AvePoint Japan and rakumo, 3rd Joint Development of Add-on Products for Microsoft 365
AvePoint Japan and rakumo announced the joint development of 'rakumo Workflow for Microsoft 365', tailored for complex Japanese approval processes, aiming for a Q4 2026 release.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 00:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 16:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 17:20 (1h 18m after Collected)
AvePoint Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Ken Shiomitsu, hereinafter AvePoint Japan), which provides cloud data management for corporations, and rakumo Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and Group CEO: Koji Shimizu, hereinafter rakumo), which develops and provides SaaS services, announce the start of development for "rakumo Workflow for Microsoft 365" as the third phase of their joint development project.
The release of this product is targeted for the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2026 (October to December 2026).
■ Background and Purpose of Joint Development
AvePoint Japan and rakumo have been working on the joint development of the "rakumo for Microsoft 365" series under a strategic partnership aimed at improving convenience in the Microsoft 365 environment. This "rakumo Workflow" is a major outcome of the joint development project following the first and second phases.
The "rakumo Basic Pack," which has been well-received in the Google Workspace version, consists of all four products: Calendar, Contacts, Board, and Workflow. Among these, we have received numerous requests from Microsoft 365 users for the provision of a Microsoft 365 version of "rakumo Workflow."
By jointly developing "rakumo Workflow" and starting to provide it in the Microsoft 365 environment, a powerful product lineup equivalent to the Google Workspace version will be realized in the Microsoft 365 environment as well.
■ Value Brought by This Joint Development
With the introduction of rakumo Workflow, the convenience for companies utilizing Microsoft 365 will dramatically improve.
Completion of the "rakumo Basic Pack" Lineup
With the addition of Workflow to Calendar, Contacts, and Board, everything from daily schedule management to internal approvals can be completed within an integrated, intuitive UI.
Product Development Fusing the Strengths of Both Companies
Fusing AvePoint Japan's advanced technological capabilities with the "design tailored to the business customs of Japanese companies" cultivated by rakumo. It smoothly digitizes Japan's unique complex approval workflows, which cannot be covered by standard Microsoft 365 features alone.
■ Overview of "rakumo Workflow for Microsoft 365"
"rakumo Workflow" is an electronic approval and workflow system characterized by intuitive operability optimized for Japan's unique organizational structures and business habits. The development of this Microsoft 365 version is also planned to include the following main features.
UI/UX That Anyone Can Use Intuitively
Provides a friendly interface where applications and approvals can be made without a manual. It is optimized for operation not only from PCs but also from smartphones.
Support for Japan's Unique Complex Approval Workflows
Complex operational rules of Japanese companies, such as conditional branching, proxy approvals, joint consultations, and multi-stage approvals, can be flexibly configured without programming.
Business Efficiency Improvement Using AI (Planned)
Considering AI-driven features offered in the Google Workspace version, such as support for creating application form templates and an AI-supported search function for templates. This will contribute to speeding up preparation before implementation, shortening the time to search for forms, and reducing selection errors.
Seamless Integration with Other Services
Pursuing convenience within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, such as notification integration with Microsoft Teams, to speed up operations.
[Reference] "rakumo Workflow for Google Workspace version"
■ Comment from Ken Shiomitsu, President and CEO of AvePoint Japan Co., Ltd.
"Through our strong partnership with rakumo, I am proud that we can jointly proceed with the development of Workflow, a very important milestone following the 1st and 2nd phases. By fusing our global technical expertise on Microsoft 365 with rakumo's outstanding UI/UX design capabilities, I am confident that we can provide a powerful solution to accelerate the DX of Japanese companies."
■ Comment from Koji Shimizu, President and Group CEO of rakumo Inc.
"I am very pleased that we can finally begin the development of 'rakumo Workflow' as the third phase of our joint development with AvePoint Japan. (Body cuts off here)
The release of this product is targeted for the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2026 (October to December 2026).
■ Background and Purpose of Joint Development
AvePoint Japan and rakumo have been working on the joint development of the "rakumo for Microsoft 365" series under a strategic partnership aimed at improving convenience in the Microsoft 365 environment. This "rakumo Workflow" is a major outcome of the joint development project following the first and second phases.
The "rakumo Basic Pack," which has been well-received in the Google Workspace version, consists of all four products: Calendar, Contacts, Board, and Workflow. Among these, we have received numerous requests from Microsoft 365 users for the provision of a Microsoft 365 version of "rakumo Workflow."
By jointly developing "rakumo Workflow" and starting to provide it in the Microsoft 365 environment, a powerful product lineup equivalent to the Google Workspace version will be realized in the Microsoft 365 environment as well.
■ Value Brought by This Joint Development
With the introduction of rakumo Workflow, the convenience for companies utilizing Microsoft 365 will dramatically improve.
Completion of the "rakumo Basic Pack" Lineup
With the addition of Workflow to Calendar, Contacts, and Board, everything from daily schedule management to internal approvals can be completed within an integrated, intuitive UI.
Product Development Fusing the Strengths of Both Companies
Fusing AvePoint Japan's advanced technological capabilities with the "design tailored to the business customs of Japanese companies" cultivated by rakumo. It smoothly digitizes Japan's unique complex approval workflows, which cannot be covered by standard Microsoft 365 features alone.
■ Overview of "rakumo Workflow for Microsoft 365"
"rakumo Workflow" is an electronic approval and workflow system characterized by intuitive operability optimized for Japan's unique organizational structures and business habits. The development of this Microsoft 365 version is also planned to include the following main features.
UI/UX That Anyone Can Use Intuitively
Provides a friendly interface where applications and approvals can be made without a manual. It is optimized for operation not only from PCs but also from smartphones.
Support for Japan's Unique Complex Approval Workflows
Complex operational rules of Japanese companies, such as conditional branching, proxy approvals, joint consultations, and multi-stage approvals, can be flexibly configured without programming.
Business Efficiency Improvement Using AI (Planned)
Considering AI-driven features offered in the Google Workspace version, such as support for creating application form templates and an AI-supported search function for templates. This will contribute to speeding up preparation before implementation, shortening the time to search for forms, and reducing selection errors.
Seamless Integration with Other Services
Pursuing convenience within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, such as notification integration with Microsoft Teams, to speed up operations.
[Reference] "rakumo Workflow for Google Workspace version"
■ Comment from Ken Shiomitsu, President and CEO of AvePoint Japan Co., Ltd.
"Through our strong partnership with rakumo, I am proud that we can jointly proceed with the development of Workflow, a very important milestone following the 1st and 2nd phases. By fusing our global technical expertise on Microsoft 365 with rakumo's outstanding UI/UX design capabilities, I am confident that we can provide a powerful solution to accelerate the DX of Japanese companies."
■ Comment from Koji Shimizu, President and Group CEO of rakumo Inc.
"I am very pleased that we can finally begin the development of 'rakumo Workflow' as the third phase of our joint development with AvePoint Japan. (Body cuts off here)