Strengthening Industry DX: HOUSEI and Nikkan Sports Collaborate for Newspaper Innovations

HOUSEI Inc., a technology company specializing in AI and digital transformation solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Nikkan Sports Newspaper Tokyo Headquarters. This collaboration aims to enhance the deployment of the newspaper production system, CloudXPress, to streamline operations and cut costs in the newspaper industry.

Background of the Partnership

This initiative builds upon a concept announced in February 2022, focusing on the commonization of newspaper production systems across various outlets. With CloudXPress already utilized by a number of regional newspapers, the partnership intends to accelerate joint proposals to expand its use among a broader range of newspaper publishers. As the industry faces challenges such as labor shortages and increasing costs, the goal of this collaboration is to systematically improve efficiency through standardization while customizing solutions to fit the diverse needs of individual newspaper companies. By combining their strengths, HOUSEI and Nikkan Sports aim to create a comprehensive support system that addresses both sales and technical needs, facilitating faster digital transformation efforts within the newspaper sector.

What is CloudXPress?

CloudXPress is a versatile newspaper layout system designed to meet the diverse editorial requirements of the production process. It offers a highly flexible and scalable layout functionality that enables users to utilize the latest features through consistent updates. By standardizing the newspaper production workflow, CloudXPress not only promotes operational efficiency but also reduces initial setup and maintenance costs when compared to traditional individually-developed systems. Moreover, its use of a shared package allows newspapers nationwide—regardless of regional and operational scales—to benefit from the same foundational technologies, paving the way for cross-industry collaboration and enhanced data utilization. This makes it an exceptionally sustainable solution for a wide range of publishers, from local to national organizations.

Key Features

CloudXPress comes equipped with essential layout functionalities for newspaper production, such as large formats, pattern layouts, table layouts, and box layouts. Additional features include page management, integrated communication tools, text management, output management, advertising management, and external distribution functionalities, which collectively support the entire editorial to distribution process. This range of capabilities enables better alignment with diverse editorial needs, significantly enhancing both the quality and speed of the newspaper production workflow.

Future Outlook

The partnership between HOUSEI and Nikkan Sports will leverage the combined technological prowess and expertise of both organizations to further broaden their customer base. They aim to enhance and standardize production solutions across the entire industry. By utilizing CloudXPress, they can improve responsiveness to the rapidly changing media landscape and reader demands, promoting digital transition across the newspaper industry while laying a solid operational foundation for the future of newspaper production.

About Nikkan Sports Newspaper Tokyo Headquarters

- Headquarters: 3-5-10 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- President: Shoichi Yoshida
- Established: August 1952
- Website: Nikkan Sports

About HOUSEI Inc.

- Headquarters: 1-8 Tsukudo-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 9th Floor Kagurazaka AK Building
- President: Koukan Kan
- Established: March 1996
- Website: HOUSEI

HOUSEI is dedicated to driving digital transformation in Japan through its four business pillars: media services, professional services, product development, and international IT services. The company actively engages in open innovation and is seeking partners for joint development and sales opportunities.