Maruzen Junkudo and PubteX Launch RFID Initiative to Transform Publishing Distribution

Maruzen Junkudo Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Hitoshi Nishikawa, hereinafter 'Maruzen Junkudo') and PubteX Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Jun Watanabe, hereinafter 'PubteX') have launched the 'RFID Store Utilization Project,' an initiative aimed at addressing structural challenges in the publishing distribution industry. This project goes beyond enhancing bookstore operations; it aims to drive structural reform across the entire publishing supply chain by establishing new, data-driven operational models. As part of the project implementation, Maruzen Junkudo is rolling out the book traceability system 'BOOKTRAIL'※. The system has already been introduced in 21 stores, with plans to expand to a total of 50 stores by the end of January 2027. ※BOOKTRAIL is a book traceability system developed by PubteX that enables real-time monitoring of publication distribution through the use of RFID technology. 　　　　　　　　　 ■ Background Bookstores manage tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of book titles, yet have limited means to track the real-time location and distribution status of individual books. As a result, inventory management and book searches have long relied on manual labor and staff experience. This operational model has led to persistently high return rates in the publishing industry, making data-driven inventory optimization and maximizing sales opportunities an urgent priority. In recent years, worsening labor shortages have further challenged the sustainability of traditional bookstore operations, necessitating a fundamental reevaluation of operational models. In response, transitioning to an RFID-based operational model—one that visualizes the movement of books—has become a critical theme for both bookstores and the broader publishing distribution sector. ■ Initiatives under the 'RFID Store Utilization Project' The project aims to achieve item-level visibility using RFID technology, shifting bookstore operations from labor-dependent to data-driven models. Maruzen Junkudo will use its physical stores as testbeds, taking responsibility for operational design and validation, while PubteX will provide the system and conduct data analysis. Together, they will co-develop a standardized model for next-generation, RFID-based bookstore operations. Through this project, both companies aim not only to improve their own operational efficiency but also to contribute to solving structural challenges in the publishing industry and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the entire supply chain. Key initiatives of the RFID Store Utilization Project: ・ Modernization of Operational Infrastructure Establish RFID as a standard infrastructure to improve the efficiency and accuracy of inventory counts and stock management through batch reading of multiple items. ・ Data-Driven Store Management Integrate with POS data to visualize inventory dynamics, transitioning from experience-based operations to data-driven store management. ・ Contribution to the Entire Publishing Industry Share and utilize collected data with publishers and distributors to improve demand forecasting accuracy, optimize replenishment, reduce returns, and enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain. 　　　　　　　　　　 ■ Future Outlook Going forward, Maruzen Junkudo and PubteX will further develop the insights and operational models gained from this initiative, aiming for broader industry adoption through collaboration with stakeholders. Additionally, both companies will widely share the knowledge gained from this project to accelerate RFID adoption and utilization across the publishing industry. They strongly encourage more bookstores and publishers to adopt similar initiatives to advance data-driven, high-efficiency store operations. ■ Company Overview Company Name: Maruzen Junkudo Co., Ltd. Address: 9F, Tokyo Dia Building No. 5, 1-28-23 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Established: August 2010 Representative: Hitoshi Nishikawa Business: Retail sale of books, magazines, and related services Website: https://www.maruzenjunkudo.co.jp/ Company Name: PubteX Co., Ltd. Address: 7F, KDX Toranomon 1-chome Building, 1-10-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Established: March 2022 Representative: Jun Watanabe Business: Planning, development, and provision of RFID-based systems for publishing distribution Website: https://www.pubtex.com/ ■ Inquiries Maruzen Junkudo Co., Ltd. RFID Store Utilization Project Team Contact: Ito, Nabeshima Please use the following inquiry form: Inquiry Form: https://corp.maruzenjunkudo.co.jp/contact/ PubteX Co., Ltd. IoT Solutions Division Contact: Kubota, Muroi Email: ptx-info@pubtex.com