Delivering Healthy and Comfortable Air Environments and Spaces to Africa with Collaborative Innovation

DAIKIN’S APPROACH

Conducted Demonstration in Tanzania Jointly with Local Start-up

Daikin is promoting collaborative innovation through partnerships with companies, research institutes, and universities, mainly spearheaded by the Technology and Innovation Center (TIC), our R&D hub. In November 2019, we committed to investing 11 billion yen in start-up companies over the five-year period up to 2024, and established the TIC CVC Office to promote co-creation with these companies. We are now speeding up new business creation together with start-ups from around the world slated for success with advanced technologies or innovative ideas.

As the first project, we invested 300 million yen in WASSHA Inc. and conducted a demonstration on a novel approach to the air conditioning business in Tanzania. WASSHA is a growing company that provides electricity services to non-electrified areas of Africa. Taking advantage of the country's high penetration rate of mobile phones, the company uses a subscription-based business model and "pay-as-you-go" system to rent out LED lanterns and rechargeable solar panels to users who pay upfront with mobile money.

DAIKIN'S PERFORMANCE

First-ever Fixed Rate Subscription Service for Air Conditioning in Emerging Country

Daikin focused on WASSHA's business model of providing pay-as-you-go services to people in need. In Tanzania, the mainstream type of air conditioner offers a relatively inexpensive installation cost but is not very energy efficient. As a result, the high cost of electricity has become an obstacle to the spread and use of air conditioners.

In response, Daikin identified a novel business model of renting energy efficient air conditioners to small stores and homes at a fixed rate. Such a subscription-based business model for air conditioning is the first of its kind in an emerging country. As a result, users have access to Daikin's highly energy efficient air conditioners without having to purchase the entire unit outright and they can reduce electricity charges.

The demonstration was conducted for three months starting in November 2019 in Dar es-Salaam, the economic center of the country. During the demonstration, air conditioners were installed at cooperating stores and homes to closely examine demand and review the viability of the business model. The results of the demonstration showed that electricity charges can be cut in half by using Daikin's energy efficient air conditioners. The effects were highly praised by not only participants dissatisfied with the high cost of electricity, but also participants who otherwise could not afford to purchase an air conditioner. Stores were billed continuously and the air conditioner utilization rate was upward of 90%. People who heard about the demonstration came to participating stores to see for themselves or contacted the WASSHA office directly, signing a contract on the spot. This illustrates strong latent demand for air conditioning exists locally. Business inquiries about this service ultimately more than tripled the expected volume, which confirmed the business viability.

Co-creation Between WASSHA and Daikin

Illustration of Air Conditioner Subscription

NEXT CHALLENGE

Bringing a Healthy and Comfortable Air Environment to People Around the World with Full-fledged Launch in Fiscal 2020

Going forward, we will build a payment system using mobile money jointly with WASSHA, and plan to fully launch the business in fiscal 2020. Regarding ancillary services such as installation and repairs, which pose challenges, we will conduct technical training locally, which will create jobs and improve quality.

Through this new business model of delivering air conditioners with low start-up and running costs to low income people, Daikin will continue to give people around the world access to a healthy and comfortable air environment.