#Japan #Tokyo #Hobonichi #Methodologic #Airbyte

Supporting Hobonichi's Growth through Modern Data Solutions

Methodologic, an IT consulting company specializing in data modeling and architecture design, has recently partnered with Hobonichi, the company behind the popular website and product line, including the Hobonichi Techo planner. The collaboration is centered around building a robust data analysis infrastructure utilizing a modern data stack, which includes Snowflake, Fivetran, dbt, and Airbyte. This initiative aims to enhance data visualization of Hobonichi's rapidly growing e-commerce operations, particularly in sales and inventory management, while also aiming for an optimal customer experience within the newly launched Hobonichi Techo app.

Why Hobonichi Entered This Partnership

Hobonichi has been delivering a wide range of content including essays and interviews on its website, in addition to selling its original products, primarily centered around the Hobonichi Techo planner. As their operations expanded largely via direct sales through their online store and increased international market penetration, managing sales and inventory information became increasingly complex. Information streams varied depending on sales channels, relying heavily on monthly accounting processes, which hampered timely data aggregation and analysis.

The challenge was clear: how to efficiently collect real-time data and effectively integrate it with their accounting systems? Additionally, with the expansion of sales orders, quick decision-making based on inventory data and the automation of ordering processes became critical. Specific data collection from platforms like Amazon SP-API and Rakuten's RMS WEB SERVICE demanded significant real-time capability and data consistency.

Methodologic's Approach to Overcome These Challenges

After thorough discussions with Hobonichi, Methodologic took the initiative to implement the following solutions:
1. Hybrid Data Collection Utilizing Airbyte and Fivetran
- Initiated by establishing a data collection infrastructure through Fivetran, connecting sales data via Amazon SP-API.
- For data sources not supported by Fivetran's standard connectors, custom connectors were developed for Airbyte.
- This hybrid approach ensured a flexible and cost-effective data collection environment while also allowing for backup solutions in case of Fivetran failures.

2. Building a Data Analysis Framework Using Snowflake and dbt
- Integrated sales, inventory, and customer data within Snowflake and dbt to conduct daily visibility of business and inventory analytics via Tableau.
- Collected data is stored within a data warehouse, facilitating rapid and visually intuitive sales data analysis using tools like Tableau and Looker Studio.

3. Visualizing Sales and Inventory Through Tableau
- Developed a data mart designed to identify sales and inventory statuses at a glance. This enables filtering through various categories, including sales channels and individual product lines, visualized through a dashboard in Tableau.

The Concept of a Modern Data Stack in E-Commerce

In the realm of e-commerce, integrating numerous data sources from diverse platforms like Amazon, Rakuten, and various management systems (CRM, ERP, inventory tools) is essential. With a wealth of connectors, Airbyte and Fivetran simplify this integration process while allowing real-time data capture. By quickly obtaining customer behavior and sales data, Hobonichi can now optimize inventory allocation and promotions promptly.

Airbyte’s OSS platform also allows customization as needed, making it a flexible choice for unique business requirements. Even the paid version remains competitively priced, ensuring a cost-effective data management solution.

With established successes in Snowflake, dbt, and Fivetran configurations, Methodologic is well-equipped to assist e-commerce businesses in building a comprehensive Modern Data Stack tailored to their specific needs.

Insights from Hobonichi’s CFO

Masao Suzuki, Hobonichi's CFO, shared his thoughts on this strategic partnership: "Hobonichi's sales channels have rapidly expanded, complicating our sales and inventory management. We prioritized selling where the market exists, but struggled with organizing the sales data accordingly. We are extremely pleased with the data analysis infrastructure that Methodologic has built for us, allowing for a better visualization of our management information. The progress in our data visualization has far exceeded our expectations. Using the foundation built by Methodologic, we aim to reduce logistics and product evaluation losses while ensuring that our revenue grows alongside our profits. Additionally, with the recent release of the Hobonichi Techo app, we see potential in combining it with our physical planner to generate further demand, and we look forward to continued support from Methodologic."

Conclusion

As Hobonichi continues to evolve its offerings and expand its market reach, the role of data analytics will undoubtedly be crucial. Methodologic's expertise in setting up a modern data infrastructure is an integral part of this journey toward maximizing efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and ultimately driving growth in the digital landscape.