Meets Consulting Partners with Yokohama Shinkin Bank to Support SMEs in Kanagawa Prefecture with "EC x AI x Management"

Meets Consulting Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Yuta Ito; hereinafter "the Company"), a consulting firm specializing in the integrated fields of EC, AI, and management, has signed a business alliance agreement with Yokohama Shinkin Bank (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Chairman: Takashi Kasuga; hereinafter "Yokohama Shinkin"). Yokohama Shinkin is a regional financial institution with 63 branches in the Kanagawa and Tokyo areas, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. Through this alliance, we will provide business matching support to Yokohama Shinkin's client companies, collaboratively fostering the growth and development of regional SMEs.

■ Background of the Business Alliance — An Era Demanding Collaboration Between Regional Finance and Expert Consulting

In recent years, the management challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have diversified. The need for specialized knowledge has rapidly increased in areas such as EC entry and digitalization for sales expansion, AI utilization for operational efficiency, and reconstruction of management strategies for sustainable growth.

On the other hand, regional financial institutions have the strength of deeply knowing their client companies and building trusted relationships. However, it has become difficult for individual financial institutions alone to cope with rapidly changing business environments and provide specialized support in new areas like EC and AI.

Yokohama Shinkin Bank has 63 branches in the Kanagawa and Tokyo areas and has built deep trust with regional SMEs for over 100 years. Meanwhile, our company is a specialized consulting firm that has supported over 200 SMEs from the perspectives of EC, AI, and management.

For example, an established company in Kanagawa Prefecture achieved a 158% year-on-year sales growth within one year of starting initiatives by combining full-scale entry into the EC business with new product development support. We judged that by collaborating with Yokohama Shinkin, which has over 100 years of history, we could provide more comprehensive and practical support to regional SMEs, leading to this business alliance.

■ Details of the Business Alliance — Providing "Encounters" and "Growth Opportunities" to SMEs through Business Matching

In this alliance, we will primarily proceed with collaboration in the following ways:

① Business Matching Introduction to Yokohama Shinkin Client Companies

Based on the needs of client companies identified by Yokohama Shinkin through daily transactions, we will conduct business matching utilizing our network and corporate information. We will provide optimal matching opportunities for companies aiming to cultivate new clients and expand sales channels.

② Introduction of Meets Consulting's Consulting Services

We will introduce our consulting services according to the management challenges faced by Yokohama Shinkin's client companies, such as EC entry, EC improvement, AI implementation, and management improvement. Our expert consultants will respond to inquiries like "I want to start EC but don't know where to begin" or "I want to use AI to improve operational efficiency."

③ Joint Hosting of Seminars and Study Sessions

We will jointly host practical seminars and study sessions for Yokohama Shinkin's client companies on themes such as EC utilization, AI implementation, and management improvement. By delivering practical know-how, we will contribute to improving the competitiveness of regional SMEs.

■ Comment from Mr. Kei Kanna, General Manager of Sales Division, Yokohama Shinkin Bank

"Labor shortages are a serious issue for SMEs, and the utilization of EC and AI is a very beneficial breakthrough. We strongly hope that business owners who want to change but can't will be supported and encouraged to transform. As a financial institution in a narrow area, our bank has a mission to contribute even more to the region. We have high expectations for this alliance not only in EC but also in management support, and Meets Consulting's hands-on consulting is highly regarded by our clients, so we look forward to their continued success."

Kei Kanna, General Manager of Sales Division, Yokohama Shinkin Bank

■ Comment from Yuta Ito, Representative Director and President

"Collaboration with regional financial institutions holds great potential to significantly expand support for regional SMEs. Yokohama Shinkin Bank has built deep trust with businesses in the Kanagawa and Yokohama areas, and by combining this with our 'EC x AI x Management' tripartite support, I am confident that we can deliver value to companies that previously could not consult with specialized consultants. As General Manager Kanna mentioned, we will continue to provide hands-on support that leads to concrete results, staying close to business owners who 'want to change but can't'."

Yuta Ito, Representative Director and President, Meets Consulting Inc.

■ Future Outlook

For our company, this partnership with Yokohama Shinkin Bank is our third business alliance with a financial institution. While steadily accumulating a track record of collaboration with regional financial institutions, we will continue to expand our network nationwide.

In collaborating with financial institutions, our company is further strengthening its information management system for client companies, ensuring a reliable system from the perspectives of compliance and security. As a consulting firm with expertise in EC, AI, and management, we will support the growth of companies from various angles, aligning with the trusted relationships that regional financial institutions have fostered with SMEs over many years.

We are always accepting consultations regarding our consulting services.

▼ Service Details and Inquiries https://meetsc.co.jp/services/
▼ Feel free to consult us (Official LINE) https://page.line.me/531fcknw
▼ Inquiries by email contact@meetsc.co.jp

■ Company Overview

Yokohama Shinkin Bank
・Name: Yokohama Shinkin Bank

・Head Office: Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

・Chairman: Takashi Kasuga

・Number of Branches: 63

・Established: 1923 (Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023)

・URL: https://www.yokoshin.co.jp

Meets Consulting Inc.

・Company Name: Meets Consulting Inc.

・Location: the ARGYLE aoyama 6F, 2-14-4 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

・Representative: Yuta Ito, Representative Director and President

・Established: October 1, 2019

・Capital: 10 million yen

・Business Activities: EC consulting, management consulting, AI implementation support, etc.

・URL: https://meetsc.co.jp

・Inquiries: contact@meetsc.co.jp

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For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact Meets Consulting Inc. Public Relations (contact@meetsc.co.jp).

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