SaaS Business in Japan: What You Need to Know to Avoid Pitfalls and Achieve Success

Japan is one of the world's most attractive and challenging markets, with a large and sophisticated consumer base, a strong industrial sector, and a high level of innovation and quality. However, breaking into the Japanese market is not easy, as it requires a deep understanding of the local culture, business practices, and customer preferences. Many foreign companies have failed or struggled to succeed in Japan, while others have managed to establish a strong presence and reputation.

In this article, we will review the article “SaaS Business in Japan: Pitfalls to Avoid and Recommendations for Success”, which we introduced in our 5th edition of the Japan Insight newsletter. If you missed this edition or want to refresh your memory, you can read it here: https://bit.ly/3Q75FTT

After reading the article, you can test your knowledge by answering these questions. The answers are at the end of this newsletter.

??Hint: You can check this article to answer the below questions.

Test your knowledge

Q1: When did the Japanese government introduce the Cloud-by-Default Principles to promote the adoption of cloud-based technology?

(A) 2010 (B) 2014 (C) 2016 (D) 2018

Q2: What is the name of the review site that is known as the Japanese G2?

Q3: Which statement is not true about the SaaS landscape in Japan?

(A) In Japan, the decision-making process may take longer compared to Western markets.

(B) Investing in thorough explanations and ensuring that the SaaS solution aligns with your target organization’s desired results can greatly influence the decision-making process.

(C) Frontline power users are strongly attached to legacy systems and can’t influence the SaaS product selection process.

(D) With many overseas and domestic SaaS products available, selecting the right one can be a challenge.

Thank you for reading our article. We hope it was useful for you. Do you have any topics that you want to know more about Japan? Please leave your requests in the comment section!

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Access Lab is a Tokyo-based company that supports the business development of foreign start-up companies in Japan. We’re run by bilingual IT engineers who have been engaged in system development in Japan and overseas for many years. With countless years of experience, as well as knowledge of technology, localization, and the Japanese market, we can provide a wide range of products and services to our customers.

Website: https://accesslab.co.jp/en/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@re-skilling

Answer

A1.(D) 2018 A2. ITreview A3.(C) Frontline power users are strongly attached to legacy systems and CAN influence the SaaS product selection process.