Frontend

What Frontend does

Frontend (株式会社フロントエンド) is a privately held Japanese regional system integrator headquartered in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture, operating under a one-stop IT services model built on four pillars: development, sales, education, and maintenance. The company has served local businesses in the Shikokuchuo area for over 30 years, originally founded in 1969 as Shinwa Kisen K.K. and reorganized into an information systems business starting in 1989, with the current Frontend brand established in 1991. The firm targets SMB and mid-market enterprises across paper processing, manufacturing, construction, distribution, food service, medical, real estate, and government verticals, with no disclosed plans to expand beyond the Shikoku region.

Core offerings include custom-developed ERP systems (sales, production, inventory, accounting, HR/payroll, GPS, purchasing, warehouse, and transportation management) built entirely in-house using the dbMagic platform (Magic Software partnership since 1998) along with VB and PHP, plus web systems, OA equipment and packaged software resale (OBC, Yayoi, Okan), corporate IT training, and recurring maintenance and support contracts. The company also operates its own private cloud, FE Cloud Service, from an in-house data center operational since October 2014, providing BCP disaster recovery infrastructure. The technology stack emphasizes 100% in-house development with no outsourcing, including IoT integration of factory automation (FA) equipment with core ERP.

The business model combines custom system development (professional services), hardware and software resale (product margins), recurring maintenance contracts, managed cloud hosting, education services, and staffing dispatch. Distribution relies on direct field sales and face-to-face engagement in a single regional market, supplemented by authorized reseller partnerships with NEC, Microsoft, Fujifilm Business Innovation, OBC (Alliance Partner Gold), Yayoi, Adobe, and Buffalo. The company employs 27 staff, holds ISO 27001 (ISMS) certification since March 2015, and is bootstrapped with ¥10 million registered capital and no external funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Frontend

Legal name

株式会社フロントエンド

Website

https://frontend.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Regional Japanese system integrator providing custom ERP development, web systems, OA equipment sales, IT education, and maintenance services to SMB and mid-market enterprises in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture. Operates with 100% in-house development using dbMagic and a private cloud platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Services and System Integration

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects) (HDAEAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software/Application Support (SaaS, Enterprise Apps) (BPAAACAC), Managed IT Services & On‑Site Field Support (Helpdesk, Break/Fix, IMAC) (EDAEAHAJ)

Keywords

• Custom ERP development
• IT system integration
• Private cloud hosting
• Hardware and software resale
• Corporate IT training

Headquarters

HQ city

Saijo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. システム開発 (System Development): Custom order-made ERP and web system development for enterprises. Core revenue stream covering systems for sales, production, inventory, accounting, HR/payroll, and more. Long-term customer relationships with ongoing support.
2. ハードウェア・ソフトウェア販売 (Hardware and Software Sales): Sales of PCs, servers, multifunction devices, printers, and related peripherals. Also includes packaged software (OBC, Yayoi, Okan, and others) and groupware (Microsoft Office 365, NI Collabo 360). Revenue from product markup and margins.
3. 教育サービス (Education Services): Computer training, software implementation guidance, and corporate training programs. Instructors provide practical training tailored to customer skill levels and business needs.
4. 保守サポート (Maintenance and Support): Ongoing maintenance contracts and break-fix (spot) support services for hardware and software. Support contracts provide priority service; spot services billed per incident.
5. 人材派遣 (Staffing / Temporary Staffing): General staffing (派遣) and fee-based career introduction (有料職業紹介) services matching companies with temporary or permanent candidates. Registered staff primarily from local Shikokuchuo area, including FE computer school graduates.
6. データセンター運営 (Data Center Operations): Private cloud hosting services (FEクラウドサービス) providing server hosting, infrastructure management, and BCP solutions. Monthly/annual billing based on service usage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Frontend is a regional Japanese system integrator that designs, develops, and supports custom-made ERP systems, web systems, and IT infrastructure for local enterprises in the Shikokuchuo area. Its offerings span four pillars: (1) custom system development covering sales, production, inventory, accounting, HR/payroll, GPS, warehouse and transportation management; (2) sales of OA hardware, packaged business software, and groupware via authorized partnerships with NEC, Microsoft, Fujifilm BI, Yayoi, and OBC; (3) corporate IT training and software implementation guidance; and (4) ongoing maintenance contracts and on-demand support. It also operates FE Cloud Service (private cloud hosting with BCP disaster recovery) and provides staffing dispatch services.

Product overview

Frontend is a regional system integrator offering a one-stop solution portfolio of four core service pillars: Development (custom ERP systems, web systems), Sales (OA equipment, software packages including OBC奉行, Yayoi弥生, and Ohtan大臣 series), Education (computer training, implementation guidance), and Maintenance/Support (regular maintenance, troubleshooting, public IT subsidy assistance). The company also operates FE Cloud Service (private cloud with BCP capabilities), staffing services, and handles over 10 types of core business systems including sales, inventory, production, warehouse, transportation, GPS, customer, attendance, cost accounting, and purchasing management systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Business Systems (基幹システム開発) Custom-developed ERP systems covering sales management, inventory control, production management, warehouse management, transportation management, handheld systems, GPS systems, customer management, attendance management, cost accounting, and purchasing management, tailored to each enterprise's unique business processes.
• Web Systems (WEBシステム開発) Web-based services and systems including online shopping, quotation systems, surveys, package tracking, sales support, and inventory prediction, plus CMS-based website development using WordPress and Movable Type for business clients.
• FE Cloud Service (FEクラウドサービス) Private cloud hosting service providing dedicated server infrastructure with BCP (Business Continuity Planning) disaster recovery capabilities, flexible resource allocation, secure enterprise-specific terminal access, and managed infrastructure for local business customers.
• OA Equipment and Software Sales (OA機器・ソフトウェア販売) Sales of computers, servers, multifunction devices, printers, network equipment, and business software packages including OBC奉行 series, Yayoi series, and Ohtan accounting systems, sourced through authorized partnerships with NEC, Microsoft, Fujifilm BI, Yayoi, OBC, Adobe, and Buffalo.
• Education Services (教育サービス) Computer training, software implementation guidance, and corporate employee training programs delivered by instructors with practical skills development tailored to customer skill levels, including groups of 15+ employees for corporate training programs.
• Maintenance and Support (保守サポート) Ongoing maintenance support services including regular maintenance contracts, troubleshooting, system relocation and expansion, and assistance with public subsidy applications for IT adoption. Support contracts provide priority service; spot services billed per incident.
• Staffing Services (人材派遣) General staffing dispatch (派遣) and fee-based career introduction (有料職業紹介) services matching companies seeking talent with temporary or permanent candidates, leveraging registered staff from the local Shikokuchuo area including FE computer school graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Real-time financial visibility and real-time business decision-making enabled through integrated ERP systems
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 株式会社愛媛銀行 (Ehime Bank)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 July 2019Ehime Bank acted as trustee for Frontend's educational institution donated private placement bond (教育機関寄付型私募債) in July 2019. Donation of equipment to Shikokuchuo City Nakasone Kindergarten followed.
• 日本電気株式会社 (NEC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend is an authorized NEC platform sales partner, PC clean spot partner, and self-maintenance certified shop (NEC自営保守認定店). NEC products including business PCs, servers, and platforms are resold and supported. Multiple NEC Platform Partner Sales Promotion Grand Prix awards received (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021).
• 日本電気株式会社 (NEC) — 東京国际フォーラム (Tokyo International Forum)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNEC Platform Partner Sales Promotion Grand Prix award ceremonies held at Tokyo International Forum, with NEC headquarters presenting recognition.
• 富士フイルムビジネスイノベーション株式会社 (Fujifilm Business Innovation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend is a designated special dealer (特約店) for Fujifilm Business Innovation (formerly Fuji Xerox) multifunction devices, printers, and related office equipment.
• 弥生株式会社 (Yayoi)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend is a Yayoi business partner (弥生ビジネスパートナー), reselling Yayoi accounting and payroll software packages. Featured in Yayoi Hanbai 23 promotional booklet.
• オービックビジネスコンサルタント株式会社 (OBC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend holds OBC Alliance Partner (OAP) Gold status and is an authorized reseller and customization partner for OBC products including the Bugyo series. Also holds OBC userware license (V OCIP/i OCIP/21 OCIP) and customization license.
• 日本Microsoft株式会社 (Microsoft Japan)coreTechnology or IntegrationFrontend is a Microsoft Certified Partner, providing Microsoft Office 365 and related Microsoft solutions as part of its groupware offerings.
• AdobeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend is an Adobe Certified Reseller, offering Adobe Creative Cloud and related software solutions.
• BUFFALO (バッファロー)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrontend is a BUFFALO Premium partner, reselling BUFFALO network equipment and storage products.
• マジックソフトウェアジャパン株式会社 (Magic Software Japan)coreTechnology or IntegrationFrontend is a dbMAGIC Solution Partner, using Magic Software's dbMAGIC platform as the development framework for custom ERP systems.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Yayoi Co., Ltd. Japan's leading accounting/payroll software vendor for SMBs. Although Yayoi is also a Frontend partner, it is a primary vendor of similar packaged ERP/accounting solutions competing for the same regional SMB wallet and software reseller channel.
• OBC (OBC Business Consultant Co., Ltd.): Provider of 'Bugyo' (奉行) series ERP/accounting software for Japanese SMBs. Frontend holds OBC Alliance Partner Gold status, indicating both partnership and competitive overlap in delivering ERP solutions to similar regional SMB customers.
• Future Corporation: Japanese independent systems integrator providing custom IT consulting, system development, and IT service management for enterprise and mid-market clients. Comparable business model in custom system development and SI services.
• TKC Corporation: Japanese accounting/ERP software vendor and SI focused on SMBs, tax accountants, and local government — closely overlapping with Frontend's custom ERP and packaged accounting software reselling business. Both serve regional Japanese SMBs with integrated IT solutions.
• NS Solutions Corporation: Japanese systems integrator offering custom application development, infrastructure services, and business solutions. Overlaps with Frontend's custom development, infrastructure, and maintenance support offerings, though at a much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• NTT Data Corporation: Largest Japanese systems integrator offering end-to-end IT services including custom development, cloud, and managed services. Represents a national-scale incumbent that regional SIs like Frontend either partner with or compete against for larger accounts.
• Fujitsu Limited: Major Japanese IT vendor providing hardware, software, system integration, and cloud services across enterprise and government. Overlaps broadly with Frontend's ERP development, server/hardware resale, and managed services portfolio.
• NEC Corporation: Major Japanese IT vendor and Frontend's longest-standing channel partner. NEC supplies PCs, servers, and platforms that Frontend resells; the relationship illustrates the dynamic of regional SIs operating within large incumbent vendor ecosystems.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ): Major Japanese internet/network and cloud infrastructure provider operating data center and managed hosting services. Overlaps with Frontend's FE Cloud private cloud/data center operations, though IIJ serves national and enterprise-scale customers.

Others

• Magic Software Enterprises: Provider of the dbMagic development platform that Frontend uses as the foundation for its custom ERP systems. Functions as a key technology vendor enabling Frontend's core product rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Frontend