Partnership to Accelerate Retail DX in the Japanese Market: Commencement of Business Collaboration Between Access Lab and NuRetail
Access Lab, a Tokyo-based software development company headquartered in Toshima City, led by CEO Daisuke Okuda, has officially entered into a strategic collaboration with NuRetail, a retail tech startup headquartered in Minato City, Tokyo, under the leadership of CEO Kensaku Iida. This partnership, effective as of April 30, 2024, aims to accelerate digital transformation (DX) within the Japanese retail sector. Notably, Access Lab’s founder, Daisuke Okuda, has assumed the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at NuRetail.
■Background
Access Lab, driven by the desire to bridge the gap between outstanding digital solutions from abroad and Japan, was founded with a clear purpose: to enhance Japan’s international competitiveness. Over time, Access Lab has championed the deployment of numerous overseas SaaS services. However, despite their technical prowess, they often faced limited opportunities to leverage their own capabilities fully.
On the other hand, NuRetail emerged with a distinct mission: recognizing that true omnichannel success hinges on robust in-store digital experiences (DX). NuRetail has accumulated a wealth of problem-solving ideas based on practical retail experience. Yet, transforming these ideas into digital products proved to be a slower process.
Both companies shared a common challenge: how to swiftly deliver innovative ideas and technical expertise to the market. In response, they decided to form a partnership, leveraging each other’s strengths. Together, Access Lab and NuRetail aim to accelerate retail tech adoption and drive meaningful change in the industry.
■Service Innovation through Business Collaboration
Through this business collaboration, both companies will focus on the following three areas:
Retail Tech Factory: Access Lab will leverage its capabilities to prototype NuRetail’s retail tech ideas. Specifically, they will create a factory that operates agilely—from improvement and productization to sales—based on proof-of-concept (POC) testing at NuRetail’s retail locations (including the Asia Sunshine Market).
Agile Consulting: NuRetail, drawing from years of practical experience, possesses valuable insights into “where retail tech fits.” By combining this expertise with Access Lab’s full-stack development capabilities, they will offer agile consulting services to clients. The focus will be on realizing clients’ visions and solving challenges through technology adoption.
Global Retail Tech Leverage: Both NuRetail and Access Lab will actively deploy undisclosed or early-stage retail tech solutions. Their efforts will contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of domestic retail enterprises.
■NuRetail’s comment
Through our recent business collaboration with Access Lab, we have established a Retail Tech Factory. This initiative enables us to agilely create products that can significantly accelerate digital transformation (DX) in the retail industry. We are thrilled that Daisuke Okuda, the representative of Access Lab, will be joining us as our Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His experience and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to NuRetail’s continued growth
Kensaku Iida
Founder and CEO, NuRetail
■Access Lab’s comment
I am pleased to announce that I have assumed the role of CTO at NuRetail and entered into a business collaboration with the company. By combining Access Lab’s global perspective with NuRetail’s practical expertise, our goal is to accelerate digital transformation (DX) in the Japanese market and maximize the potential of both organizations. Through this partnership, we look forward to creating new value and delivering even greater satisfaction to our customers.
Daisuke Okuda
Founder, Access Lab
Referrence:PR Times 日本市場におけるリテールDXを加速するパートナーシップ「アクセスラボ、NuRetail との業務提携を開始」