Okada :

At the time, the brand website incorporated all the information we wanted to convey to our customers, and we were unable to organize the information. The in-house system engineer had been developing and operating the site from scratch, but he felt the site was not up to the task when considering future operations. Therefore, we decided to launch and promote a brand renewal project.

I still remember that we were able to complete the project with a short delivery time of about 2 or 3 months and with quality assured.

Later, we decided to migrate from paper loyalty cards to a digital application, and we were developing it using an application development CMS. However, the CMS had limitations in terms of functionality and design, and the app was not in line with Soup Stock Tokyo's brand image. So we consulted with ACTBE Inc., and they realized the rendering part using WebView.
However, the CMS service for creating this application was to be terminated, so we consulted with Mr. Fujiwara, the representative of ACTBE Inc., about the future of the application, as he had been a close friend of ACTBE Inc.

Okada :

When we requested the development of an existing app, we asked for a specification where the soup in the soup cup on the points screen would sway according to the tilt of the hardware. ACTBE Inc. was incredibly fast, delivering it in about two days.

Furthermore, at Soup Stock Tokyo, we value our own worldview. As reflected in our corporate philosophy of Raising the world's temperature,' everything we output, including the people involved in the production behind the scenes, is created with that in mind. We cherish the idea of conveying 'the warmth of people,' where even the personality of the individuals involved shines through.

Understanding this worldview and the fact that they completely embraced it as their own, they were proactive in thinking and moving together. With that, we didn't consider any other vendors and entrusted them with the task.

Fujihara :

Through my involvement in the renewal project of the brand website and the development project of the existing app, I was able to understand the vision and dedication that Soup Stock Tokyo co., Ltd holds. That's why ACTBE Inc. strongly felt the desire to support Soup Stock Tokyo in realizing their worldview.

We set up regular meetings to draw out potential needs and were conscious of preventing discrepancies in understanding by closely coordinating through Slack. This remains unchanged even now, with the responsibility passing from me to Ohashi.

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Ohashi :

Even now, as it was passed on from Fujihara, who was the initial contact person, we continue to hold that aspect dearly. Additionally, we provide support with a sense of ownership.

We actually visited the stores as users, using the app and inspecting its operation in the stores. Furthermore, as not only a digital partner but also fans of Soup Stock Tokyo, we sometimes visit the stores with internal members during campaigns.

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Okada :

Mr. Ohashi offers suggestions and support from the point of view of Soup Stock Tokyo co., Ltd. Since we both value the idea of building something together, he is very easy to talk to and is quick to understand our needs.

In dealings with vendors, it's often the case that when we have a request like "We want you to fix this part," there's a tendency for it to take time due to the request not being effectively communicated, resulting in slight misalignments. However, with ACTBE Inc., we don't experience that kind of stress. ACTBE Inc. smoothly distinguishes between the parts where they make decisions and the parts where we make decisions.

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Ohashi :

When we receive a request, we don't simply proceed with development as is; instead, we make a point to hear about the intended use and suggest better methods if available. Additionally, we strive to propose solutions tailored to your budget, such as leveraging previously used systems to reduce costs.

Okada :

Since receiving support from ACTBE Inc., the speed of output realization has significantly increased. Previously, we had limited development resources as there was only one internal system personnel handling it. However, ACTBE Inc. smoothly addresses this issue with their technological expertise and knowledge in the digital domain.
Moreover, separating the individuals responsible for requirement clarification and development has enabled us to form opinions from multiple perspectives. When developing solely by ourselves, there is a risk of specifications being influenced by internal convenience, such as focusing solely on ease of management. However, since ACTBE Inc. considers the user's perspective, incorporating it into the process has resulted in significantly positive outcomes. Our current app is also being well-received and used by store staff.

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Fujihara :

The transition from print to digital user experience has left Soup Stock Tokyo with the impression of becoming proficient in digital strategy. Mr. Okada and the other team members actively absorbed digital knowledge. They also personally pondered the intricacies of the system, often asking "why?" Each meeting became more constructive over time, and we felt that the requests made to us also became more informed about digital matters. It was enjoyable to work collaboratively rather than just handing over tasks when they entrusted us with their requests.

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Okada :

ACTBE Inc. has been a great help to us because they work as one team. We feel this even when the personnel change.

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Fujihara :

I believe that ACTBE Inc. was able to embody the organizational culture of "solving the fundamental issues of our customers" in the early stages of our founding because we were entrusted with trust and requests from Soup Stock Tokyo co., Ltd. We hope to continue assisting in ‘Raising the world's temperature’ from the digital domain in the future.