General Business Services

What General Business Services does

General Business Services, legally 株式会社グローバルブレインスクエア (Global Brain Square Inc.) and operating as GBS, is a privately held Tokyo-based consulting firm founded in 2012 that specializes in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) implementation, digital transformation (DX) consulting, and global marketing support for Japanese manufacturing enterprises. The company was established by Kenichiro Iwamoto, who brought approximately 18 years of global enterprise consulting experience from Chuo Coopers & Lybrand Consulting (now IBM Japan), and the firm operates from a single headquarters in Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

GBS's core technology proposition is built around its exclusive authorized partnership with Germany's CONTACT Software, through which it resells, implements, and supports the CIM Database PLM platform (both on-premises and Cloud) along with complementary modules: CONTACT Project Office (hybrid project management), Collaboration Hub (cross-organizational collaboration), CONTACT Elements for IoT (digital twin platform), and the Integration Platform (open APIs for ERP/CAx connectors). The firm additionally implements Vtiger CRM as a Japanese solution partner and operates its own GBM Global Business Matching portal — a registered trademark (登録商標第6509960号) that connects Japanese manufacturers with overseas partners and provides professional translation services for cross-border market entry.

The business model combines custom-quoted professional services (PLM/DX consulting, global marketing, implementation services) with software resale and licensing economics from the CONTACT Software channel, supplemented by training and seminar revenue. GBS targets Japanese manufacturing companies in verticals such as automotive, electronics, industrial equipment, measuring instruments/semiconductors, and apparel, with additional reach into insurance, IT, and education. Named enterprise customers include major Japanese automobile, electronics, and measuring instrument manufacturers, as well as Sumitomo Riko as a flagship CONTACT Elements reference. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise field sales combined with seminar/event-driven lead generation, and the firm supports clients with global expansion into China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Germany, and the United States.

Name

General Business Services

Legal name

株式会社グローバル ブレイン _square

Website

https://gbs.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

General Business Services (株式会社グローバルブレインスクエア) is a Tokyo-based consulting firm specializing in PLM implementation, DX transformation, and global marketing support for Japanese manufacturing enterprises, operating as the exclusive Japanese partner for Germany's CONTACT Software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

PLM Implementation and Manufacturing Consulting Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

CRM Implementation & Customization Services (BPAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

CRM Strategy & Consulting (BPAFAFAA), Customer Service/Support CRM & Contact Center Platforms (BPAFAFAK), CRM Managed Services & Support (BPAEAGAD)

Keywords

• PLM implementation consulting
• Digital transformation consulting
• Global marketing support
• CRM implementation services
• Manufacturing PLM advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for PLM implementation, DX transformation, global marketing strategy, and web/internet utilization. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements with enterprise clients.
2. Software Resale and Implementation: Resale and implementation of CONTACT Software products including CIM Database, CONTACT Elements, and related PLM/IoT solutions. As authorized Japanese partner, GBS earns margins on software sales and implementation fees.
3. Training and Seminar Services: Fee-based seminars and training programs on PLM, DX, digital twin, global marketing, and related topics. Includes both paid workshops and free webinar events that generate leads for consulting services.
4. CRM Implementation Services: Implementation and customization of Vtiger CRM for Japanese clients, including requirements definition, system configuration, and user training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

General Business Services (Global Brain Square / GBS) provides PLM and digital transformation consulting to Japanese manufacturers, combined with resale, implementation, and support for the CONTACT Software PLM platform (CIM Database on-premises, CIM Database Cloud SaaS, CONTACT Elements for IoT, and related modules) as the authorized Japanese partner. It also delivers CRM implementation based on Vtiger, SharePoint-based intranet construction, large-scale global website and CMS infrastructure projects, global marketing advisory, and an overseas market-entry matching platform (GBM Global Business Matching).

Product overview

GBS (株式会社グローバル ブレイン スクエア / Global Brain Square) is a consulting firm specializing in PLM and global marketing for manufacturing companies. Its product portfolio centers on two distributed product lines — Vtiger CRM and the CONTACT Elements/CIM Database PLM platform — supplemented by its proprietary GBM Global Business Matching portal. Vtiger CRM is resold and implemented as a unified sales, marketing, and support platform. The CONTACT Elements family includes CIM Database PLM (on-premises) and CIM Database Cloud (SaaS) as the core product data and BOM management engine, complemented by five purpose-built modules: Project Office (hybrid project management), Collaboration Hub (cross-organizational collaboration), Elements for IoT (digital twin platform), and the Integration Platform (open-API ERP/CAx connector). GBS also offers its own managed services for SharePoint-based intranet portal construction. The CONTACT Elements modules are sold and supported as individual modules that can be adopted incrementally, with CIM Database Cloud offering a staged entry point for organizations seeking lower upfront deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GBM グローバルビジネスマッチング®: Overseas expansion support portal connecting Japanese companies with local partners globally. Registered trademark (登録商标第6509960号).

Products and services

• PLM Implementation Support (PLM導入支援) End-to-end consulting engagement supporting Japanese manufacturers in PLM platform selection and rollout, from requirements definition through phased implementation and user enablement. Targeted at enterprise manufacturing clients in electronics, automotive, equipment, and adjacent verticals.
• CONTACT Elements / CIM Database (on-premises) Comprehensive product lifecycle management platform for discrete manufacturing, centrally managing product information, BOM, drawings, and change records to maintain consistency from design through manufacturing and service. Sold and implemented in Japan by GBS as the authorized local partner of CONTACT Software.
• CIM Database PLM (on-premises core PLM application) On-premises PLM application providing BOM-centric product structure management, drawing and document management, engineering change management, and CAD/ERP integration for Japanese manufacturing customers. Resold and configured by GBS as the authorized Japanese partner.
• CIM Database Cloud (SaaS PLM) SaaS / cloud variant of CIM Database PLM offering document management, product data management, project management, change management, and ERP/CAD integration with reduced upfront infrastructure burden. Sold and supported in Japan by GBS.
• CONTACT Elements for IoT (Digital Twin Platform) Digital twin platform that integrates sensor data, product configuration information, and service BOM data to enable equipment monitoring, predictive maintenance, and new digital services for smart products. Resold and implemented in Japan by GBS.
• Vtiger CRM Implementation Services Implementation and customization service for the Vtiger CRM platform in Japan, unifying customer touchpoints across sales, marketing, and support with native Microsoft Teams integration. GBS acts as Japanese solution partner for Vtiger.
• GBM Global Business Matching Portal Proprietary portal platform connecting Japanese companies with local partners abroad for overseas market entry planning, sales and production support, and professional human translation services for cross-border communication.
• Global Marketing Support Services Strategic and execution support for Japanese companies expanding globally, including market research, local partner identification, website localization, and cross-border e-commerce enablement.
• DX (Digital Transformation) Consulting Services Enterprise digital transformation consulting covering PLM, IoT, and CRM initiatives, helping Japanese manufacturers redesign processes and integrate systems to achieve enterprise-wide digital continuity.
• SharePoint Intranet / Internal Portal Construction Design, build, and deployment service for SharePoint-based intranets and internal portals, supporting internal information sharing and collaboration for Japanese organizations.
• Large-scale Website / CMS Infrastructure Services Consulting and implementation for large-scale and global websites, including CMS selection and rollout (Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore, HeartCore), information architecture, design, HTML/CSS production, governance, and operations support.
• Cross-border EC (越境EC) Support Services Support for Japanese companies establishing cross-border e-commerce, including landing page production, advertising creative, digital signage, in-store POP design, and multilingual translation services.
• Training and HRD (Human Resource Development) Services Education and training services covering leadership development, problem solving, vision formulation, overseas expansion, global marketing, and consulting skills, including vision-formation lectures and online discussion facilitation delivered in Japanese and English.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CONTACT Software (德国CONTACT Software社)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018GBS is the authorized Japanese partner for CONTACT Software, reselling and implementing CIM Database PLM, CONTACT Elements, and related solutions. GBS has been involved since 2018 and was the first Japanese company to sign a formal solution partner contract. GBS staff have participated extensively in CONTACT Software's Open World events and training programs in Germany, developing deep technical expertise.
• 住友理工株式会社 (Sumitomo Riko)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSumitomo Riko uses CONTACT Elements as the foundation for their enterprise-wide product development, production planning, and manufacturing information infrastructure. This is a flagship reference customer demonstrating PLM implementation for automotive parts manufacturing with ERP integration and global data coordination.
• GartnerminorOthersCONTACT Software was named as a Representative Vendor in Gartner's PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries Market Guide in 2025.
• CIMdataminorOthersIndependent global strategic consulting and research firm specializing in PLM and digital transformation. CIMdata has provided keynote speakers and analysis for CONTACT Software events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CONTACT Software: The German vendor of the CIM Database / CONTACT Elements PLM platform that GBS resells and implements in Japan. Most directly comparable counterpart: GBS is the local face of CONTACT Software for Japanese manufacturers, and both share the same PLM customer profile in discrete manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting: Big-Four-affiliated consulting firm in Japan with a digital manufacturing / PLM advisory practice. Comparable to GBS because both advise Japanese manufacturers on PLM strategy and implementation; Deloitte is far broader and competes on enterprise-wide transformation mandates.
• Dassault Systèmes: Global PLM/CAD vendor (ENOVIA, CATIA) selling into Japanese automotive and industrial OEMs. Comparable as a competitor for PLM implementation mandates in Japanese manufacturing; GBS does not resell Dassault but competes against its partner ecosystem.
• ABeam Consulting: Major Japanese-origin consulting and SI firm with deep ERP and manufacturing digital transformation practices. Comparable because both target Japanese manufacturers for PLM/DX implementation and modernization; ABeam is a more generalist and larger competitor.
• IBM Japan: Large Japanese IT services and consulting arm with PLM, Maximo and manufacturing-AI offerings. Directly comparable in customer overlap; notably, GBS's founder Iwamoto spent 18 years at the predecessor of IBM Japan, so the firm competes against the founder's former employer for similar mandates.
• PTC: Global PLM and CAD platform vendor (Windchill, Creo) with its own Japan delivery organization. Comparable because it offers overlapping PLM technology to the same Japanese discrete-manufacturing customer base; GBS does not resell PTC but competes for the same project wallet.
• NTT Data: Japan's largest domestic SI, active in PLM/ERP integration and manufacturing DX for large enterprises. Comparable because both deliver systems-integration services to Japanese manufacturers, though NTT Data is orders of magnitude larger and platform-agnostic.
• Accenture Japan: Global systems integrator with a sizable Japan PLM, ERP and digital-manufacturing practice serving the same Japanese large-enterprise accounts GBS targets. Comparable because both sell PLM/DX implementation services into Japanese manufacturers, but Accenture operates at much greater scale and across all major platforms.

Regional players

• AVANT Corporation: Japan-focused BI, data and digital transformation consulting firm serving mid-market and enterprise Japanese customers. Comparable as a Japanese DX/IT consulting peer competing for similar manufacturing and enterprise budgets, though AVANT is more data-platform-centric than PLM-focused.
• Cybozu: Japanese vendor of kintone, Garoon and related collaboration/CRM-like platforms, often implemented through partner SIs in Japan. Comparable because it represents the alternative Japanese CRM/collaboration ecosystem that GBS's Vtiger and SharePoint services compete against for the same enterprise software budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/gbswebmaster
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKDCKh6bKVXMXeYLlLP2JQw
• Facebookfacebook.com/globalbs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about General Business Services