New research reveals Japanese organizations are embracing AI, but only with the governance, accountability and trusted data needed to scale it safely.
TOKYO, JAPAN – Octave Intelligence plc (Nasdaq: OCTV), a global leader in software for the world's most critical facilities and infrastructure, today outlined its strategy for Japan following its spin-off from Hexagon AB and listing on Nasdaq in May 2026. Octave's approach is based on helping industrial organizations connect information across the entire asset lifecycle, creating the trusted operational foundation required to improve productivity, preserve expertise and safely scale new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
At its first Japan press briefing as an independent company, Octave said its strategy aligns with the realities facing Japanese industry, including labor shortages, an ageing workforce, ageing infrastructure and the growing need to make critical operational knowledge accessible across organizations. Rather than viewing AI as a standalone technology initiative, Octave believes organizations must first establish trusted data, governance and operational context before AI can deliver sustainable business value.
Early findings from research commissioned by Octave and set to be launched later this year shows that Japanese businesses share that view.
Only 5% of Japanese organizations have scaled AI enterprise-wide with shared accountability for data quality and safety, compared with 11% globally. Meanwhile, 56% say AI remains managed through fragmented ownership structures, highlighting the challenges many organizations face in establishing consistent governance and accountability.
The findings reinforce Octave's belief that successful AI adoption depends on establishing a controlled operational foundation first. Industrial organizations cannot scale AI effectively when operational information remains fragmented, disconnected or inaccessible across functions.
The survey also found that security and compliance concerns are the leading barrier to AI adoption in Japan, cited by 30% of organizations. More than half (56%) said leadership's AI ambitions are already ahead of current technical capabilities, while 54% reported critical or high levels of operational technology debt, limiting their ability to deliver trusted, real-time operational data into AI systems.
Taken together, the results suggest Japanese organizations are not moving slowly on AI because of a lack of interest. Instead, they are focused on establishing the conditions required to deploy AI responsibly and at scale.
This is where Octave believes it can play a critical role. By connecting data, context and expertise across design, construction, operations and protection, Octave helps organizations create a trusted source of operational intelligence that improves decision-making today while providing the foundation for future AI-driven workflows. Rather than asking organizations to choose between innovation and control, Octave's approach is designed to deliver both.
Jay Allardyce, Chief Product Officer, Octave
"The research confirms what we're hearing from customers across Japan. Industrial organizations are not looking for more AI experimentation. They are looking for confidence, coupled with financial impact – outcome value. Before they scale AI, they want governance, accountability, security and trusted operational data. That's why Octave's focus is on connecting and contextualizing the information that powers critical industries. In Japan, control is not slowing AI adoption. It’s defining how AI will be successfully deployed."
Koji Tashiro, Representative Director, Japan, Octave
"Japan's industrial organizations face a unique combination of challenges, including labor shortages, ageing infrastructure and the retirement of experienced workers. Our strategy is to help customers preserve critical knowledge, connect information across the asset lifecycle and create a trusted operational foundation for the future. The survey shows that Japanese businesses understand AI's potential, but they also understand that success depends on getting the fundamentals right first. We believe that approach is exactly right."
About Octave:
Octave (NASDAQ:OCTV) provides mission-critical software that empowers organizations to make informed decisions across every stage of the asset lifecycle — Design, Build, Operate and Protect — where performance, safety and reliability are non-negotiable and failure is not an option.
Turning complex operational data into actionable intelligence, Octave connects expertise, real-world conditions and enterprise-scale insight to improve performance, resilience and incident response where it matters most.
Octave has more than 7,200 employees in 45 countries. Learn more at octave.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Traintracks Co., Ltd. (Octave public relations agency) Contact: Terada, Arai Tel: 03-5738-4177 Fax: 03-5738-4178 E-mail: [email protected]
Survey methodology
The Japan research was conducted among 61 respondents across Japan. Respondents were technology decision-makers from industrial organizations with revenue exceeding US$1 billion, across sectors including consumer packaged goods, oil and gas and chemicals, pharmaceuticals, power and manufacturing.
The global research was conducted among 756 respondents across the UK, US, Canada, India, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, South Korea and Brazil.