Collaboration Between Yokohama Shinkin Bank and Meets Consulting to Support SMEs with EC, AI, and Management

Support for SMEs in Kanagawa

Meets Consulting Co., Ltd. (CEO: Yuta Ito), specializing in integrated consulting of e-commerce (EC), artificial intelligence (AI), and management, has signed a business partnership with Yokohama Shinkin Bank (Chairman: Takashi Kasuga). This collaboration aims to provide business matching support to the bank's partner companies, promoting growth among local SMEs in Kanagawa and Tokyo regions.

Background of the Business Alliance

In recent years, the challenges faced by SMEs have become increasingly diverse. From entering EC markets to utilizing AI for operational efficiency, and restructuring management strategies for sustainable growth, the demand for specialized knowledge has surged.

Yokohama Shinkin Bank, with a network of 63 branches, has built strong relationships with local businesses over its 100-year history. However, the rapidly changing business environment and emerging sectors like EC and AI require specialized support that individual financial institutions find challenging to provide alone.

Meets Consulting has supported over 200 SMEs in areas related to EC, AI, and management. For instance, a long-established business in Kanagawa experienced a 158% year-on-year sales growth in its first year after launching its EC operations combined with new product development. This partnership with Yokohama Shinkin Bank is expected to deliver comprehensive and practical support to local SMEs based on such successful cases.

Details of the Collaboration

The partnership will focus on the following areas:
1. Business Matching Services: Based on Yokohama Shinkin Bank’s understanding of its clients' needs, Meets Consulting will leverage its network to provide business matching opportunities that aim to facilitate new client acquisitions and expand sales channels for local companies.
2. Consulting Services Introduction: Depending on the management issues faced by partner companies, including entering or improving EC and AI implementation, Meets Consulting will provide specialized consultation and guidance.
3. Joint Seminars and Workshops: Together, the two firms will host practical seminars and workshops focused on EC utilization, AI integration, and management enhancement for clients of Yokohama Shinkin Bank, helping to bolster the competitiveness of local SMEs.

Comments from Leadership

Kei Kaname, General Manager at Yokohama Shinkin Bank: “Labor shortages present severe challenges for SMEs, and utilizing EC and AI is a highly beneficial strategy. We are committed to supporting business owners who want to change but may not know how. This collaboration aims not only to improve EC capabilities but also to offer substantial management support.”

Yuta Ito, CEO of Meets Consulting: “Collaboration with local financial institutions like Yokohama Shinkin Bank opens up significant possibilities for extending our support to regional SMEs. By combining our strengths, we believe we can offer value to businesses that have previously not engaged specialized consulting services.”

Future Outlook

This partnership marks the third agreement between Meets Consulting and a financial institution. By steadily building on these collaborations, the company aims to expand its network nationally. The enhanced information management system will comply with compliance and security standards, ensuring trust alongside growth support for SMEs that local banks have cultivated over the years.

Consultation inquiries are always welcome: