Money Forward and CCI Group Establish Strategic Partnership to Enhance AI-BPO Services

Strategic Partnership Between Money Forward and CCI Group

Money Forward, Inc. and CCI Group, Inc. have entered a strategic partnership aimed at addressing challenges in corporate back-office and finance operations. This collaboration is set to empower the growth of local businesses through the advancement of AI-BPO services, while fostering a integration of expertise and active personnel exchanges between both companies. Furthermore, this partnership will explore new cooperative possibilities in overseas ventures.

Background of the Partnership

As Japan faces a declining working-age population, the labor shortage among local businesses and startups has intensified, making the streamlining of back-office operations a crucial business concern. Both Money Forward and CCI Group have been actively working toward mitigating these social challenges, focusing primarily on enhancing the efficiency of back-office functions. In May 2025, they are set to establish a new joint venture named CCIForward, in partnership with CC Innovation, a subsidiary of CCI Group, and BPIO. This initiative aims to blend Money Forward's cloud service, 'Money Forward Cloud,' with BPO services and expertise in cloud implementation, ultimately supporting the business growth of local enterprises and startups.

Building on this solid foundation, the partnership serves to further cement the collaboration between the two companies. Money Forward recently announced ambitions to become the "No. 1 Back Office AI Company," expediting the integration of AI agents into their existing products and accelerating the development of AI-native products. Meanwhile, CCI Group contributes to regional development not only through its financial institution functions but also via diverse services such as consulting and investment funds. By combining their strengths in AI products and a variety of services centered around finance, they aim to create new value focused on offering AI-BPO services and considering overseas expansion.

Expected Synergies from the Partnership

1. Evolution of Existing BPO Services into AI-BPO Services

The jointly established CCIForward will evolve its traditional BPO services by incorporating products and insights from Money Forward's AI portfolio, thus creating "AI-BPO services." This advancement will provide local businesses and startups dealing with labor shortages or individual dependencies an environment where they can focus more on core operations, doing so promptly.

2. Enhancement of Personnel Exchanges

The scope of personnel exchanges will be broadened to include not only subsidiaries of CCI Group but the entire company and all of Money Forward. The intermingling of CCI Group, which is deeply rooted in local communities, with Money Forward, a leader in back-office SaaS, will stimulate organizational vitality and foster new innovation.

3. Exploring New Cooperative Opportunities in Overseas Business

Beyond the domestic market, both companies will leverage their resources and networks to pursue opportunities for collaboration in international business ventures.