NOVEL
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is NOVEL?
NOVEL is the generative AI adoption service of NOVEL Inc., developer and operator of the AI writing tool "SAKUBUN". Using its data-first "AI導入3Tメソッド", it supports assessment, PoC, development and training. The AI Automation Potential Assessment costs JPY 100,000 (excl. tax); other work is quoted individually. It reports support for 60+ companies, from listed firms to SMEs (official, as of October 2026).
Business problems it solves
About "NOVEL"
What is NOVEL?
NOVEL is an AI adoption service that starts by organizing data and supports mid-sized companies end to end, from planning and development to getting AI used on the front line, provided by NOVEL Inc., the developer and operator of the AI writing tool "SAKUBUN". Its stated view is that "AI is already smart enough; what holds it back is that data isn't connected", and it takes on the work of turning information in Excel, PDFs, paper, VBA and veterans' heads into a form AI can use.
Its approach is the "AI導入3Tメソッド" (AI Adoption 3T Method), three steps of "organize → connect → use". It says consultants and engineers work as one team, so the people who make the proposal also design and build the system.
Support at a glance
How engagements proceed
The official entry point is the paid "AI自動化ポテンシャル診断" (AI Automation Potential Assessment). The assessment sets priorities, and the same team then moves on to implementation.
Free consultation
Hear about current work and data
AI Automation Potential Assessment
AI strategy report delivered in one week (JPY 100,000 excl. tax)
PoC
Test small in one department and measure the effect
Production and operation
Company-wide rollout and monthly maintenance and improvement
The assessment/PoC/production stages follow the data analysis agent page. Durations vary by service.
The assessment includes three hearings (60–90 minutes each) and evaluates business impact, ROI, technical fit and feasibility. The report covers a to-be workflow, an impact × difficulty matrix, and a production roadmap with rough costs. According to the official FAQ, you can stop after the assessment or hand the report to another vendor for implementation.
Service menu
01Entry assessment
Deciding which task to start with.
- AI Automation Potential Assessment — An engineer-consultant analyzes your work directly and reports within one week
02Organize and use data (core services)
Turning scattered data and knowledge into something AI can use.
- Data analysis agent — Integrates internal Excel, CSV and databases for chat-based analysis and automatic periodic reports
- Hyperboard — Custom-built management data platform that normalizes differently formatted Excel files from dealers and sites, so AI returns figures with the evidence behind them
- AI knowledge transfer — Captures veterans' tacit knowledge, manuals and minutes in a chatbot that answers with sources
- Excel/VBA de-siloing (ModernizeAI) — AI analyzes personal Excel/VBA and Access tools, writes specifications, and leads into migration to web apps
03Package
Ready-to-deploy offerings.
- Dify adoption support — From Dify environment setup to training and implementation. PoC in as little as two weeks
04Training and enablement
Developing people who can use AI in-house.
- AI talent development and training — A coaching format in which an instructor joins weekly and works on real tasks with participants. Tools include ChatGPT, Claude, Claude Code, Gemini, Dify and NotebookLM
Pricing
Published prices are as follows (all excluding tax, as of October 2026).
| Service | Price | Duration | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Automation Potential Assessment | JPY 100,000 | 1 week | 3 hearings, AI strategy report, debrief. Free if you sign up for AI adoption support (Virtual AI Promotion Office) afterwards |
| Business system checkup (ModernizeAI) Light | From JPY 500,000 | 2 weeks | 1–3 VBA/Access files, up to ~15 functions |
| Business system checkup (ModernizeAI) Standard | From JPY 1,000,000 | 1 month | 4–10 files, 15–40 functions |
| Business system checkup (ModernizeAI) Custom | Custom quote | 1–2 months+ | 10+ files, 40+ functions |
| Hyperboard | Initial build from JPY 3,000,000; monthly from JPY 150,000 | Depends on data | Monthly fee excludes cloud costs |
| Data analysis agent, AI knowledge transfer, training | Custom quote | — | Entry assessments for the data analysis agent and AI knowledge transfer are stated as free |
Terms for "assessments" differ by service. The AI Automation Potential Assessment costs JPY 100,000 (excl. tax), while the "AI assessment" on the data analysis agent page and the 60-minute "current-state assessment" on the AI knowledge transfer page are stated as free.
Track record and case studies
NOVEL states AI adoption support for 60+ companies, from listed companies to SMEs (as of October 2026). The main AI projects on its case page are below; most do not name the client.
01Document and order automation
- Manufacturer/wholesaler (about 100 employees) — Automated everything from reading faxed orders to identifying product codes. Order-processing workload fell 30% early on and 70% in the end. About 4 months, 1 consultant + 1 engineer
- Mid-sized financial institution — An OCR structuring platform for unstructured and handwritten documents such as insurance policies, built in 3 months
02Knowledge and writing
- Manufacturer A — A chatbot turning skilled workers' tacit knowledge into Q&A, first version delivered in 5 months
- Major publisher — An AI workflow that reads article URLs and writes social ad copy in the publisher's tone, built in 2 months. The official "why choose us" page cites an 80% workload reduction
- SAKUBUN (in-house) — 700,000 cumulative uses and about 20,000 registered users
03Data and systems
- Service company (150 employees) — Integrated scattered customer data into a visualization platform
- B2B company (150 employees) — Analyzed an Excel+VBA tool with AI and rebuilt it as a Python web app in the cloud
Who it suits and who it may not
It suits mid-sized companies without an IT department, or with data scattered across Excel and paper. The company says it mainly supports firms with about 50–500 employees and publishes the price and contents of its assessment. It fits companies that want to decide where to start in one week for JPY 100,000 (excl. tax) before moving to implementation.
It may not suit large enterprises seeking an AI strategy tied to company-wide mid-term plans or a promotion structure involving hundreds of people. The strengths NOVEL presents are data organization and automation for specific tasks.
FAQ
Q. How much does NOVEL cost? A. The entry AI Automation Potential Assessment is JPY 100,000 (excl. tax). The Excel/VBA checkup starts at JPY 500,000 and Hyperboard at JPY 3,000,000 initial plus JPY 150,000/month (all excl. tax). Everything else is quoted individually (as of October 2026).
Q. Can small and mid-sized companies use it? A. Yes. NOVEL says it mainly supports companies with about 50–500 employees and that many clients have no IT department.
Q. Can it handle development too? A. Yes. It says the same team takes issues found in the assessment through PoC, development and maintenance.
Q. Can we stop after the assessment? A. Yes. The official FAQ says you can finish with the report, or ask another vendor to implement it.
The information on this page is based on what was published on the official website as of October 2026. Please check the official website for the latest pricing and details.
