Sankyo

What Sankyo does

株式会社三協 (Sankyo Co., Ltd.) is a privately held Japanese logistics company founded in 1968 and headquartered in Higashi Osaka, specializing in third-party logistics (3PL) outsourcing for e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) operators. The company operates 8 logistics facilities concentrated in the Kansai region (Osaka and Nara prefectures) with 300+ part-time staff, serving a cumulative base of over 1,000 EC and D2C businesses across verticals including fashion/apparel, cosmetics, medical devices, confectionery, and catalog/TV shopping. It also operates the temiru Corporation subsidiary and an Osaka Inspection and Processing Center for quality control and distribution processing services.

Sankyo's core technology is 'SANTA,' a proprietary Warehouse Management System developed and maintained in-house by 6 dedicated logistics-specialized system engineers. SANTA supports real-time inventory sharing across multi-channel operations (own-brand stores, wholesale, multi-store online, cross-border EC) and is customized per client (over 300 customizations annually) to align with unique business flows. The system enables integrations with e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Rakuten, Amazon, Yahoo! Shopping, Qoo10), carrier systems, and client backbone systems, achieving a quantified 0.00004% shipping error rate (1 in 2.7 million) over a 5-year average. The company's 'Storage Planner' methodology combines this WMS with structured operational workflow design, standardized work instructions modeled after convenience-store operations, and just-in-time information management for proactive location allocation and staffing.

Sankyo's revenue is generated through managed services fees combining fixed monthly costs (system fees, administrative fees, storage fees, typically ¥30,000-¥50,000/month for small-to-mid operations) and variable per-unit costs (picking ¥10-¥30/item, packaging ¥50-¥150/shipment). Additional streams include WMS customization professional services, logistics improvement consulting, and document storage (¥150/box/month). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with inside sales to SMBs, driven primarily by free warehouse tours, the Logipedia educational content platform, a YouTube channel, and CEO-authored books. The company is privately held, led by Representative Director Yamada Koji, with no disclosed external funding or parent company.

Name

Sankyo

Legal name

株式会社三協

Website

https://kk-sankyo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sankyo is a privately held Japanese 3PL company specializing in outsourced EC and D2C logistics, operating 8 facilities in the Kansai region. Built around its proprietary SANTA WMS and 6 in-house system engineers, it serves over 1,000 cumulative e-commerce and D2C clients across apparel, cosmetics, medical, and confectionery verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics Services

NAICS

Warehousing and Storage (493), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Order Management, Pick/Pack & SLA Execution (Cartonization/Wave Picking) (TLAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

WMS for 3PL/Contract Logistics (Multi-Client/Billing) (TLAEABAC), Warehousing Operations & Contract Storage (Dedicated/Shared) (TLAIAAAC), Returns / Reverse Logistics Warehousing (Inspection, Sortation) (TLAIACAK), Industry-Specific Contract Logistics (Automotive, Pharma, Retail, Aerospace, etc.) (TLAIAAAL), Supplier/Inbound Logistics Management (Vendor Management, In-Plant Logistics) (TLAIABAK), Carrier Procurement, Sourcing & Rate Management (TLAIAEAD)

Keywords

• Third-party logistics services
• Ecommerce fulfillment outsourcing
• Warehouse management systems
• Logistics improvement consulting
• D2C logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Higashi Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 3PL Logistics Outsourcing Services: Comprehensive third-party logistics (3PL) services including EC logistics, D2C logistics, apparel logistics, cosmetics logistics, medical device logistics, confectionery logistics, and mail-order logistics. Revenue is generated through service fees structured as a combination of fixed costs (system fees, administrative fees, storage fees) and variable costs (receiving fees, picking fees, packaging fees, shipping fees). The company handles the complete logistics value chain from order reception to shipping, as well as inventory management, quality inspection, and returns processing.
2. Warehouse Management System (WMS) Customization Services: Custom WMS (SANTA) development and ongoing customization services. System engineers provide bespoke warehouse management system configurations tailored to each client's specific business flow, sales strategy, and operational requirements. Revenue includes initial system setup and ongoing customization fees.
3. Logistics Improvement Consulting: Advisory and consulting services for logistics process improvement, operational efficiency enhancement, and cost reduction. Includes logistics process design, warehouse layout optimization, and operational manual creation.
4. Document Storage Services (書類保管150): Corporate document storage service priced at ¥150 per box per month (¥165 with tax). Utilizes idle warehouse space at logistics centers. Minimum 80 boxes. Includes confidential document dissolution and destruction services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sankyo provides outsourced third-party logistics (3PL) services for Japanese EC and D2C operators, encompassing order receipt, inventory management, receiving, quality inspection, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and returns processing. All operations run on Sankyo's proprietary in-house WMS called SANTA, which is customized per client by 6 dedicated system engineers to align with each client's business flow and sales strategy. The company also offers logistics improvement consulting through its Storage Planner methodology.

Product overview

Sankyo is a logistics company offering a comprehensive suite of EC and D2C logistics services built around their proprietary WMS called SANTA. The core product is SANTA, a custom-developed warehouse management system that serves as the technological foundation for all operations. Around SANTA, Sankyo provides end-to-end logistics services including order processing, storage, picking, packing, and shipping across multiple verticals (apparel, cosmetics, medical devices, sweets). Additional services include logistics center management, inspection/processing operations, document storage, and logistics improvement consulting. The company operates multiple logistics facilities across Osaka and Nara regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SANTA: Proprietary WMS (Warehouse Management System) developed by Sankyo for customized logistics management.

Products and services

• SANTA WMS (Warehouse Management System) Sankyo's proprietary, in-house developed warehouse management system customized per client to handle inventory management, receiving, picking, packing, and shipping with real-time accuracy and zero inventory discrepancy. Supports multi-channel inventory sharing across own-brand stores, wholesale, multi-store online operations, and cross-border EC, and integrates with order management systems, e-commerce platforms, carrier systems, and client backbone systems.
• EC / D2C Logistics Service Outsourced EC and Direct-to-Consumer logistics covering the entire process from order receipt to delivery, supporting multiple sales channels including Rakuten, Amazon, Yahoo! Shopping, Qoo10, own-brand stores, and cross-border EC for Japanese EC operators and D2C brands.
• Logistics Outsourcing Service Comprehensive logistics outsourcing service that transfers logistics operations from the client to Sankyo, enabling clients to focus on their core business activities across all verticals.
• Logistics Center Operations Management Service where Sankyo operates and manages the entire warehouse on behalf of clients, including receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and workforce management.
• Order Processing Agency (Order Management Agency) Order processing and order management agency service that handles incoming orders across multiple EC platforms (Shopify, Rakuten, Amazon, Yahoo! Shopping, Qoo10) on behalf of clients.
• Apparel & Fashion Logistics Specialized logistics for apparel and fashion brands handling diverse SKU/color/size combinations, hanger storage, returns processing, and gift packaging. Operated primarily from Sankyo's Higashi Osaka and Nara facilities.
• Medical Device & Medical Logistics Specialized logistics service for medical devices requiring regulatory approvals from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, with strict lot traceability, expiration date management, and controlled storage environments.
• Mail Order / Catalog Logistics Mail-order and catalog sales logistics managing high-volume order fulfillment, multi-item order processing, quality inspection, packaging, and returns processing for catalog and TV shopping operators.
• Confectionery / Sweets Logistics Specialized logistics for sweets and confectionery with temperature-controlled storage, expiration date (lot) management, and handling of fragile or delicate products distributed through EC and wholesale channels.
• Cosmetics & Beauty 3PL Logistics Third-party logistics (3PL) for cosmetics and beauty brands with temperature management, pharmaceutical affairs law compliance, fragile product protection, and product orientation management.
• Document Storage Service (書類保管150) Corporate document storage service at ¥150 per box per month (¥165 including tax), utilizing unused warehouse space at Sankyo's logistics centers. Minimum 80 boxes; optional confidential document dissolution with furnace dissolution certificate.
• Osaka Inspection and Processing Center Inspection and processing center in Osaka providing quality control, distribution processing, packaging, and delivery preparation services for catalog mail-order companies and online shopping malls. Operates under warehouse industry registration number 4017 and trunk room certification number 1248.
• Logistics Improvement Consulting Advisory and consulting service where Sankyo's Storage Planner experts handle logistics process design, warehouse layout optimization, operational manual creation, and operational efficiency enhancement for clients operating their own warehouses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shipping error rate: 0.00004% (1 in 2.7 million shipments) — 5-year average
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yahoo! Japan (Yahoo! Commerce Partner)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Yahoo! Commerce Partner (Yahoo!コマースパートナー), recognized as a recommended logistics provider for Yahoo! Shopping merchants. Sankyo's partnership listing appears on the Yahoo! Commerce Partner website, providing visibility to Yahoo! merchants seeking logistics outsourcing services. The partnership positions Sankyo as a trusted logistics partner for the Yahoo! Japan e-commerce ecosystem.
• Gentosha (幻冬舎)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGentosha MC published two logistics books authored by Sankyo's CEO Yamada Koji: '誤出荷ゼロ！自社倉庫管理術' and 'EC物流改善メソッド'. The publisher collaboration enables thought leadership content distribution and industry visibility for Sankyo's logistics methodology. Content published through Gentosha has been featured on Yahoo! News and Gentosha GOLD ONLINE.
• Beautyworld Japan West (Beautworld JAPAN WEST)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSankyo exhibited at Beautyworld Japan West 2020, a major beauty industry trade show in Osaka. The company participated in the special exhibition area 'NEXT' as an industry support company, promoting its cosmetics logistics services to beauty brands and manufacturers attending the show.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Logisteed (formerly Hitachi Transport System): Large Japanese 3PL operator with national network and proprietary logistics technology. Competes with Sankyo in EC/D2C fulfillment but at vastly greater scale and broader service portfolio; relevant as the dominant national incumbent.
• Senko Group Holdings: Diversified Japanese logistics group with warehousing, 3PL, and distribution operations. Overlaps with Sankyo in contract logistics and EC fulfillment but operates at national scale with broader service breadth.
• Kintetsu World Express: Global Japanese-headquartered logistics provider offering contract logistics, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions. Larger incumbent that competes with Sankyo for enterprise EC/D2C logistics outsourcing contracts.
• Seino Information Service / Seino Holdings: National Japanese logistics group with full-service trucking, warehousing, and 3PL capabilities. Operates as a broad incumbent competing with Sankyo for EC and D2C logistics contracts across Japan.
• Yokohama Marinos / Sankyu Inc. Large Japanese logistics conglomerate with national warehousing and 3PL operations across multiple verticals. Larger incumbent that competes with Sankyo for general contract logistics and EC fulfillment customers.

Direct peers

• SBS Holdings: Mid-sized Japanese 3PL provider operating logistics facilities and fulfillment services for EC, retail, and B2B customers. Most comparable peer by size profile, with similar multi-vertical 3PL services and proprietary operational systems.
• J-Logi Co., Ltd. Japan-focused EC fulfillment and 3PL provider offering warehousing, shipping, and returns processing for online retailers. Direct competitor to Sankyo in EC/D2C logistics outsourcing with comparable customer segments and SMB/mid-market focus.
• e-LogiT Co., Ltd. (eロジテック): Japan-based EC-focused 3PL provider with proprietary logistics technology and multi-channel fulfillment services. Closely comparable to Sankyo on the integration of proprietary systems with 3PL operations for EC/D2C customers.
• Alpal (アルパル): Japan-based logistics provider specializing in cosmetics and beauty product fulfillment with regulatory compliance expertise. Closely comparable to Sankyo's cosmetics vertical with similar SMB/mid-market EC and D2C brand focus.

Regional players

• Askul Corporation: Major Japanese B2B office supplies and logistics platform with extensive warehousing infrastructure. Adjacent competitor in Japanese logistics outsourcing with overlapping customer types among SMBs and EC operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaVvfYBY9QD2eKTR-qp2Nww
• Instagraminstagram.com/kk_sankyo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sankyo