Synapse Innovation

What Synapse Innovation does

Synapse Innovation Inc. (株式会社シナプスイノベーション) is an Osaka-headquartered Japanese IT company that builds cloud-based production management and ERP software primarily for Japanese manufacturers. Founded in December 1984 as FCS Co., Ltd., the company merged with a separately incorporated Synapse Innovation entity in April 2017 and adopted the Synapse Innovation name, marking its strategic transition from a system integrator into a product-led SaaS vendor. As of March 2026 the company had 208 employees across offices in Osaka, Tokyo, Makuhari, Nagoya, and Oita, plus a UK subsidiary (Synapse Innovation Ltd.) supporting AI development.

The company's flagship product is UM SaaS Cloud, a Salesforce-native manufacturing ERP covering estimation, order management, production management, sales/purchasing, warehouse management, Gantt scheduling, remote audit, and B2B e-invoicing via UM EDI (Peppol format). The platform comprises roughly a dozen modules including UM 工程進捗, UM 販売購買, UM ガント, UM WMS, UMlearning, UM X, and the UM SaaS Cloud Enterprise Option, and integrates bidirectionally with GRANDIT miraimil for back-office ERP. Synapse Innovation is also a GRANDIT prime partner and the Asia Master Distributor for Uniface application development tooling. AI capabilities are layered on through UM Production Planning AI (machine learning plus mathematical optimization for demand forecasting and production scheduling) and SNPS Shift (large-scale retail workforce scheduling), both leveraging AI from an Oxford University-affiliated company.

Synapse Innovation generates revenue through three streams: (1) UM SaaS Cloud subscriptions, (2) professional services for GRANDIT and tailor-made ERP implementation and customization, and (3) Uniface licensing and technical support across Asia. The customer base spans Japanese SMB, mid-market, and enterprise manufacturers across diverse verticals (electronics, precision instruments, springs, pharmaceutical wholesale, food service, hardware, plastic molding, snack foods, logistics), with named logos including Fujifilm Logistics, Tsubakimoto Chain, Ichiran, Daihen, and Sunhayato, alongside dozens of mid-market and SMB customers. Distribution combines direct field/inside sales with SI and reseller partnerships (Keizu, ALSI), regional DX programs (Saga Prefecture), and financial-institution referrals (BusinessTech Visicul). In March 2026, Sharp Corporation agreed to acquire all shares for ¥3,801 million to bolster its B2B ERP offering.

Name

Synapse Innovation

Legal name

株式会社シナプスイノベーション

Website

https://synapse-i.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Synapse Innovation is an Osaka-based Japanese SaaS vendor offering UM SaaS Cloud, a Salesforce-built manufacturing ERP for production, sales, purchasing, warehousing, and EDI, primarily serving Japanese SMB, mid-market, and enterprise manufacturers across diverse industrial verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Cloud ERP / Production Management Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects) (HDAEAEAA), ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA)

Keywords

• Cloud production management
• Manufacturing ERP software
• Salesforce-based SaaS
• Production scheduling systems
• Cloud ERP solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. UM SaaS Cloud サブスクリプション: Subscription-based cloud production management system. Customers pay recurring fees for access to the UM SaaS Cloud product suite including UM工程進捗, UM販売購買, UMガント, UM WMS, and other modules.
2. ERP導入・カスタマイズ (ERP Implementation & Customization): Professional services revenue from implementing and customizing GRANDIT ERP and tailor-made ERP systems for individual client needs. Includes consulting, system integration, and customization.
3. Uniface ライセンス販売・保守 (Uniface Licensing & Support): Synapse Innovation is the Master Distributor (Asia) for Uniface application development tool. Revenue from licensing, distribution, and technical support services for Uniface across the Asian market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Synapse Innovation develops, sells, and implements UM SaaS Cloud, a Salesforce-based cloud production management system for Japanese manufacturers that covers the full cycle from quotation and order receipt through production management. The company also offers tailor-made ERP implementation services (including GRANDIT) and serves as the Master Distributor for the Uniface application development tool across the Asian market.

Product overview

Synapse Innovation offers a portfolio of manufacturing-focused cloud software products centered on the UM SaaS Cloud platform, which is built on Salesforce infrastructure. The core UM SaaS Cloud product suite includes UM 工程進捗 (production progress tracking), UM 販売購買 (sales/purchasing management), UM ガント (Gantt scheduling), UM WMS (warehouse management), UM Remote Audit, UM X, UMlearning, and the Enterprise Option. The company also provides UM 生産計画AI for AI-driven production optimization and SNPS Shift for AI-powered retail shift management, both powered by Oxford University Innovation technology. UM SaaS Cloud integrates with GRANDIT miraimil for broader ERP capability. Additionally, Synapse Innovation resells and supports GRANDIT (web-based ERP) and Uniface (rapid application development tool) as prime/master distributor, and offers the B2B EDI solution UM EDI supporting Peppol format.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UM SaaS Cloud: Manufacturing-focused cloud-based production management system covering quote-to-order, order-to-production, and production management workflows in an all-cloud SaaS model.
• UM SaaS Cloud Enterprise Option
• SNPS Shift
• UM EDI
• GRANDIT
• Uniface
• UM X
• UMWMS
• UM Remote Audit
• UM Learning
• UM 工程進捗 (UM Production Progress)
• UM 販売購買 (UM Sales/Purchasing)
• UM ガント (UM Gantt)

Products and services

• UM SaaS Cloud All-in-one cloud-based manufacturing ERP platform built on Salesforce, covering the full cycle from quotation to order receipt and production management for Japanese manufacturers. Integrates with GRANDIT miraimil for broader ERP functionality and supports Peppol-based e-invoicing.
• SNPS Shift AI-powered shift scheduling solution for large-scale retail operations. Uses AI to generate optimal employee shifts based on budget, fairness, skills, seniority, and labor law compliance. Powered by Oxford University Innovation's AI technology.
• GRANDIT ERP (Partner Product) Web-based ERP package for Japanese mid-market enterprises, developed by a consortium of 14 companies. Synapse Innovation serves as a GRANDIT prime partner providing implementation, customization, and integration services. Integrates with UM SaaS Cloud for a complete manufacturing ERP solution.
• Uniface (Asia Master Distribution) Rapid application development tool (Application高速開発ツール) from Uniface B.V. Synapse Innovation serves as the Asia Master Distributor, providing sales, licensing, technical support, and professional services across Japan and Asia, with approximately 1/10th the coding volume of Java or C#.
• Tailor-Made ERP Implementation Services Professional services for designing, implementing, and customizing ERP and core business systems (sales, purchasing, production management, accounting, HR) tailored to individual manufacturing client requirements. Includes consulting, system integration, and ongoing maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 月次処理1/2減 (50% reduction in monthly processing workload)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

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

• Sharp Corporation (シャープ株式会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Sharp Corporation agreed to acquire all shares of Synapse Innovation Inc. for 3,801 million yen (approx. $25M USD). The acquisition aims to strengthen Sharp's ERP offerings to B2B customers and accelerate domestic and overseas expansion across office, retail, and robotics fields. Sharp indicated the immediate impact on consolidated financial results will be limited.
• Keizu Corporation (株式会社ケイズコーポレーション)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 August 2024Partnership for UM SaaS Cloud implementation. Keizu established a dedicated unit and an Addon Development Center for UM SaaS Cloud. Leverages Keizu's 4,800+ Salesforce project experience and Vietnam subsidiary for potential global expansion of UM SaaS Cloud. Keizu is a Salesforce-certified consulting partner.
• Saga Prefecture Industrial Smartization Center (佐賀県産業スマート化センター)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2024Registered as a 'Supporting Company' for Saga Prefecture's Industrial Smartization Center, which supports DX adoption for local companies using AI and IoT. Synapse Innovation will support DX initiatives for companies in Saga Prefecture.
• GRANDIT Co., Ltd. (ＧＲＡＮＤＩＴ株式会社)coreTechnology or Integration · 15 December 2023Integration partnership between UM SaaS Cloud (Synapse Innovation) and GRANDIT miraimil (cloud ERP). UM SaaS Cloud handles production management and shop floor operations while GRANDIT miraimil handles core ERP functions (sales, accounting), enabling an all-SaaS cloud ERP solution for Japanese manufacturers.
• ALSI (アルプス システム インテグレーション株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023ALSI began sales distribution of UM SaaS Cloud, expanding the channel partner network for Synapse Innovation's production management SaaS products in Japan.
• BusinessTech / ビジクル (株式会社BussinessTech)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023UM SaaS Cloud listed on BusinessTech's 'Visicul' platform, a problem-solving marketplace. Financial institutions using Visicul recommend UM SaaS Cloud to manufacturing clients seeking DX solutions. This extends Synapse Innovation's reach through the banking/financial institution channel.
• Rocket SoftwarecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Rocket Software acquired Uniface B.V. and took over Uniface technical support operations from Synapse Innovation in April 2022. Synapse Innovation continues as Master Distributor but technical support inquiries now go through Rocket Software's support site.
• Uniface B.V. (Netherlands)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 April 2016Synapse Innovation (then F.C.S.) appointed as Master Distributor (Asia) for Uniface application rapid development tool. Uniface has ~4,000 global enterprise customers and ~800 in Japan. The company distributes, markets, and provides technical support for Uniface across Asian markets. Uniface was later acquired by Rocket Software.
• Exe Corporation (株式会社エクス)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2016Joint development partnership with Exe Corporation to create 'HybridDen' (Hybrid電脳) production management system for process-type manufacturers. Synapse Innovation received Factory-ONE 電脳工場EX design know-how and trademark license from Exe. Planned launch was April 2017.
• Oxford University-affiliated AI companycoreTechnology or IntegrationSNPS Shift uses AI technology developed by an Oxford University-affiliated company, providing industry-leading AI for large-scale retail shift scheduling optimization. This enables compliance, budget optimization, and fairness in shift management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Infor: Infor's CloudSuite Industrial is purpose-built for process and discrete manufacturers globally and competes head-on with UM SaaS Cloud's production-management specialization at larger mid-market and enterprise manufacturers.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain offers a widely-adopted cloud ERP with manufacturing modules; given the partner role Salesforce plays for Synapse, Dynamics is the analogous competing cloud platform competing for the same Japanese mid-market ERP budgets.
• Oracle NetSuite: Oracle NetSuite is the global cloud ERP incumbent targeting mid-market and growth-stage manufacturers with financials, supply chain, and production — Synapse Innovation effectively competes against NetSuite in the same Japanese/SMB manufacturing opportunities.
• SAP Business One: SAP Business One is the global SMB cloud ERP standard with strong manufacturing/ERP functionality and the most internationally recognized brand in this segment — a benchmark competitor for any Japanese mid-market manufacturing ERP, including Synapse Innovation.

Direct peers

• Obic Business Consultants Co., Ltd. (OBC): OBC is the dominant Japanese accounting/ERP vendor whose 奉行 (Houjyuu) cloud product family is bundled with Synapse Innovation's UM SaaS Cloud via a partnership; both sell into the same Japanese mid-market with overlapping back-office and now manufacturing functionality.
• MK System Co., Ltd. MK System is a Japanese ERP specialist historically focused on construction and increasingly manufacturing, with comparable product scope (production management, sales, accounting) and target of mid-market manufacturers in Japan — closely comparable to Synapse Innovation's domain.
• GRANDIT Inc. GRANDIT is a Japanese mid-market cloud ERP consortium product whose 'miraimil' edition is directly integrated with Synapse Innovation's UM SaaS Cloud for an all-SaaS manufacturing ERP offering, making it both a partner and the closest overlapping vendor in the Japanese manufacturing ERP market.

Regional players

• Yayoi Co., Ltd. Yayoi is Japan's leading SMB accounting/ERP software vendor serving hundreds of thousands of small businesses — a regional Japanese competitor relevant for the SMB end of Synapse Innovation's manufacturing customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Synapse Innovation