Ready Crew Expands Its Horizons with Annual Data Release
In an era where companies continuously adapt to rapid technological advances, Frontier Inc. has made significant strides with its business matching community, Ready Crew. Based in Shibuya, Tokyo, the company led by President Masahiro Takahashi has released detailed insights into the consultations it has facilitated on an annual basis, covering crucial aspects such as project categories, industries, budget ranges, and responsible departments.
With a staggering total business matching budget exceeding ¥100 billion (approximately $900 million), the data unearthed by Ready Crew reveals not only the current external outsourcing demands of businesses but also the underlying trends shaping these queries.
Highest Demand in System Development
Among various consultation categories, system development emerged as the dominant area of interest. Following closely were design, production, and promotional segments, indicating a robust demand across these fields. Multiple factors contribute to the heightened interest in system-related projects; one of the most significant is the increasing necessity for AI and generative AI applications, particularly through Proof of Concept (PoC) projects. As businesses ramp up their digital transformation efforts and efficiency optimization, there's a soaring need to internalize and reconfigure processes to better utilize these cutting-edge technologies.
Given the rapid adoption of generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT, a considerable amount of exploratory development consultations have emerged, with companies expressing desires to experiment with AI tools. This exploratory landscape underlines the critical need for adaptable external partners capable of navigating this new territory effectively, consequently amplifying the demand for suitable matching solutions.
Industry Insights: Telecommunications and Consumer Services
When analyzing the inquiries by industry, requests primarily came from sectors such as telecommunications, consumer-facing services, and manufacturing, which together accounted for nearly half of the total consultations. These industries are characterized by swift changes and a high trend towards outsourcing non-core tasks.
In particular, the telecommunications sector is witnessing rapid implementation of cutting-edge technologies like AI, cloud computing, and 5G, necessitating collaboration with specialized vendors. Similarly, the consumer services domain frequently solicits support for promotional strategies and optimization of customer interactions, often seeking outsourced solutions for short-term projects tied to seasonal demands.
Manufacturing entities, on the other hand, are increasingly delegating non-core tasks, including systems, public relations, and marketing, to external partners to concentrate their efforts on core manufacturing activities. Notably, across these sectors, businesses collectively seek partnerships that offer speed, flexibility, and high quality, further accentuating the vital role of effective matching services.
Although not represented by a large percentage, inquiries from the logistics sector are on the rise. Companies are particularly exploring AI-driven solutions for optimizing delivery routes and improving workforce acquisition – moves that are viewed as proactive contingency measures in anticipation of 2024's challenges.
Department Breakdown: Marketing Leads the Way
A detailed examination of the departments initiating these inquiries reveals that the marketing and public relations departments hold the most substantial share, accounting for 28.3% of all requests. The subsequent inquiries primarily came from the sales department (22.6%), information systems (15.5%), corporate planning (12.0%), and human resources (7.5%).
The marketing sector sees an increasing demand for outsourcing creative tasks due to the challenging nature of producing high-quality content across diverse distribution channels, especially via social media and video production. Additionally, the sharp escalation in web advertising costs has propelled companies to focus on original media, leading to significant inquiries about efficient content production.
Sales departments are subsisting an increasing number of consultations on outsourcing telemarketing, web advertising, and content marketing as the need for lead acquisition efficiency intensifies. In the information systems domain, the constant necessity to transition legacy systems to cloud environments, alongside a push for digital transformation and enhanced security measures, is generating sustained outsourcing demands.
Budget Insights: Mid-Range Dominance
When it comes to budget allocation, the range of ¥1 million to ¥3 million prevails, making up 33.4% of total inquiries. While this mid-range budget stands out, inquiries for projects between ¥10 million and ¥30 million constitute 13.5%, and larger-scale projects exceeding ¥100 million remain pertinent at 5.3%. The growth of these larger budgets reflects a shift in focus from single-instance outsourcing toward developing long-term partnerships and strategic collaborations aimed at overall digital transformation.
Looking Ahead: Addressing Diverse Corporate Needs
As companies navigate an increasingly complex landscape defined by varied challenges, the necessity for selecting partners that can deliver tangible outcomes has moved to the forefront. Ready Crew remains unwavering in its commitment to analyze and publish annual data derived from over 10,000 matchmaking cases, ensuring ongoing support for businesses in their growth journey.
About Ready Crew
Ready Crew acts as a business matching agent that connects firms, backed by the robust performance of 2,800 listed companies utilizing its services. With a dedicated team of concierge professionals skilled in effective listening and proposal-making, the platform addresses a wide range of outsourcing issues spanning systems and promotions. After thoroughly understanding client needs, Ready Crew employs its unique ecosystem to recommend the most suitable partners, charging fees solely from the selected receiving partners, ensuring that there are absolutely no costs borne by the consulting company.
For further insights into Ready Crew's success stories and additional information, visit
Ready Crew Case Studies.