Gulfnet
Integrated ICT business platform for chain stores.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Late VC | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Gulfnet Co., Ltd. is a specialized solution vendor that provides a comprehensive IT platform for multi-location chain store companies primarily in Japan's retail and food service industries. Founded in February 1994 in Akihabara, Tokyo, the company established itself by commercializing creative ideas into tangible solutions for the distribution retail sector. The current CEO is Junichi Ishikawa.
The core of Gulfnet's offering is the "Business Based Platform (BBP)," an integrated ICT platform that supports the management strategies of its clients. This platform is provided as a service, meaning clients do not need to own the ICT resources themselves, which avoids significant initial investment and operational costs. The BBP model packages approximately 80% of the necessary ICT functions, with the remaining 20% available for company-specific customization. This structure allows for flexibility in response to business changes, such as fluctuations in the number of stores. Services encompassed within the BBP include system infrastructure, business applications, and help desk support. Recently, the platform has been updated to center around AI to further enhance productivity and management efficiency.
The company serves over 1,200 major chain store companies, covering 70,000 stores. Its business model revolves around charging a usage fee for its platform, allowing clients to utilize a full suite of ICT resources without asset ownership. Headquartered in Tokyo, Gulfnet also operates an office in Osaka to serve western Japan and a development base in Sapporo. The company is expanding its services to overseas chain stores in Asia through its subsidiaries, Gulfnet Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Gulfnet (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Keywords: ICT platform, chain store solutions, retail IT, food service technology, business process outsourcing, asset-light IT, managed IT services, AI business platform, multi-location retail, operational support, help desk services, system infrastructure, network services, cloud services, Gulfnet, Japanese IT services, enterprise software, retail management, restaurant management, BBP