#Japan #Setagaya #AI-OCR #Gen Drive #Hi-story

Gen Drive Enhances Payment Flexibility

In a significant move, Hi-story Co., Ltd., located in Setagaya, Tokyo, has announced that as of March 31, 2026, its AI-powered OCR service, Gen Drive, will introduce credit card payment options and monthly payment plans. This update comes after recognizing customer feedback which indicated that the previous annual payment and bank transfer methods were not ideal for all users.

Background of the Payment Update

Historically, businesses often faced hurdles with annual lump-sum payments requiring extensive internal approvals and justifications. Many expressed interest in the Gen Drive service, but hesitated to commit due to these payment structures. As the service transitioned from the former CTO HANDs AI text reading service on March 10, 2026, the company identified a need for more flexible payment methods that could accommodate a range of internal processes across different businesses.

Hi-story’s initiative to integrate credit card payments caters particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) where departmental heads often can make decisions on monthly expenditures, yet require higher-level approval for annual costs exceeding 120,000 yen. This flexibility is expected to alleviate many of the barriers previously hindering swift adoption of the Gen Drive service.

Increasing Demand for B2B Credit Card Payments

According to Infucyurion's 2025 report on B2B payment trends for SMEs, the interest in invoice credit card payments has doubled from about 20% to nearly 40%. Companies are looking to streamline payment processes, reducing the cumbersome tasks associated with bank transfers and payment confirmations. Recognizing this trend, Hi-story aims to enhance the user experience of Gen Drive by enabling credit card and monthly payment options, thereby making implementation simpler and faster.

Monthly Payment Plan Details

Under the new payment structure, users can choose between a monthly payment option and an annual payment method, which includes a 20% discount.

Pricing Structure

The free plan continues to be permanently available. Users who choose longer-term commitments can enjoy substantial savings. The Pro Plan and custom plans maintain traditional payment approaches through individual estimates and bank transfers.

Benefits of the New Payment Options

1. Immediate Activation: With credit card payment, users can activate their plans as soon as the transaction is processed, significantly reducing the activation timeline from an average of 3-5 business days to just hours.

2. Zero Minimum Contract Period: The monthly plan does not have a minimum commitment, allowing users to try the service for a month before deciding to continue. If it doesn’t meet expectations, cancellation is easy.

3. Savings on Longer Commitment: Once users have experienced the monthly plan and its benefits, switching to an annual plan offers a 20% discount, creating significant annual cost savings.

Additional OCR Credits for Users

For those requiring extra OCR processing, Gen Drive now allows users to purchase OCR credits via credit card. These credits come in increments of 10,000 yen, 30,000 yen, 50,000 yen, and 100,000 yen (excluding tax).

About Gen Drive

Launched on March 10, 2026, Gen Drive is an AI-based OCR service that automates data extraction from documents by simply uploading files. It intelligently suggests data fields for extraction, handling various formats, including handwritten notes and diverse document layouts such as orders, invoices, delivery notes, applications, surveys, and more.

Launch Campaign to Celebrate Revamp

In light of the enhancements, Hi-story has extended the campaign for new users signing up for the service. Originally limited to the first 100 companies, the offer for a 30,000 yen OCR credit is now available for the first 150 registrants, a decision influenced by overwhelming demand. This promotion runs until May 8, 2026, allowing new users to access the service with additional OCR processing credits for free.

Campaign Overview

• - Campaign Dates: March 10, 2026 - May 8, 2026
• - Eligibility: New businesses that complete registration during the campaign period.
• - Incentive: 30,000 yen OCR credit for early registrants.
• - How to Participate: Register as a new company to qualify.

Hello to a more accessible AI-OCR with Gen Drive, where efficient processes and flexible payments come together to ease the burdens of B2B operations.