Neotel Technology is finding good chances to grow in smart material handling. Our main product, the SMD BOX, is a machine that automates handling materials in factories, making things easier and more accurate. It's really helpful, especially now when industries are looking for more automated solutions.

Alongside the SMD BOX, we have our Smart Material Flow (SMF) software. This software works together with our machines like the SMD BOX. It helps manage materials from start to end in a smart way, making everything more efficient and reducing waste. This is really important in today's economy.

Will you be launching new products or services in 2024?
Looking at 2024, we are excited to improve our products even more. One big thing we're working on is Neo AI. This new tool will make it easier for people to use our SMD BOX and SMF software by letting them talk to the system in a simple way and create reports easily.

Have supply chain shortages caused problems, if so what has your team done to reduce issues for 2024?
We know getting materials has been hard lately. That's why our SMF software helps plan things just in time, so factories can keep running smoothly. We're focusing on making sure our customers can handle these tough times well.

With hiring remaining a challenge, what can the industry do to help develop skilled workers?
We also know finding skilled workers is hard. At Neotel, we're not just hiring people; we're also training our own team to be better. This helps us use our SMD BOX and SMF in the best way.

As we move forward, Neotel is all about making and improving smart ways to handle materials. We want to make sure our customers are ready for success now and in the future.