Introduction

Hello. I am K. Ichinose, serving as a Product Manager (PdM) at KINTO Technologies Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as KTC).

"Isn't PdM's job just coming up with ideas and planning?"

Many people might think so. In reality, our daily tasks are diverse, and we communicate with a wide range of people.

In this article, I will share a typical day in the life of a PdM at KTC, specifically focusing on my role as the PdM for the KINTO FACTORY.

I hope you will find the PdM role fascinating and get a clearer picture of what it’s like to work at KTC.

What is the Role of PdM at KTC?

Generally, PdM is responsible for determining the direction of the product and leading from planning to development, release, and improvement.

At KTC, we handle Mobility Servicesrelated products.

In this role, I am responsible for the service known asKINTO FACTORY (hereafter FACTORY).

FACTORY is an upgrade service that allows you to retrofit TOYOTA and LEXUS genuine options at authorized dealerships.

This allows you to add the latest features and parts even after purchase, increasing the value and usability of the vehicle.

I am mainly work on the developer-oriented area of the "product management triangle" and act as a bridge between business and developers.

I have also recently started data analysis.

The figure illustrates the role of PdM in three areas: "Business", "Customers", and "Developers".

Specifically, we gather ideas and requests, organize them into requirements, create a development schedule, and drive the project forward through to release.

Furthermore, in development projects that span multiple products across KTC, internal coordination and collaboration with other teams are also important tasks.

A Day in the Life of a PdM

Here, I will introduce an example of my daily schedule.

(KTC has a flexible work schedule, but I start work at roughly the same time every day. I'm the type of person who can concentrate better with a regular routine.)

Time	Daily activities
09:30	Start of workday, check emails I check Slack and emails and organize my tasks for the day. I decide whom to contact and what decisions need to be made each day.
10:00	Morning meeting (Daily Scrum) I share progress and issues with the development team. By sharing even small issues early on, we can prevent larger delays later.
10:30	In-team review We review PRD (Product Requirements Document), DesignDoc, and other specification documents.
11:00	Regular meeting with the business team (Toyota or KINTO) We confirm new feature requirements and specifications related to FACTORY. I also communicate proposals and requests from KTC.
12:00	Lunch break Lunch near the office (the area around the company's location in Muromachi is a bit expensive...).
13:00	Requirement organization and proposal document creation I translate the requirements received during the planning stage into concrete requirements and compile them into a format that can be shared with engineers and designers.
15:00	Feasibility and workload estimation for development projects We coordinate with the lead engineers to confirm the implementation method, issues, and required man-hours. We establish a realistic schedule here.
16:00	Regular meetings for all projects within the company We discuss the progress, issues, and schedule adjustments for projects that span multiple products.
17:00	Data analysis: I analyze usage data to understand user trends. I Look for hints for improvement.
As needed	Responding to inquiries I handle questions about specifications and design within KTC, operational improvements, test improvements, release adjustments, and more. I also handle new features from KINTO/Toyota and operational consultations, among other things.

Why It's Great to Work as a PdM at KTC

• You can contribute to the future of the mobility industry
  • You can be directly involved in this new challenge to enhance the value of your car.
• You have the chance to communicate with various stakeholders
  • It is inspiring to interact with different collaborators in both inside and outside the company, Toyota, KINTO and to hear opinions from different perspectives.
• Team Atmosphere
  • It is easy to express opinions regardless of one's position or age, and discussions are positive.

Why it is so rewarding

FACTORY is a relatively new service that has not yet gained widespread recognition.

As a result, there’s significant room for growth, and being involved in shaping the direction of the service allows you to experience its progress firsthand.

There is a great sense of achievement when the feature you've worked on gets released and users actually start signing up.

For Those Wanting to Join KTC as a PdM

In my opinion, there are three essential qualities required to succeed as a PdM at KTC:

• Communication skills
  • The ability to build trust with stakeholders and communicate information smoothly.
• Flexibility
  • The ability to positively embrace change and turn it into improvements.
• Passion for the product
  • A deep understanding of the product you are responsible for and the ability to be dedicated to it.

The third point, in particular, is the source of attention to detail, and improvement ideas.

Having passion can also positively impact the motivation of the entire team.

Conclusion

Being a PdM at KTC is a rewarding job in the rapidly changing mobility sector, where you can help develop new services into better forms.

I hope this article inspires you to explore the role of a PdM!

If you're interested, I hope you will join us to work together at KTC to create the mobility of the future!