The SaaS Source: April 2025 

German Firm Wins Three Awards in ITreview Grid 2025 Spring

A company called think-cell Japan has been recognized for the eighth consecutive time in the “ITreview Grid Award 2025 Spring”, hosted by ITreview, one of Japan’s largest IT product and SaaS review platforms. PR Times reported (in Japanese) that the company received “Leader” badges in the Graphing Tools/Software and Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 Extensions categories, and a “High Performer” badge in the Presentation category. These accolades are based on real user reviews, reflecting think-cell’s strengths in improving productivity, streamlining presentation creation and enhancing business communication through advanced data visualization. Founded in Germany in 2002, think-cell supports more than 1.1 million paid users globally, particularly in consulting, and has become a global standard for PowerPoint enhancement tools. Its Japan office, established in 2022, handles local sales, consulting and support.

Haul and ZaPASS JAPAN Form Strategic Partnership to Help Companies Become Employers of Choice

According to Jiji Press (in Japanese), Tokyo-based HR tech startup Haul has entered into a strategic partnership with digital coaching platform provider ZaPASS JAPAN to support companies in becoming organizations chosen by both candidates and employees. Haul offers Japan’s first recruitment enablement SaaS, “RekMA,” which standardizes and enhances the effectiveness of candidate attraction and hiring practices. ZaPASS, meanwhile, provides AI-enhanced coaching services and professional coaching for executives and managers to boost engagement and growth. Together, the companies will deliver a comprehensive talent development solution, from improving hiring success rates to supporting employee growth and retention. The partnership also includes joint marketing initiatives and content sharing, aiming to redefine how recruitment and organizational development are approached in Japan.

INTLOOP Adopts “GROW with SAP” and SAP Cloud Solutions to Strengthen Consulting Business

SAP Japan has announced (in Japanese) that INTLOOP Inc., a provider of IT consulting and staffing services, has adopted several SAP solutions including SAP S/4HANA® Cloud Public Edition, SAP® Business Technology Platform and SAP Fieldglass®. The deployment is part of INTLOOP’s strategy to enhance its consulting capabilities and transition from its in-house system to a globally standardized cloud platform. The project is being led internally by INTLOOP with support from SAP Japan’s consulting division.

To support growing demands in external talent management, INTLOOP will leverage SAP Fieldglass to streamline procurement and capture long-term insights. The company also plans to develop custom extensions for its dispatch business using SAP Business Technology Platform. By implementing SAP’s integrated and transparent systems, INTLOOP aims to strengthen employee engagement, improve knowledge retention and build a sustainable, scalable business foundation aligned with global standards.

WAP Launches SaaS for New Lease Accounting Standards

According to ZDNET Japan (in Japanese), Works Applications (WAP) announced it will launch its new SaaS solution, HUE Lease Accounting, on April 25 to support companies transitioning to Japan’s updated lease accounting standards, effective April 2027. Tailored for businesses seeking simple and scalable compliance solutions, the platform offers a usage-based pricing model starting at ¥30,000/month for up to 50 contracts. Companies with more complex needs can continue using WAP’s existing “HUE Asset” system. As many firms—especially in real estate and retail—face limitations with Excel-based tracking, demand for easy-to-deploy systems has grown. HUE Lease Accounting responds to this need by offering essential features for streamlined implementation, drawing on insights from HUE Asset while allowing businesses to choose a solution that best fits their scale and operational setup.