The SaaS Source: October 2024
This month’s roundup of news from Japan’s SaaS industry includes innovative solutions showcased at Japan IT Week 2024, revolutionary product implementations and a notable anniversary.
South Korean SaaS Innovators Set to Transform Japan’s Cloud Market
Twelve innovative South Korean SaaS companies are set to showcase their transformative solutions at Japan IT Week 2024, happening from October 30 to November 1 at Tokyo Big Sight. EIN News reported that with a collective revenue of $100 million, these firms are poised to penetrate the growing Japanese cloud market, which is expected to expand rapidly. The showcase, part of the K-SaaS Marketplace Alliance, will include live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven solutions, cloud infrastructure and data analytics. This event highlights the collaboration between South Korean tech and Japanese businesses, aiming to reshape the future of cloud computing in Japan.
HERP Inc. Adopts Sales Automation Tool “immedio” for Efficiency
On October 23, CNET Japan reported (in Japanese) that immedio Inc. has announced the successful implementation of its sales acquisition automation tool, “immedio,” at HERP Inc. to enhance lead conversion and improve inside sales productivity. With the increasing difficulty in generating inbound leads, HERP adopted immedio to boost the rate of sales negotiations and streamline operations. The introduction of immedio has led to a notable increase in sales negotiations, driven by its intelligent customer research features and timely Slack notifications. HERP’s management team praised immedio’s quick development cycle and the product’s continual enhancements, emphasizing its role in optimizing marketing efforts and improving user experience. The service’s seamless integration with existing systems allows for efficient lead management and scheduling, significantly elevating sales conversion rates
GMO Makeshop Hosts “makeshop day” for 20th Anniversary Celebration
On October 17th, GMO Makeshop held their “makeshop day TOKYO 20th anniversary” event in Tokyo, celebrating the success of its EC site construction SaaS “makeshop”, according to Net Keizai (in Japanese). During the event, the “makeshop AWARD TOKYO 2024” recognized outstanding “makeshop” users from the Kanto region. The Grand Prix was awarded to Explosion, a prominent protein manufacturer known for its slogan “Providing protein to Japan’s youth!” and achieving top sales performance in the last three years. The awards honored businesses based on criteria such as growth rate, duration of use and contributions to the e-commerce industry, with the Legend Award going to the Guide Dog Comprehensive Support Center for 19 years of service. The Expert Award was presented to Best One, while the Partner Award was given to Kiko, highlighting the ongoing collaboration and support for “makeshop” shops. With more than 12,000 stores utilizing “makeshop,” the event underscored its significant impact on the e-commerce sector.
DocuSign Japan Unveils Intelligent Contract Management System
At the DocuSign Momentum24 Tokyo event on October 10, CEO Allan Thygesen highlighted the staggering global loss of nearly $2 trillion annually due to outdated contract management processes. ZDNet Japan reported (in Japanese) that Thygesen introduced the Intelligent Contract Management System (IAM), emphasizing its potential to transform contract handling in Japan. Kensuke Takeuchi, President of DocuSign Japan, presented survey findings indicating that while 80% of respondents acknowledge the importance of contracts, 60% do not fully understand the contracts they receive, and more than 80% consider contract work to be cumbersome. To address these challenges, DocuSign plans to open a data center in Japan by September 2024 and launch an identity verification solution integrated with Liquid’s eKYC service. The IAM platform will be available in Japan with AI enhancements expected in early 2025.