What Cress does

Cress (株式会社クレス) is a privately held Japanese IT solutions provider founded in April 1999 and headquartered in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, with 5 regional offices covering Kasugai, Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. It operates four service divisions: systems development, corporate PC support, graphic solutions (digital signage), and engineering services (SES and engineer dispatch). The company was converted from 有限会社 to 株式会社 in November 2016 and is led by Representative Director Kamiya Takatoshi (神谷孝利), who founded the business. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range and registered capital is ¥10 million.

The company's core product is 在庫将軍 (Zaikosyogun), a barcode-based inventory management package built around KEYENCE BT-W series handheld terminals (BT-W100/BT-W80/BT-W70). Cress complements this with the proprietary BT-H1A development tool that enables customers without programming knowledge to build custom terminal applications using templates for inventory, picking, inspection, and production tracking. Other productized lines include the 米問屋 (Kometonya) and 米屋 (Komeya) rice-industry sales management packages, BrightSign digital signage (where Cress is an authorized dealer handling sales, installation, network setup, and operations), and corporate PC support spanning procurement, kitting/turnkey deployment, Microsoft 365 / Google Suite proposals, hosting/server rental, and ongoing remote support via TeamViewer. The engineering division dispatches SES engineers and runs commissioned on-site development under PM-managed delivery.

Cress's business model combines one-time license revenue (Zaikosyogun and other packaged software, hardware resales of KEYENCE and BrightSign devices), recurring subscription revenue (PC support, Microsoft 365 hosting/server rental), and professional services revenue (SES engineer dispatch, on-site commissioned development, kitting turnkey work, BT-H1A customization). All sales are direct — field sales for enterprise deployments, phone and web contact form for SMB inbound — with no third-party resellers or distributors. Customer segments span Japanese small-to-mid manufacturing and logistics firms using barcode inventory, SMBs needing PC and office application support, digital signage operators across indoor/outdoor use cases, and Japanese companies requiring on-site engineering capacity augmentation.

Name

Cress

Legal name

株式会社クレス

Website

https://cress.ne.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cress is a Japanese IT solutions provider founded in 1999 that builds and supports KEYENCE-compatible inventory management software, BrightSign digital signage deployments, corporate PC and Microsoft 365 support, and SES engineer dispatch for Japanese manufacturing, logistics, and SMB clients across five regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business IT Software and Services

NAICS

Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers (423430)

SIC

Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

CRM Implementation & Customization Services (BPAEAGAC)

Keywords

• Inventory management software
• Barcode handheld terminals
• Digital signage solutions
• Corporate PC support
• Engineering services dispatch

Headquarters

HQ city

Kasugai

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Software Development & Systems Integration: Custom software development, sales of packaged software products (在庫将軍 inventory management, 米問屋 rice dealer management, 米屋 rice shop management), and BT-H1A tool customization services. Revenue is primarily one-time license and project-based.
2. Hardware Sales & Integration: Sales of KEYENCE handheld terminals, BrightSign digital signage players, large-format displays, LED Vision, and related peripherals. Bundled with installation, network setup, and configuration services.
3. Corporate PC Support & Services: Business PC sales, office application proposals (Microsoft 365, Google Suite), security solutions, setup/kitting and turnkey services, net café PC management, and hosting/server rental. Mix of one-time and recurring subscription models.
4. Engineering Services (SES & Dispatch): System engineering service provision — dispatch of professional engineers and on-site commissioned development. Company handles labor management and direction, with a PM managing delivery to completion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cress develops and sells barcode-based inventory management software (在庫将軍/Zaikosyogun) compatible with KEYENCE BT-W series handheld terminals, the no-code BT-H1A application builder, and packaged sales management software for rice wholesalers and retailers. It also resells and integrates BrightSign digital signage players, sells and supports business PCs with kitting/turnkey deployment, and provides SES engineering staffing and commissioned development services across Japan.

Product overview

株式会社クレス (Cress) is an IT solutions provider offering a multi-service portfolio across four main divisions: systems development, corporate support services, graphic solutions, and engineering services. The product portfolio centers on 在庫将軍 (Zaikosyogun), a KEYENCE handheld terminal-compatible inventory management system, supplemented by the BT-H1A development tool for creating custom applications without coding. Their graphic solutions include BrightSign digital signage products with full implementation support, while their engineering division provides SES (system engineering services) and development outsourcing. The company also offers business PC support, kitting/turnkey services, hosting/server management, and netcafe PC support. Products like 米問屋 (wholesale) and 米屋 (retail) address specific industry needs in the rice business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 在庫将軍 (Zaiko Shōgun): Barcode handheld terminal-linked inventory management package compatible with KEYENCE BT-W series, for manufacturing, logistics, and other industries.
• BrightSign
• BT-H1A
• 在庫将軍 検品将軍 series

Products and services

• 在庫将軍 (Zaikosyogun) Inventory Management Package Barcode-enabled inventory management package designed for KEYENCE BT-W series handheld terminals (BT-W100, BT-W80, BT-W70). Features include stock-in/out management, inventory counting, picking, inspection, lot/expiry management, and location management. Supports handheld terminals, tablets, and smartphones as input devices, with optional modules for scalable expansion. For manufacturing, logistics, and other industries.
• BT-H1A Development and Operations Tool Development and operation tool for KEYENCE BT-W series handheld terminals that enables users without programming knowledge to create custom applications using pre-built templates. Used for inventory management, picking, inspection, production tracking, and ポカよけ (mistake-proofing). Cress provides nationwide on-site training (basic operation, practical, and custom app development courses) and customization services.
• 米問屋 (Kometonya) Wholesale Sales Management System Sales management system for rice wholesalers (米穀業者向け販売管理システム) that handles sales tracking and operations specific to the wholesale rice trade.
• 米屋 (Komeya) Sales Management Software Sales management software for rice retailers/shops (お米屋さん向け販売管理ソフト) that handles point-of-sale and sales tracking operations specific to the retail rice trade.
• BrightSign Digital Signage Solutions Authorized dealer and support provider for BrightSign digital signage players across all models. Cress handles consultation, hardware sales, on-site installation, network construction, operational training, and ongoing maintenance support. Combined with large-format displays and LED Vision sales for indoor and outdoor signage deployments.
• Corporate PC Support Service Business-focused PC sales including custom-configured business PCs from various manufacturers, peripheral devices, network equipment, server setup, internet service agency, and office application proposals (Microsoft 365, Google Suite). Targets Japanese SMBs lacking dedicated IT staff.
• Kitting and Turnkey Services PC configuration (kitting) from a master PC for multiple units ranging from several to hundreds, on-site deployment, and turnkey delivery with applications and hardware ready to use. Extends from private sector to educational institutions.
• SES (System Engineering Service) and Engineer Dispatch System engineering service where Cress handles labor management and direction, dispatching skilled system engineers to client sites. Includes engineer dispatch (人材派遣), SES, and on-site commissioned development (場内受託) with PM-managed delivery. Backed by a general worker dispatch business permit obtained August 2020.
• Hosting Server Operations Housing/hosting and server rental services integrated with Microsoft 365 deployment and broader corporate IT support. Targets Japanese SMBs needing managed hosting.
• Net Café (Internet Café) PC Support PC installation, network management, and ongoing operational support for manga café (internet café) facilities, supporting 24/7/365 network uptime. Originally the company's entry point into managed IT services starting 2001.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7/365 network uptime achieved for manga café (internet café) PC deployments since 2001
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KEYENCE (キーエンス)coreTechnology or IntegrationCress has a deep integration partnership with KEYENCE, specializing in software development for KEYENCE BT-W series handheld terminals (BT-W100, BT-W80, BT-W70). Cress developed the proprietary BT-H1A development tool enabling users to create applications without programming knowledge, and offers training and customization services. Cress is an authorized promoter of KEYENCE's BT development ecosystem, providing nationwide on-site training and customization development for KEYENCE handheld terminal users.
• BrightSigncoreTechnology or IntegrationCress is an authorized dealer and support provider for BrightSign digital signage players across all models. Cress handles sales, on-site installation, network setup, operational guidance, and maintenance support for BrightSign deployments throughout Japan.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toshiba Tec Corporation: Toshiba Tec is a major Japanese POS, barcode, and retail IT solutions incumbent with much larger scale. Overlaps with Cress in barcode hardware distribution and retail/POS software, but operates across a much broader global product portfolio and customer set.
• Brother Industries, Ltd. Brother is a broad incumbent in printing, labeling, and mobile computing/barcode solutions with a large Japanese and global footprint. Overlaps with Cress in barcode/MDE hardware distribution to industrial customers, but operates as a major global manufacturer rather than a systems integrator.
• BrightSign, LLC: BrightSign is the world market-share leader in digital signage media players and is the OEM whose products Cress resells and integrates. Comparable in being a digital signage ecosystem player, but BrightSign is the global hardware platform incumbent, while Cress operates as a regional Japanese systems integrator.
• KEYENCE Corporation: KEYENCE is the upstream technology partner whose BT-W series handheld terminals underpin Cress's Zaikosyogun and BT-H1A products. KEYENCE operates as a much larger global incumbent in industrial sensors, measurement, and automation, and its partner strategy directly shapes Cress's opportunity.

Direct peers

• Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd. Teraoka provides weighing, POS, and inventory management solutions to Japanese retail, food service, and logistics operators. Directly comparable in delivering vertical-specific packaged inventory/POS software with hardware integration to mid-market Japanese customers.
• Cipher Co., Ltd. Cipher is a Japan-headquartered barcode data capture and mobile computing solutions provider. Directly comparable to Cress's Zaikosyogun business — both target Japanese manufacturing/logistics customers with barcode handheld workflows, custom software, and integration services.
• Denso Wave Incorporated: Denso Wave invented the QR code and supplies barcode/2D code readers, industrial automation, and handheld terminals for Japanese manufacturers and logistics. Directly comparable to Cress's KEYENCE handheld terminal integration business serving barcode-based workflow customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cress