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BASIC Inc.'s Transformation into an AI Workflow Company

BASIC Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, represented by President Masaru Akiyama) has announced its evolution into an 'AI Workflow Company,' while maintaining its foundational philosophy of being a 'collective for problem-solving.' This transformation comes with a refreshed purpose and mission, as well as a comprehensive redesign of the corporate website (basicinc.jp).

Redefining Purpose and Mission

The redefined mission clearly articulates the company's objective: "To create a society where people can focus more on creative work through the power of technology and systems." This shift is significant, as it reflects BASIC's response to contemporary business challenges and the necessity for companies to adapt in a changing environment.

Since its founding in 2004, BASIC has dedicated itself to solving societal and corporate issues as a 'collective for problem-solving.' Initially, the company focused on comparison media but pivoted towards the SaaS business after divesting the comparison media business in late 2021. Amidst this transition, BASIC recognized a more fundamental issue: the structural problem of labor shortages in Japan, where reliance on human resources is no longer a sustainable growth model. As the labor force decreases in Japan, a structural transformation supported by technology and established systems is essential for continuous growth.

In line with this understanding, BASIC has set forth a new purpose: "Not solving business growth with the number of people," and a mission: "Solving problems without depending on human resources, using systems and technology." This redefinition positions BASIC firmly as an 'AI Workflow Company.'

Understanding AI Workflow

The term 'workflow,' as defined by BASIC, encompasses an entire series of business processes, from information input to notification, decision-making, processing, and record-keeping. This concept embodies a self-sustaining system that allows operations to progress autonomously, directly linking to BASIC's new purpose.

The previously offered products, 'ferret One' and 'formrun,' have evolved into workflow infrastructures managing information input and administration in customer engagement areas such as marketing, sales, and customer success. BASIC plans to leverage AI to integrate and optimize these processes, transitioning to a phase that will redesign the entirety of business operations.

AI Workflow represents a paradigm where humans and AI collaborate to redesign and automate processes. It is not merely about integrating tools or enhancing efficiency in parts, but about AI comprehensively understanding business processes, executing decisions, and optimizing workflows. The aim is to structurally elevate productivity for organizations. Drawing from its wealth of operational design and management knowledge cultivated through existing products, BASIC is committed to the realization of AI Workflow, introducing new product offerings to better serve this vision.

As a first step, BASIC has released a beta version of a workflow development tool called 'workrun' that allows users to design their business processes (b-work.run). The official version of 'workrun' is expected to launch in January 2026, alongside enterprise-oriented workflow tools and a beta AI chatbot tool 'askrun' utilizing RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technology.

Through these innovative services, BASIC aims to integrate multiple tools and departments, creating an environment where both AI and humans autonomously advance their operations.

Insights from CEO Masaru Akiyama

President Masaru Akiyama commented, "BASIC has always upheld the belief that 'business equals problem-solving,' adapting through challenges that reflect changing eras and customer issues. These cumulative challenges lead us back to our core: creating frameworks for problem-solving on our own. In a Japan experiencing a declining labor force, we are committed to our purpose of 'not solving business growth with the number of people' and continuing our challenge to enhance corporate productivity and foster new working styles through our systems and technology."

About BASIC Inc.

BASIC Inc. is an 'AI Workflow Company' with a purpose that emphasizes not solving business growth by increasing the number of people. With three core workflow tools—'workrun,' 'ferret One,' and 'formrun'—the company aims to redesign business processes, supporting a new way of work where both humans and AI can collaborate effectively.

• - workrun: A workflow tool that supports the design and automation of overall business processes.
• - ferret One: A B2B marketing workflow tool that consolidates marketing operations from the site.
• - formrun: A workflow tool that manages inquiries and sales responses starting from forms.

Company Name: BASIC Inc.
CEO: Masaru Akiyama
Address: 2F Ichibanchō MS Building, 17-6 Ichibanchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 102-0082, Japan
Established: March 2004
Business: Workflow and Customer Contact Digital Transformation
URL: basicinc.jp