#Japan #Digital Transformation #BtoB Platform #Akō City #Akō

Akō City to Enhance Digital Transformation with BtoB Invoice Platform

In a significant step towards digital transformation, Akō City in Hyogo Prefecture plans to implement the "BtoB Invoice Platform" starting in October 2026. This initiative, led by Infomart, a company based in Minato, Tokyo, aims to streamline various operations using the power of digital technology.

Background of the Implementation

The decision to introduce this platform comes after Akō City updated its financial accounting system, which initiated electronic approvals for financial tasks in April 2026. However, the existing cumbersome processes involving paper invoices—including receipt, sorting, opening, manual data entry, and storage—were causing substantial administrative burdens. Staff in the accounting department were managing approximately 35,000 paper invoices annually, with each transaction taking about six minutes, resulting in an estimated total of 3,500 hours of labor each year.

Moreover, businesses interacting with the city faced ongoing costs and time associated with printing, stuffing, and mailing invoices. This led to a significant focus on reducing administrative workloads while facilitating the overall digitalization and paperless transformation of the city. Consequently, the introduction of the "BtoB Invoice Platform" was deemed necessary.

Key Factors in Choosing the Platform

When selecting a service, the city established a need for a seamless integration with its financial accounting system, aligned with the overarching goal of "complete digitalization" of municipal operations. The choice fell on the "BtoB Platform," renowned for its top-tier market share in Japan and its existing user base, which ensures a smooth transition. Additionally, the platform's capability to address not just invoices but also electronic estimates and contracts paved the way for future adaptability and expansion in its utility.

On August 6, a briefing session for partnering businesses took place at the Akō City Hall, attracting around 60 attendees. The session was held twice, in the morning and afternoon, emphasizing the city’s commitment to engagement and transparency during the transition.

Anticipated Benefits of the Implementation

Improved Convenience and Cost Reduction

The introduction of the "BtoB Invoice Platform" is expected to enhance the interactions between businesses and the city, resulting in reduced costs and ease of transactions. The cloud-based system will streamline the issuance and receipt of invoices, eliminating the need for printing, mailing, or hand delivery, thereby furthering both parties' goals for paperless operations.

Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance in Financial Operations

By integrating with the financial accounting system, the platform will minimize manual operations like scanning and data entry, thus reducing workload and preventing input errors. This improvement in operational accuracy will also allow for better compliance with invoice regulations and electronic bookkeeping laws.

Statement from the Akō City Accountant

The Accountant from Akō City expressed optimism about the upcoming shift. With the launch of electronic decision-making processes for financial tasks, the staff finds themselves in a learning phase. While there are concerns regarding the acceptance of electronic invoices, the Accountant believes that moving entirely to digital would be less burdensome than maintaining a hybrid paper-digital system for an extended period. This transition aims to prevent falling behind other nearby municipalities, enhancing the competitive edge for local businesses in digital transformation efforts.

Overview of the BtoB Invoice Platform

The "BtoB Invoice Platform" is a comprehensive cloud service capable of managing various invoice-related tasks, including issuing, receiving, and notifying payment amounts. By significantly improving the invoice process, the service supports paperless accounting and telework, reducing time, costs, and effort associated with invoicing activities. Notably, it employs a "data-to-data" method, facilitating direct exchanges of invoice details without requiring conversion to PDFs, which complies with electronic bookkeeping laws and the invoice system. As of September 2026, over 1.3 million companies are utilizing this platform.

More information can be found here.

About Infomart

Established in 1998, Infomart has been providing cloud services to improve operational efficiencies in business transactions, including invoicing and order management. With its flagship "BtoB Platform" already benefiting over 1.3 million companies, it has become a cornerstone of B2B transactions in Japan. As of June 2026, the total transaction amount through this platform exceeds 71 trillion yen annually. Infomart is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the code 2492 and continues to advance its mission to facilitate digital transformation for businesses.