GulfNet
GulfNet is a Japanese IT solutions provider that delivers an AI-equipped ICT platform (Business Based Platform) covering attendance, store management, EDI, network, and managed services to 1,200 multi-store chain enterprises across 70,000+ stores in retail, food service, and services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersKoto, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What GulfNet does
GulfNet (株式会社ガルフネット) is a privately held Japanese IT solutions provider founded in 1994 and headquartered in Koto, Tokyo, serving multi-store chain operators in retail, food service, and service industries. Its core offering is the Business Based Platform (BBP), an AI-equipped adaptive ICT platform that packages hardware, software, network, and managed services so customers consume ICT as a usage-based operating expense rather than as capital assets. The platform is anchored by Gulf CSM, which provides attendance management, shift scheduling, store management, BI analytics, EDI, and employee applications, augmented by AI capabilities including sales forecasting, predictive shift optimization, facial-recognition attendance (with mask-wearing support), and an AI dashboard. Across 1,200 enterprise customers and 70,000+ stores, GulfNet monetizes through monthly SaaS subscriptions, hardware sales and rentals (POS, iPads, reused PCs, cloud cameras), network and cloud services (Gulf VPN Pro/Cloud, Gulf Security, Gulf Cloud), and a 365-day managed services layer branded ICT Concierge covering kitting, helpdesk, IT asset lifecycle, payroll, and training.
GulfNet operates a sales-led enterprise field-sales motion with direct engagement via Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo offices in Japan, plus wholly-owned GulfNet Singapore and GulfNet Thailand subsidiaries that deliver the Gulf Asia Wide program to Japanese chains expanding into ASEAN. Notable enterprise customers include Yoshinoya, Matsuya Foods, Monogatari Corporation, Kushikatsu Tanaka, Adastria, AEON PET, Tenmaya, and Dean & Deluca. The company holds ISMS certification under JIS Q 27001:2023 / ISO/IEC 27001:2022 across its Japanese locations and data center, and integrates with Azure, IBM Bluemix, Google Workspace, NEC Mobile POS, Optimal Biz MDM, Dr.Sum, MOTION BOARD, and Biware EDI infrastructure. GulfNet is founder-led by CEO Junichi Ishikawa, has no disclosed parent, no external funding, and no public listing; its wholly-owned subsidiary 株式会社SIG handles IT consulting and data center services adjacent to the core platform.
GulfNet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GulfNet
- Legal name
- 株式会社ガルフネット
- Website
- https://gulfnet.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- GulfNet is a Japanese IT solutions provider that delivers an AI-equipped ICT platform (Business Based Platform) covering attendance, store management, EDI, network, and managed services to 1,200 multi-store chain enterprises across 70,000+ stores in retail, food service, and services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where GulfNet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Koto
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
GulfNet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Subscription/SaaS Services: Monthly subscription fees for cloud-based services including Gulf CSM (attendance management, store management), network services, BI systems, and employee apps. Companies pay usage fees converted from what would have been hardware/software purchase costs
- ICT Hardware Sales: Sales of IT equipment including PCs (reused/rental), iPads, printers, POS terminals, network equipment, and cloud cameras
- Professional Services: ICT Concierge services including kitting, equipment installation, IT asset management, help desk (365-day), administrative outsourcing, system education, payroll calculation agency, and store closure support
- Network/Cloud Services: VPN networks (large-scale and small-scale), optical lines, corporate Wi-Fi, mobile networks, IDC private cloud, and cloud-based security services
- Enterprise IT Solutions: Integrated IT solutions (King of Stores), Asia expansion support, and comprehensive ICT provision services for multi-location companies
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | EDI Wave product pricing - various configurations |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gulf CSM Attendance Management System |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GulfNet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GulfNet provides an integrated ICT platform called the Business Based Platform (BBP) that delivers comprehensive store management, time and attendance, EDI ordering, AI sales forecasting, network connectivity, and ICT outsourcing services to multi-store chain enterprises. The offering bundles hardware, software, network, and managed services into a subscription model that converts capital expenditure into operating expense, serving over 1,200 companies and 70,000 stores across Japan and ASEAN.
Product overview
GulfNet is an IT platform provider for chain store companies operating a platform-plus-modules architecture called Business Based Platform (BBP). The portfolio is centered around Gulf CSM, a comprehensive store management system with real-time visualization capabilities. Key product families include: Gulf CSM (time and attendance, shift management, AI facial recognition, store management, EDI, BI analytics, AI sales forecasting, food delivery management); Gulf One (affordable business system); network/cloud services (Gulf-Japan-Wide, VPN Pro, VPN Cloud, Gulf Wi-Fi, Gulf Security, Gulf Cloud); ICT outsourcing (ICT Concierge including help desk, asset management, kitting, education); employee apps (Doraku points, GBeeM video sharing, Gulf TMT corporate SNS); store IT hardware (POS, iPad rental, reused PCs, printers, cloud cameras); EDI solutions (Biware EDI Station 2, EDI Wave); and Asia expansion support (Gulf Asia Wide). The company serves over 1,200 companies and 70,000 stores with 30 years of experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gulf CSM: Comprehensive store management system with real-time visualization of store conditions, supporting corporate management and store management.
- Gulf CSM Attendance
- Gulf EDI
- Gulf BI
- Gulf VPN Pro
- Gulf VPN Cloud
- Gulf Security
- Gulf Cloud
- Gulf Wi-Fi
- ICT Concierge
- Gulf-Japan-Wide
- Gulf Asia Wide
- King of Stores
- Doraku
- Patol
- GBeeM
- Gulf TMT
- CAPS
- Mobakin
- Product Catalog App
Products and services
- Gulf CSM (Comprehensive Store Management) Comprehensive store management system providing real-time visualization of store conditions, supporting corporate management and store operations for multi-store chain enterprises in retail, food service, and service industries.
- Gulf CSM Attendance (Time and Attendance Management System) Time and attendance management system used by 70,000 stores in the retail and service industries, achieving labor management efficiency and compliance strengthening.
- Gulf EDI (Order and Delivery EDI System) Order and delivery EDI system with product specification sheets for ingredient, menu, and recipe management, supporting retail and supplier B2B transactions.
- Gulf BI (Business Intelligence Analytics) Management analysis system transforming corporate data into valuable information with real-time visualization of store profits and employee attendance.
- King of Stores (Integrated IT Solutions) Integrated IT solutions providing all necessary business systems (attendance, sales, ordering), help desk, cloud, and network for chain store companies.
- Business Based Platform (BBP) AI-equipped adaptive ICT platform that converts all hardware and software purchase costs into subscription-based service fees, allowing chain store companies to utilize ICT resources by paying only usage fees.
- Gulf-Japan-Wide (Comprehensive ICT Provision Service) Comprehensive ICT provision service providing all necessary ICT for multi-location companies, solving implementation hassle and cost through one-stop sourcing.
- Gulf VPN Pro Large-scale VPN network service for multi-store companies with LTE SIM backup functions, flexibly responding to environmental changes.
- Gulf Cloud (IDC Private Cloud) IDC private cloud environment with robust security, minimizing management burden while providing safe and secure cloud environment for enterprise clients.
- ICT Concierge (IT Outsourcing Service) Comprehensive outsourcing service handling IT equipment procurement, setup, installation, help desk (365-day), asset management, kitting, system education, payroll calculation agency, and store closure support.
- Biware EDI Station 2 B2B integrated server supporting management of EDI and FAX ordering operations, supporting internet EDI from legacy EDI with various communication functions and Web API integration.
- CAPS (Cash Collection Service) Cash collection service safely storing store sales cash, promptly delivering to headquarters account, and delivering change money to stores.
- Gulf Asia Wide Comprehensive IT support for companies expanding into ASEAN countries (Singapore, Thailand), providing all necessary IT equipment and services for store expansion abroad.
- Gulf Security (Cloud Security Service) Cloud-based security service providing internet access control, terminal/user control, and endpoint security for multi-store enterprise clients.
- NEC Mobile POS Tablet POS system realizing significant cost reduction while maintaining traditional POS register functions, consolidating NEC's POS know-how for chain store clients.
- Gulf CSM Sales Forecasting (AI-Based) AI-based sales forecasting system reducing opportunity loss and inventory waste, supplementing labor shortages and enhancing customer satisfaction for multi-store chain enterprises.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70,000+ stores using GulfNet systems across 1,200 companies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use GulfNet
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GulfNet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
GulfNet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GulfNet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cybozu: Established Japanese business application vendor (Kintone, Garoon, Cybozu Office) covering workflow, attendance, and internal communication. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Japan workplace software that can substitute parts of GulfNet's stack.
- Obic Co., Ltd. Japanese ERP and business software provider serving distribution and retail enterprises with integrated back-office and store operations systems. Overlaps with GulfNet's chain-store enterprise IT footprint at the headquarters/ERP layer.
- Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions: Global POS and retail technology provider with significant Japan presence, serving chain retailers with store hardware, software, and services. Competes with GulfNet's POS and store-system offerings as part of a broader retail portfolio.
- NEC Corporation: Major Japanese IT vendor with a retail and distribution solutions division offering POS, store systems, and chain-store IT. Overlaps GulfNet in chain-store IT delivery but operates at much larger scale across many verticals.
Emerging players
- freee K.K. Cloud HR, payroll, and accounting SaaS provider in Japan with broad SMB and growing mid-market reach. Competes with GulfNet's payroll agency and HR modules via a fully cloud-native model.
- SmartHR: Cloud-native HR and labor-management platform rapidly gaining share in Japan across SMB and mid-market. Emerges as a competitive alternative to GulfNet's on-premise attendance and HR offerings on cloud deployment and price.
Direct peers
- Works Applications: Japanese enterprise HR, payroll, and attendance software vendor historically focused on large corporations. Direct overlap with GulfNet's Gulf CSM Attendance and Patol HR offerings for chain-store employee management.
- TIS Inc. Japanese IT services and solutions provider delivering systems integration and managed services across financial, manufacturing, and distribution industries. Comparable as a multi-vertical Japanese IT solutions house serving large enterprises.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GulfNet social profiles
Digital presenceGulfNet compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
GulfNet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GulfNet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GulfNet subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
GulfNet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GulfNet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GulfNet
What does GulfNet do?
GulfNet provides an integrated ICT platform called the Business Based Platform (BBP) that delivers comprehensive store management, time and attendance, EDI ordering, AI sales forecasting, network connectivity, and ICT outsourcing services to multi-store chain enterprises. The offering bundles hardware, software, network, and managed services into a subscription model that converts capital expenditure into operating expense, serving over 1,200 companies and 70,000 stores across Japan and ASEAN.
Is GulfNet a public or private company?
GulfNet is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was GulfNet founded?
GulfNet was founded in 1995. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is GulfNet based?
GulfNet is headquartered in Koto, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does GulfNet make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription/SaaS Services are the primary driver. The others are ICT Hardware Sales, professional Services, network/Cloud Services and enterprise IT Solutions.
Who are GulfNet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cybozu, Obic Co., Ltd., Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and NEC Corporation. Emerging players are freee K.K. and SmartHR. Direct peers are Works Applications and TIS Inc..
Does GulfNet have an API?
Yes. Biware EDI Station 2 provides Web API integration for embedding EDI functionality into business systems. The API enables programmatic access without requiring specific development environments. Additionally, command integration (program invocation) allows workflow definitions to call and execute external business systems with result feedback.