NEWS

OPT, Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Daisuke Kanazawa; hereinafter “OPT”), an Innovation Agency leading the digital shift, has entered into a business alliance with ECBEING COROPRATION (Head Office: Shibuya Ward, Tokyo; President: Masaya Hayashi; hereinafter “ECBEING”).

■Background
　Growth of the e-commerce market and increasing numbers of SNS consumers.
　Increase in “big data utilization” and “demand for integrated communication.”
The number of e-commerce users in Japan is increasing, and the scale of the B2C e-commerce market, as published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, grew to 18 trillion yen in 2018 (from 16.5 trillion yen the previous year, an increase of 8.96% year on year).(*1)
The number of social networking service (SNS) users has also increased yearly, and is expected to reach 77.64 million by the end of 2019.(*2)
Consumer behavior is changing. Today, many consumers check reviews on SNS platforms before purchasing a product, and submit their own impressions of the product through SNS after purchase. The analysis and utilization of big data, based on an understanding of all aspects of consumer behavior from product recognition to interest, consideration (comparison), purchase and information sharing, have become increasingly important.
At the same time however, companies are facing challenges such as obstacles to effective and efficient communication (in response to the changes in consumer behavior mentioned above), as in many cases different divisions are responsible for SNS marketing and e-commerce marketing. The demand for integrated communication design is growing.


 ■ Initiatives
　Strengthening of integrated support for SNS marketing and e-commerce marketing through this business alliance. Fusion of expertise.

[1] Support for the analysis of consumer behavior (big data), including product recognition and interest arousal through SNS, product understanding, consideration and purchase through e-commerce, and information sharing through SNS, as well as the utilization of this analysis in the formulation of business strategy, product strategy and communication strategy.
　　
[2] Provision of a one-stop service for integrated e-commerce and SNS communication, covering “strategy formulation, implementation and improvement.”

（Scope of Marketing Services Provided through this Business Alliance）

OPT contributes to corporate branding and sales enhancement, providing companies with SNS account consulting and influencer marketing services through its digital consulting business. ECBEING, an e-commerce marketing partner focusing on e-commerce construction systems, provides the “ecbeing” e-commerce package, which has held the number one market share in Japan for 11 consecutive years.(*3)

Through this business alliance, OPT and ECBEING will fuse their expertise in the fields of SNS marketing and e-commerce marketing, contributing to the further development of consumers using SNS and companies using e-commerce.

*1: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. “Results of FY2018 E-Commerce Market Survey Compiled.” May 16, 2019
https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/05/20190516002/20190516002.html
*2: ICT Research & Consulting. “Survey of FY2018 SNS Usage Trends.” December 18, 2018　
https://ictr.co.jp/report/20181218.html
*3: Fuji Chimera Research Institute, Inc. “Fuji Marketing Report: 2018 Survey of E-Commerce Site Construction Package Solutions Market Share.” April 2018

(*) The product and service names shown in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.