| Distributed Application for Credit Risk Management are Provided on the Internet. World's First Credit Risk Information Supply Chain Pilot System Using Open Standards, XBRL and XML/Web Services on the Web. 21 June, 2002 Tokyo Institute of Technology Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), Toshiba Corporation, Tokyo Shoko Research, Ltd., and Fujitsu Limited today announced co-development of a pilot "Credit Information Supply Chain" system that supports simplified construction of credit risk management systems. The Internet-based system, which utilizes XBRL and XML/Web services, will be put on the Tokyo Tech's web site (http://www.craft.titech.ac.jp) from today. The Credit Information Supply Chain system allows users to connect to and receive financial information, processing, and analysis services from specialized suppliers. In this experiment, business partners' financial information required for credit risk management is described in XBRL, an XML-based international standard language for financial information. Credit Risk Management System can be built easily by combining those application modules and such information services are provided via Internet. (See attachment). This is the world's first pilot system covering a full financial information supply chain of financial information supplier, processing services, and the risk analysis application using XML/Web service technology (SOAP). Background The recent increase in bankruptcies and the related financial damage is making companies increasingly aware of the importance of credit risk management. According to Tokyo Shoko Research, Ltd., total bankruptcy debt of FY2001 in Japan was more than $132 billion, the worst in Japan's history. However, introduction of a credit risk management system requires development and, maintenance of specialized functions, such as financial information input, processing, credit risk analysis, each of which requires high expertise. This has prevented companies other than financial institutions and major trading firms from introducing fully computerized system. For example, getting printed financial information on a business partner into a computerized system requires a dedicated optical character scanner/reader. The credit risk analysis function requires model updates every year. Any company developing these functions for itself can expect an initial investment of more than US$1 million. Technical Accomplishment In this experiment, XBRL, an open standard language based on XML for financial reporting, is used to describe financial information. Specialized functions necessary for the credit risk management system, such as the "Financial information service with XBRL (Tokyo Shoko Research)," "XBRL financial information processing (Fujitsu)," and "Credit risk analysis based on financial information (Toshiba)," are provided on the Internet, and connected with the system via the SOAP protocol. The pilot project demonstrates that it is possible to achieve simplified construction of a sophisticated credit risk management system, and also to be practical to be provided on the Internet as XML/Web services, and connected and used by users. The new system is the world's first experimental credit information supply chain using XBRL and XML/Web services. (NOTE) SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) Roles of companies This experiment is part of the "Credit Information Infrastructure Project" promoted by the Center for Research in Advanced Financial Technology (CRAFT) in Tokyo Tech, with the participation of industry and academia. The XML/Web service provided by each company in this experiment is as follows:
Future Plan / Schedule for business use XBRL is increasingly deployed in public institutions in Australia, etc. In Japan, forecasts show XBRL penetrating institutions in FY2003 and becoming, a common information platform between financial information providers (such as public institutions and credit agencies) and users (such as credit risk management systems and accounting systems) in FY2004. Companies participating in this experiment are active members of XBRL Japan, the XBRL standards body in Japan, and they plan to make their services available for business use after FY2003, depending on XBRL diffusion status. Credit risk information supply chain service is regarded as one of the most promising area to apply XML/Web services. Press Contact Tokyo Institute of Technology Toshiba Corporation Tokyo Shoko Research, Ltd. Fujitsu Limited <Attachment>
Supplementary information XBRL (extensible Business Reporting Language) XBRL (extensible Business Reporting Language) is an XML-based standard language developed to create, distribute, and utilize financial information for business reports. The XBRL specification makes it possible to create, distribute, and re-use electronic financial information regardless of software and platform. There are benefits such as cost reduction in system development and enhancement in system convenience for relevant parties such as public companies, private companies, accounting professionals (auditors), analysts, investors, players in capital markets, software vendors, credit information service companies, and governments. XBRL International Inc. promotes XBRL worldwide activities, and XBRL Japan works on development and promotion activities in Japan. The XBRL International Conference will be held this coming autumn in Tokyo. XML/Web Services XML/Web services is the generic name for combinations of service components available on Internet protocols. On an ordinary web site, a service is provided for a person in HTML, a language to display information on a Web browser. However, XML/Web services can provide a service directly to a system without human intervention by sending a message in XML, a data description language, with SOAP interface (*1). Combining various Web services makes it possible to provide brand-new highly value-added services. For example, a map display service, a rental car reservation service, and a weather information service can be combined to provide a new service like a drive course planning service. Some systems with Web services have already started to operate this year in Japan, and full-scale deployment in the market will begin in the very near future. Credit Risk Information Supply Chain using XBRL is expected to be a killer application of Web Services. CRAFT Scoring Method CRAFT Scoring Method is a credit risk analysis model, co-developed by Toshiba Corp. and Center for Research in Advanced Financial Technology (CRAFT) in Tokyo Tech. It uses a given financial information database as raw data, and shows developing procedures of models to calculate bankruptcy probability by data mining technology. CRAFT Scoring Method has following three features:
Note that credit risk analysis model provided as a Web service in this experiment was developed in FY2000, based on CRAFT Scoring Method using 20,000 companies' financial information from Tokyo Shoko Research, Ltd. By inputting a target company's financial information for two fiscal years and the state of the economy, the company's bankruptcy probability a year later can be obtained. <Participating university and companies>
|
 |
Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice. |