Rakuten and Yamato Holdings to Collaborate
to Improve Convenience in E-Commerce

Tokyo, July 6, 2015 - Rakuten, Inc. and Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. today announced that they have strengthened their business collaboration in order to further improve convenience for customers and business operators in the field of e-commerce.

Background and Aims of the Collaboration
With the popularization of the internet and the growing use of smartphones, e-commerce (EC) has become an indispensable part of modern life, and further expansion of the EC market and the diversification and development in its usage anticipated in the future. Given such circumstances, strengthening measures to improve the convenience for EC customers is a pressing challenge for businesses engaged in EC, logistics, and other fields.

Since its founding, Rakuten has developed a variety of services to stimulate both local and national economy of Japan by supporting businesses around the country through the Internet, such as the Internet shopping mall Rakuten Ichiba. Rakuten has established 17 branch offices throughout Japan and provides meticulous support for the small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietorships that operate stores on its marketplace.

On June 1, Yamato Holdings launched “YES!” (Yamato EC Solutions), which brings together the know-how of each of the Yamato Group companies to offer a full line-up of services for EC businesses, including solutions for order management, bill issuing, delivery, and payment settlement. These solutions will contribute to the expansion of sales opportunities for businesses by further improving the service they can offer their customers. In addition, Yamato Holdings has expanded its range of pick-up locations and methods to accommodate the diverse needs of its customers.

Moving forward, the two companies will advance this collaboration with the goal of achieving a more convenient society through the further development of the e-commerce sector.


Details of the Collaboration

For e-commerce customers
Product pick-up at convenience stores or Yamato Transport sales offices
To offer greater convenience, EC customers can pick up selected Rakuten Ichiba products at the approximately 20,000 convenience stores that have agreements with Yamato Transport, as well as approximately 4,000 Yamato Transport sales offices.

EC businesses
Support in improving operational efficiency
Through “YES!,” which improves operational efficiency and offers a wider range of pick-up locations, small and medium-sized businesses will become able to provide a higher level of service to their customers.

Support for new merchants
Furthermore, by offering new collaborative programs that combine “YES!” with plans for new merchants looking to open stores on Rakuten Ichiba, the companies will set in place an environment in which businesses can more easily start e-commerce.

*In order for merchants on Rakuten Ichiba to make use of the above measures, it is necessary to apply for “YES!”.