#Japan #Tokyo #Canon Marketing #10X #Stailer

Canon Marketing Japan Invests in 10X for Retail Digital Transformation

In a strategic move to support the digital transformation (DX) of the retail sector, Canon Marketing Japan, under the leadership of President Masachika Adachi, has made a significant investment in the startup 10X. This collaboration is facilitated through the Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund, a corporate venture capital (CVC) initiative focused on innovative technologies and solutions for emerging industries.

Driving Retail E-commerce with Stailer

10X, headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, aims to tackle the pressing challenges within the retail sector, such as declining population, labor shortages, and lagging digital adaptation. Its core product, Stailer, serves as a comprehensive solution to support the e-commerce transformation of supermarkets and drugstores. Unlike traditional consumer-facing e-commerce applications, Stailer offers an array of functionalities designed for backend operations, including picking, packing, delivery management, order and inventory control, and BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick-up In-Store) services.

For instance, during the picking process, tasks are automatically generated within the application, allowing employees to scan product barcodes with their smartphones, thereby streamlining operations. In delivery logistics, the system automatically devises efficient routes to destination points and reduces delivery errors through barcode scanning during loading and unloading, thus facilitating swift business execution.

Empowering Retailers through Deep Support

10X is dedicated not just to implementing its Stailer system, but also to providing in-depth support at the operational level, creating value that enhances both the customer experience and employee workflows. This holistic approach has contributed to increased revenues and profits for retail businesses. Stailer has already been adopted by multiple leading retail companies, achieving an impressive Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) that runs into hundreds of billions of yen annually. As of 2024, the platform has recorded a staggering GMV growth rate of 56.7%, which is approximately five times the average for online supermarkets, highlighting its rapid expansion in the market.

The recent funding will enable 10X to further evolve Stailer and develop new products that will accelerate the DX of retail enterprises. This aligns with Canon MJ Group's overarching mission of fostering social value by resolving contemporary societal challenges through pioneering technology and business strategies.

Vision for Sustainable Innovation

The Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund underscores Canon MJ Group's commitment to future-oriented ventures and social problem-solving. By establishing the Research & Business Development (R&B) promotion center in January 2024, Canon aims to facilitate the creation of new ventures that leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas from startup companies. With a robust fund size of 10 billion yen, the Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund focuses on investment domains like Well Being and Business Transformation, with an emphasis on industries that address pressing societal challenges through innovative technologies.

The retail sector, being indispensable to everyday life, faces numerous sustainability challenges, particularly due to labor shortages. Recognizing the synergy with 10X's mission to