#Japan #Tokyo #AI Services #Talent Management #HRBrain

HRBrain's Groundbreaking Business Strategy Conference

On August 26, 2025, HRBrain, a prominent Japanese HR technology company based in Minato, Tokyo, held its first-ever business strategy conference at the Toranomon Hills Forum. This inaugural event attracted a multitude of corporate representatives, primarily from human resources and management sectors, to discuss the integration of generative AI into new services and the company's future direction.

Celebrating a Decade of HRBrain

The conference kicked off with an address by CEO Hiroki Hori, who reflected on HRBrain's journey since its inception in 2016. "With the challenges of labor shortages and the need for increased productivity, we've been working to overcome the delays in digitalizing HR processes. If HR can take the right actions, it directly contributes to corporate growth. Therefore, our daily efforts focus on accelerating business through the power of digital technology," Hori stated, reasserting the company's core mission.

Founded in 2016, HRBrain started with a cloud-based performance evaluation platform and has since expanded to include talent management, employee surveys, and labor management solutions, serving over 3,500 clients today. The company emphasizes user-friendliness, further enhancing customer satisfaction by ensuring ease of use in various HR processes such as onboarding and year-end adjustments.

In 2023, HRBrain announced a capital alliance with the global private equity firm EQT, strengthening its operational foundation and driving further innovation in the AI landscape.

Announcing New Branding and AI Initiatives

Moving forward, Hori unveiled a new key visual and a core message, "AI: Another Mind for HR," signifying the strategic integration of AI into HR operations. He elaborated, "The advancement of AI now allows us not only to enhance data analysis but also to support human decision-making, making it a natural fit for the talent management space. We believe this brings value that transcends mere efficiency."

The newly introduced service leverages employee talent and activity data to provide instant insights and reports in a chat format. By connecting HRBrain’s extensive talent dataset with various customer-associated SaaS solutions, AI engines rapidly analyze information to facilitate strategic decision-making for HR and management teams.

Hori emphasized, "Our goal is to simultaneously expedite decision-making while ensuring quality. This serves as the infrastructure to connect frontline data with executive decisions. We can identify high performers at risk of leaving and recommend talent for new projects, showcasing the versatility of our AI applications."

In addition to launching the new service, HRBrain plans to integrate AI functionality across its existing product suite, further accelerating the realization of strategic HR. Hori concluded, "The vision of becoming the brain of HR departments, which we've upheld since our founding, is finally taking tangible form through advancements in technology. This marks a turning point, and we are excited to collaborate on reshaping the future of HR together."

The newly announced service is expected to launch in the spring of next year.

Engagement through Panel Discussions

Next, a panel discussion featuring HRBrain’s Customer Success team addressed the theme of how they support clients in the complex HR landscape. Yui Kitamura from Customer Success shared, "In HR, where solutions are not one-size-fits-all, we focus on working alongside clients to clarify challenges and aim for shared goals."

They discussed real-world examples, including deploying surveys in large organizations with over 10,000 employees across international offices, highlighting the importance of adapting to different languages and data formats.

Consultant Yoshihiro Yokoi added, "We don’t just diagnose data; we prioritize taking action. When presenting directions to corporate executives, it's essential to respect the long-standing culture and values of the organization."

The session reinforced HRBrain's commitment to balancing the power of technology with empathetic customer support. This reiterates their desire to continue thinking more profoundly about their clients than even the clients themselves, reminding attendees of the depth of the HR role and the value of daily human interactions.

Strategic Partnerships to Expand Offerings

Following the panel, CEO Hori announced further partnerships aimed at enhancing value for HRBrain's clients. Collaborations with Human Technologies Co., Ltd. will offer the time management system "KING OF TIME". Additionally, a partnership with Benesse Corporation will integrate the AI-supported online learning platform "Udemy Business," allowing greater synergy between human resource data and learning management.

Hori noted the significant potential unlocked by merging time management and talent management data to facilitate a seamless transition from attendance tracking to performance evaluation and organizational improvement.

The collaboration with SB C&S will also enhance HRBrain’s reach to regional and mid-sized companies using their extensive partner network, strengthening sales channels and support systems.

During their presentations, both partners expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting a shared interest to elevate HR technology across Japan, supporting work reforms and organizational growth.

Conclusion and Moving Forward

As HRBrain continues its evolution in the HR technology landscape, the firm remains dedicated to advancing human capital through the strategic use of AI and forming partnerships that amplify its product offerings. With a commitment to improving workplace dynamics and supporting businesses in the digital era, HRBrain is set to be a leader in innovative HR solutions for years to come.