NI Consulting

What NI Consulting does

NI Consulting Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese consulting and SaaS firm founded in 1991 by CEO Nagao Kazuhiro, focused on Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company pairs a management consulting practice (Visualization Management, Sun Tzu strategy, Strategic Sales, and M&A advisory) with a proprietary SaaS product family built around the Sales Force Assistant SFA/CRM platform. The product suite extends to groupware (NI Collabo 360), a management cockpit (MapScorer), a no-code web database (nyoibox), sales quote and billing automation tools (Sales Quote Assistant, Sales Billing Assistant), marketing automation (Approach DAM), and a contactless business card app (NI-C-Name). Technology architecture is multi-tenant cloud with mobile-first delivery, supported by integrations with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, BIZTEL CTI, and OCR partners, plus AI-augmented features including an electronic secretary, RFM-based customer ranking, OCR-based name card capture, and a recently launched generative-AI quote automation option.

Revenue is generated across four streams: SaaS subscription and software licensing, professional services (consulting and seminars), training and certification programs (NI Video Academy, NICC), and book publishing. Pricing is deliberately accessible for the SME segment — entry-level cloud services start at 300–3,000 JPY per user per month, and a free startup tier targets ventures under five users. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct sales via the website, a national channel partner network, the METI-sponsored J-SaaS platform, mobile app stores, and an extensive content-marketing and seminar program that functions as both demand generation and thought-leadership engine. The company operates seven offices across Japan and claims 16,000+ cumulative product installations and 8,000+ consulting clients, with no disclosed revenue and no outside investors.

Name

NI Consulting

Legal name

株式会社NIコンサルティング

Website

https://ni-consul.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NI Consulting is a Tokyo-based Japanese firm, founded in 1991, that provides management consulting alongside a proprietary SaaS suite (Sales Force Assistant SFA/CRM, NI Collabo groupware, and add-ons) targeted at Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises across manufacturing, construction, services, and nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sales Force Automation Software

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Software Publishers (513210), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

ERP, CRM & Enterprise Applications Consulting (BPAHAEAI), Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Management consulting services
• Sales force automation
• Customer relationship management
• Business process visualization
• Groupware software

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing (SaaS/Package): Subscription-based and perpetual license revenue from SFA/CRM systems (Sales Force Assistant), groupware (NI Collabo), and other business management software. Revenue generated through per-user monthly fees and initial licensing costs.
2. Consulting Services: Management consulting services including visualization management consulting, Sun Tzu strategic consulting, strategic sales consulting, and M&A advisory services
3. Training and Seminars: Employee training programs, open enrollment seminars, NI Video Academy, and certified consultant programs
4. Publishing: Revenue from publishing books and educational materials on management consulting, sales optimization, Sun Tzu strategy, and business visualization topics

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NI Consulting provides management consulting services combined with proprietary SaaS-based business management software (Sales Force Assistant SFA/CRM, NI Collabo 360 groupware, AI-powered tools) targeted at Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises. Their visualization management framework integrates consulting expertise with cloud-based tools to help clients improve sales productivity, customer management, and operational visibility.

Product overview

NI Consulting offers a comprehensive suite of 可視化経営 (Visualization Management) solutions centered on the Sales Force Assistant SFA/CRM platform. The portfolio includes NI Collabo 360 groupware, MapScorer management cockpit, nyoibox no-code database, Sales Quote Assistant, Sales Billing Assistant, Approach DAM marketing automation, and the NI-C-Name contactless business card app. The products integrate with each other and with third-party platforms (Google Calendar, Microsoft Office 365, BIZTEL CTI, やさしく名刺ファイリングPRO) to provide end-to-end business management from sales automation to workflow optimization. AI capabilities include generative AI for quote creation, AI-powered expense processing (BAI), and intelligent sales recommendations (SAI).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sales Force Assistant Cloud-based SFA/CRM with gamification elements and AI secretary. Features include customer management, case tracking, daily reporting, schedule management, mapping assist, and CTI integration.
• NI Collabo 360 Integrated groupware with AI secretary features including email, scheduling, equipment reservations, document management, bulletin boards, workflow automation, and safety confirmation with multi-language support.
• nyoibox (如意箱) No-code cloud database for building custom web applications without programming. Features drag-and-drop database creation, workflow automation, push notifications, relational database support, and responsive mobile design.
• MapScorer (Management Cockpit) Management cockpit system for visualizing KPIs and strategic metrics. Includes cockpit dashboard, strategy map, and scorecard functions with real-time business monitoring.
• Sales Quote Assistant Web-based quote creation system with AI-powered automatic quote generation from supplier estimates. Features approval workflows, PDF export, and AI-enhanced functions for sales DX acceleration.
• Sales Billing Assistant Web-based invoice issuance and delivery system for paperless operations. Supports remote work with web distribution and includes sales support features.
• Approach DAM (Marketing Automation) Marketing automation for lead generation and cultivation. Creates lead and dormant customer funnels to systematically nurture prospects through the sales pipeline.
• Customer Creation Daily Report Original daily-report-based SFA/CRM system. Paper-to-digital evolution of sales reporting including customer management, case tracking, visit planning, complaint management, and activity analysis.
• Sales Force Assistant Personal Free personal SFA app for individual sales professionals with phone contact import, persona tracking, contact reminders, and map-based visit planning.
• NI-C-Name Contactless business card exchange smartphone app using QR codes and Bluetooth for Personal Identity exchange while maintaining social distancing, with integration to Sales Force Assistant.
• NI Collabo Smart Previous generation responsive groupware with multi-language support, predecessor to NI Collabo 360.
• NI Collabo NOW! Safety confirmation app with GPS location sharing. Automatically sends alerts during disasters and tracks employee safety status for BCP.
• Management Consulting Services Management consulting services including visualization management consulting, Sun Tzu strategic consulting, strategic sales consulting, and remote consulting sensor service for Japanese SMEs and corporations.
• M&A Advisory Services M&A consulting services for company transfers/acquisitions, leveraging accounting firm network for smaller-scale opportunities typically underserved by large M&A intermediaries.
• Training and Seminars Employee training programs, open enrollment seminars, NI Video Academy, and certified consultant programs covering management reform, AI utilization, sales transformation, and Sun Tzu strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer count: Over 8,000 companies receive consulting services; Over 16,000 companies use visualization management systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SoftBank Mobile Corporation (ソフトバンクモバイル)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2011SoftBank Solution Provider PREMIUM (SSP PREMIUM) partnership for smartphone-based sales solutions. Includes joint sales activities, promotional events, technical collaboration on iPhone applications, and billing agency services.
• F&M Co., Ltd. (株式会社エフアンドエム)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2008Business partnership for mutual business enhancement and customer service improvements.
• Accounting Firm NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of accounting firms across Tokyo metropolitan and Kansai regions that serve as referral sources and deal flow channels for M&A advisory services. This network enables access to smaller-scale M&A opportunities typically underserved by large M&A intermediaries.
• NPO Terra Renaissance (特定非営利活動法人テラ・ルネッサンス)minorOthersCSR initiative providing free CRM and groupware software to NPOs engaged in social causes. As part of 'Social Return Orientation 1%' program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Salesforce: Global CRM/SFA leader. Comparable as the dominant broad incumbent in the SFA/CRM category that NI Consulting's Sales Force Assistant competes against in the Japanese market; offers overlapping features but at a much broader portfolio scale.
• HubSpot: Global CRM/marketing automation platform with strong SMB positioning. Comparable as an incumbent CRM/marketing suite competing for the same Japanese SMB SFA/CRM wallet that NI Consulting targets.
• NRI (Nomura Research Institute): Large Japanese consulting and IT solutions provider serving enterprises and governments. Comparable as a broad incumbent that combines management consulting with proprietary technology platforms for Japanese clients across multiple segments.

Regional players

• Works Applications: Japanese enterprise SaaS company (ERP/HCM cloud). Comparable as a regional Japanese enterprise software vendor that develops and sells proprietary SaaS products to Japanese companies, often combining software with implementation consulting.
• ABeam Consulting: Major Japanese-origin management and IT consulting firm. Comparable as a regional consulting peer operating in the Japanese enterprise/SME market with management consulting plus technology implementation services — overlapping with NI Consulting's consulting-plus-IT positioning.

Direct peers

• Sansan: Japan's leading business card digitization and contacts SaaS company. Directly comparable in serving Japanese SMBs with subscription-based contact/sales productivity tools; both target the same customer profile (Japanese SMB sales teams) with cloud-based solutions.
• freee: Cloud accounting and HR SaaS for Japanese SMBs and startups. Highly comparable customer base (small businesses needing low-cost cloud tools) and similar horizontal SaaS-plus-services business model in the Japanese market.
• Money Forward: Japanese SaaS provider serving SMBs with cloud accounting, HR/payroll, and business management tools. Comparable because both sell subscription-based management software to Japanese SMBs, often alongside consulting/services components.
• Infomart: Japanese cloud SaaS company serving SMBs with B2B platforms for order/invoice/AR management. Comparable as a Japanese SMB-focused SaaS provider building workflow tools that displace manual paper-based processes — a similar thesis to NI Consulting's visualization management approach.
• Yayoi (Kintetsu Yayoi System): Long-established Japanese SMB accounting and business management software vendor (founded 1978). Comparable as a heritage Japanese SMB software provider with broad product portfolio and deep customer base in the SME segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/niconsulting
• Facebookfacebook.com/niconsul

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 NI Consulting