Hitachi, Ltd. began offering the “Station Operations Application Suite,” which digitally supports the work of railway station staff and crew in one place, on July 1, 2026. To address the challenges of the railway industry, such as worsening labor shortages and increasing operational complexity, we aim to address these challenges with SaaS-based solutions that combine IT and on-site expertise.

The emergence of a super app that supports integrated station operations

Hitachi, Ltd. launched the “Station Operations Application Suite” (commonly known as the Station Suite) on July 1, 2026, is a service that allows station staff, crew members, and commanders to manage the diverse daily tasks performed by station staff, drivers, and commanders on smart devices in an integrated manner. Traditionally, functions such as guidance, communication, and work management at stations were often operated through separate systems or analog means, making information fragmentation a major challenge.

This service is based on a “super app” that integrates various functions, and on top of that, dedicated “mini apps” such as communication support, patrol and roll call management operate. Please refer to the diagram below.

This integration allows station staff to grasp “what needs to be done today” and “priority responses” in real time on a single screen of their tablet device. For example, if an unexpected task occurs, you can directly open the related screen from the notification to start responding, preventing missed information. Additionally, a web app for administrators is available, allowing them to view the implementation status across multiple stations from an overarching perspective.

Adaptability to the Field Obtained from Demonstration Experiments with Sagami Railway

In commercializing the “Station Suite,” a demonstration experiment conducted in fiscal 2025 with the cooperation of Sagami Railway played a major role. In this demonstration, we utilized functions such as work schedule management and patrol management in actual station operations to thoroughly identify field-level challenges in organizing daily operations and utilizing applications. By directly reflecting the voices of station staff on site, we realize a truly user-friendly interface design that goes beyond mere digitization.

Following the confirmation of its effectiveness and suitability for business operations through experiments, considerations are underway to expand the application of this suite to all Sagami Railway stations by July 2026. Since the work performed on-site is automatically stored as digital records, managers can track their progress in real time, which is a major advantage. The results of demonstration experiments are utilized throughout product specifications as a foundation for digitally sharing know-how cultivated on-site and promoting standardization of operations and quality stabilization.

[Background of Management and Strategy] The Future Envisioned by Lumada and HMAX

At the core of the digital railway solution ‘HMAX Mobility’

The launch of this service is positioned as a key element of Hitachi’s data-driven mobility solution, “HMAX Mobility.” At the “Hitachi Investor Day 2026,” Hitachi announced its mobility business strategy, which consists of three pillars: signaling and control, vehicles, and digital, with a goal to raise the digital sector’s revenue composition ratio to 11 percent by fiscal year 2027.

HMAX (Hitachi Rail’s Managed Autonomous X-platform) is a Lumada solution that predicts vehicle failures and optimizes maintenance, and has already been installed on approximately 2,500 trainsets worldwide, achieving steady results. The “Station Suite” complements the HMAX portfolio, closely connecting hardware data such as vehicles and signals with on-site operations at stations. By integrating Hitachi’s strengths in OT (Control and Operation Technology) with IT, we aim to build a multimodal transportation ecosystem that not only optimizes operations in real time but also streamlines overall station operations.

Hitachi’s medium-term management plan aims to expand the service ratio

In its medium-term management plan “Inspire 2027,” Hitachi has placed the digital business “Lumada” at the core of its growth, and has announced a policy to increase the proportion of Lumada business in total group sales to 50 percent by fiscal 2027. Revenue from the mobility sector in fiscal year 2025 is expected to reach 1.3215 trillion yen, and the adjusted EBITA margin has improved to 9.2 percent. However, going forward, further increasing the proportion of recurring and software-based businesses remains a management challenge.

SaaS-based services like the “Station Suite” not only reduce deployment load by eliminating the need for dedicated server construction but also offer stable revenue contributions through continuous usage. Hitachi is rapidly expanding its global footprint, including completing the acquisition of Thales’ railway signaling business (GTS), and its expertise in digitalizing station operations cultivated domestically can be seen as a stepping stone to future global markets. By accelerating the shift toward high-profit software businesses, we aim to achieve an ambitious revenue target of over 11 percent adjusted EBITA margin for fiscal year 2027.

[Future Developments and Focus] Advancement of social infrastructure beyond railway DX

Digital solutions to labor shortages and increasing operational complexity

The railway industry is currently facing a serious structural challenge in Japan, which is a labor shortage due to population decline. Especially in highly skilled tasks like operations and command, the experience of veterans is heavily relied upon, making the transfer of skills an urgent task. Moreover, the demands on the ground are becoming increasingly complex each year, such as handling inbound visitors and further strengthening safety measures. In such an environment, the role of digital tools like the “Station Suite” is extremely significant.

By visualizing operations through digitalization, even inexperienced young staff can make appropriate decisions, which is expected to reduce risks caused by human error. By integrating with existing solutions such as Hitachi’s “Support Service for Guidance Services for Mobility Restrictions Users,” we simultaneously improve service quality by providing smooth guidance to wheelchair users. Automating and streamlining operations enables limited human resources to be redirected to higher-value customer service, becoming key to enhancing the sustainability of railway operations.

Horizontal expansion into other industries and realization of sustainable operations

Hitachi plans to continuously expand the functions of the “Station Suite,” aiming to leverage insights gained from on-site use for AI-driven analysis and business process improvement. Furthermore, leveraging our expertise as a SaaS provider, we are considering expanding beyond the railway industry to other sectors such as electric power, aviation, and public sectors. All types of social infrastructure that require advanced on-site operations and sustainable operations are targets for this solution.

In this way, railway DX initiatives have the potential to evolve beyond a single industry into social innovation projects that enhance the resilience of society as a whole. To realize Hitachi’s vision of a “society where the environment, happiness, and economic growth are harmonious,” digital technology supports on-site operations and creates a more comfortable working environment for employees—this is the true result of DX. Going forward, attention will be focused on how Hitachi will lead the transformation of social infrastructure by leveraging its global network and advanced cybersecurity system. The diagram below illustrates Hitachi’s security strategy.

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