Plaid

Basic Information

Stock Code: 4165
Industry: Information and Communications Industry
Category Detail: Systems & Software
Prefecture: Tokyo
Establishment Year: October 2011
Listing Year: December 2020
Official Website: https://plaid.co.jp/
TSE Information: TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance: Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies: Celsys, Broadleaf, GreenB, Plus Alpha Consulting, Appier Group, Finatext Holdings, SmaReji, WingArc1st, Kaonavi, Sansan, HENNGE, Cybozu, TRACES OP

Overview

Plaid is a SaaS company founded in 2011 in the information and communications industry. Centered on consumer behavior analysis, it supports customer experience improvements and is a leading company with high technological capabilities within the industry.

Current Situation

Plaid recorded sales of approximately 4 billion yen in its fiscal year 2020 settlement but posted an operating loss as it is in a growth investment phase. Its core consumer behavior analysis SaaS business has a broad customer base centered on major EC and financial companies, with strong competitiveness in the market. Technologically, it possesses unique user behavior analysis technology and has attracted attention in the industry through funding from Google and business partnerships. In recent years, it has expanded its business areas, such as by establishing a joint venture with Mitsui & Co. From a sustainability perspective, it aims to provide sustainable services while considering data utilization ethics. Moving forward, strengthening functions as a customer experience platform and entering overseas markets will be central to its strategy, with innovations in AI utilization and big data analysis technologies. While monitoring economic conditions and competitors' movements, it is focusing on technology development and new business creation to achieve medium- to long-term growth.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

The company name 'Plaid' incorporates the meaning of 'utilizing individual behavior data'
First domestic CX platform company to receive investment from Google
Largest scale of shares offered at the time of Tokyo Mothers listing in the industry
Became a top-class domestic consumer behavior analysis SaaS company in just a few years since founding
Exploring business expansion beyond industry boundaries through joint venture with Mitsui & Co.
Customer experience platform utilized across diverse industries
Possesses unique marketing know-how through startup support
Strategic base in high-end commercial facility GINZA SIX in Tokyo's Ginza
Awarded various corporate awards for innovative technological capabilities
Features development leveraging digital native young employees

Hidden Connections

Achieved cloud infrastructure optimization through funding and technical partnership with Google
Developed new customer base beyond existing business areas through joint venture with Mitsui & Co.
Promotes cross-industry collaboration leveraging long-term transaction relationships with major EC and financial sectors
Competes for customer share in the same industry with competitors like Sansan and Cybozu
Has track record of cooperation with government-related DX promotion initiatives as a leader in domestic DX
Contributes to creating new business models through startup support
Builds unique position in the marketing industry based on abundant customer data
Attracting attention as a young growth company in Nikkei corporate rankings

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

Increasing demand for corporate digital marketing due to DX promotion
Expansion of AI and machine learning technology applications in services
Growth in EC market and rising needs for customer behavior analysis
Business area expansion through strategic partnerships with major companies
Active entry into overseas markets, especially Asia
Product enhancements incorporating sustainability measures
Advanced responsiveness to data privacy regulations
Innovation through new businesses and startup collaborations
Rising demand for real-time analysis with 5G and IoT proliferation
Further multifunctionality of customer experience platforms

Strategic Goals

Achieve top domestic market share in customer base
Reach over 30% sales ratio in Asian markets
Strengthen service competitiveness through AI technology utilization
Improve social trust based on sustainable management
Transform into a global company with diversity and inclusion
Achieve annual sales exceeding 10 billion yen
Continuous strengthening of corporate governance
Create leading data utilization model for privacy protection
Expand new business sales ratio to over 20%
Maintain and improve customer satisfaction above 90%

Business Segments

Digital Marketing Support

Overview

Analyzes customers' digital behavior to enable real-time personalized responses.

Competitiveness

Advanced real-time user data integration analysis technology

Customers

EC operators
Financial institutions
Retailers
Travel industry
Game operators
Media companies
Advertising agencies

Products

KARTE Core
KARTE Palette
Customer Behavior Analysis SaaS
Data Integration Platform

New Business and Startup Support

Overview

Marketing and data utilization services to support the business growth of emerging companies.

Competitiveness

Abundant customer data and advanced analysis expertise

Customers

Startup companies
Venture capital
New business divisions of corporate companies

Products

Marketing solutions
Data analysis consulting

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

Unique real-time behavior analysis technology
Reliability from funding by Google
Broad customer base in EC and financial industries
Strong development team and technological capabilities
Innovative user experience optimization features
Rapid business expansion in growth markets
Customer-centric customization offerings
Rich marketing automation features
Multi-channel compatible platform
High data security management

Competitive Advantages

Real-time user behavior analysis to improve customer experience
Strategic partnerships with major IT companies
Highly scalable and flexible SaaS product lineup
High-precision proposals based on specialized data analysis capabilities
Achieved largest Mothers listing scale for fundraising
Continuous technological innovation to differentiate from competitors
Solutions deployable across diverse industries
Improved user satisfaction through refined UI/UX
Strong customer support system to boost utilization rates
Business aligned with societal DX promotion trends

Threats

Intensifying price competition from competitors catching up
Strengthening of personal information protection laws and data regulations
Risk of obsolescence due to rapid technological advances
Threat from new entrants
Reduced investments due to economic fluctuations
Diversification and changes in customer needs
Risk of information leaks from cyber attacks
Regulatory risks associated with overseas expansion

Innovations

2021: Established new company '.me' with Mitsui & Co.

Overview: Established a new company to promote DX in the corporate market and launched joint services.
Impact: Contributes to expansion of corporate business and acquisition of new customer segments

2020: Enhanced AI utilization in KARTE platform

Overview: Implemented machine learning-based customer behavior prediction functions to improve personalization accuracy.
Impact: Improved retention rates through optimized customer experience

2022: Advanced big data analysis infrastructure

Overview: Renewed massive data processing technology to expand real-time response capabilities.
Impact: 20% improvement in processing speed, contributing to expanded customer adoption

Sustainability

Strengthened data management system compliant with Personal Information Protection Act
Formulation of transparent data utilization policies
Promotion of internal activities to reduce environmental impact
Fostering corporate culture that respects diversity and inclusion
Active participation in social contribution activities