The firm resolve of a young communication designer challenging the transformation of a regional bank that connects with the community.
「日本“から世界”をぶち上げる」
The motif of the corporate logo is the "blue flame." The flame changes to blue as the temperature rises.
Employees working at Zeals possess qualities similar to the flame. An incredibly high level of heat and a steadfast will hidden in their hearts.
In this series, we would like to reveal the true nature of the flames that reside in them.
Aoi Kono (Mito-chan)
Graduated from the Faculty of International Studies at Chiba University. Started an internship as a new graduate in June 2021, joined Zeals as a new graduate in 2022. Led the initiative for new customer acquisition through the combined use of LINE advertising and chat commerce at a local bank in the first year. Communication designer in the fourth division. Serves as the project owner for local banks.
Nickname origin: Aoi → The crest of Mito Komon 'Aoi' → Mito → Mito-chan
Chat Commerce as a Bridge Connecting Financial Institutions and Customers
“Connect”
These are the words I wrote on the WILL BOARD, which expresses the will of Zeals. I chose these words from the desire to be a presence that can extend a necessary hand to those who feel lonely. Currently, as a communication designer in the Fourth Division, I am working hard on designing customer experiences to become a bridge connecting financial institutions and customers through chat commerce.
“Delivering Chat Commerce to Regional Banks”
The regional bank I am mainly in charge of is facing a transformative period due to factors such as population decline caused by a falling birthrate and aging population, shrinking regional economies, and market changes due to the rise of online banks. Many banks have a strength in providing attentive service at physical branches, but there is a new move to utilize social media and online channels to create optimal customer touchpoints tailored to target audiences. I feel that the chat commerce developed by Zeals contributes significantly by enabling the creation of long-term customer touchpoints using the official LINE account and providing personalized experiences to customers.
− Can you tell me about your career so far?
I joined Zeals in 2021 as an intern after receiving a job offer and was assigned to a team specializing in advertising management. At that time, I was completely clueless, but with the support of my seniors, I was in charge of managing advertising accounts focused on Sendai Bank. One of my successful experiences was being able to grow the account into one that generated nearly ten times the target conversions. After joining as a full-time employee, I have been daily interacting with corporate clients at regional banks as a communication designer since June 2022. Thanks to the hard work of the account planners, we have now implemented chat commerce at over ten regional banks nationwide in Japan.
− Is there anything you are particularly conscious of when dealing with regional bank clients?
“Become More Knowledgeable Than Anyone About Regional Banks”
Originally from the Kanto region, I wasn’t very familiar with regional banks. However, since I became the main person in charge, I am conscious of deeply understanding our customers, proactively conducting problem hearings, client visits, and market trend research. I focus on predicting not only the apparent issues that emerge from client feedback but also potential future challenges, so I can propose solutions proactively and guide resolutions.
“Listening to Genuine Voices”
Typically, communication designers often receive information from account planners, but I make a point to actively participate in client visits and regular meetings as mentioned earlier. By listening to genuine voices, I can gather
