ITOCHU Corporation (Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has entered into a capital and business alliance with anyCarry Inc. (Headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Hidenobu Kosaki, President & CEO; hereinafter “anyCarry”), a company promoting the digital transformation (DX) of last-mile logistics.^*1 ITOCHU has agreed to subscribe to a third-party allotment of new shares by anyCarry.

As Japan’s e-commerce (EC) market continues to expand,^*2 consumers now place greater importance not only on where they purchase products, but also on when, where, and how they receive them. Demand for a wide range of delivery options, including immediate delivery, scheduled delivery, unattended delivery, and in-store pickup, is expected to continue to increase. In response to the evolution of consumer behaviors, last-mile logistics has become an essential touchpoint connecting companies and customers that encompasses not only the delivery process but also post-order notifications, delivery tracking, and selection or change of delivery methods. This significantly influences customer satisfaction and brand perception in EC.

anyCarry is the only last-mile logistics DX service provider in Japan offering the anyCarry Delivery Management System (ADMS), a platform capable of the integrated management of both route deliveries and on-demand deliveries. By connecting multiple shippers and delivery operators, anyCarry realizes an optimized delivery network and promotes highly efficient, high-quality last-mile DX services using AI and digital technologies.

ITOCHU has established the ITOCHU Digital Value Chain (DVC), a comprehensive framework that supports the DX of corporations and promotes the transformation of downstream-focused businesses. In the EC domain, ITOCHU collaborates with BELLSYSTEM24, Inc., which provides comprehensive BPO^*3 services including customer support, and ITOCHU Interactive Corporation, which excels in EC site development and digital marketing, to support the DX initiatives of EC business operators.

Leveraging anyCarry’s competitively priced immediate delivery services and last-mile DX solutions and the capabilities of DVC group companies such as their support for BPO and EC development activities, ITOCHU aims to provide a one-stop EC fulfillment service^*4 that handles all core EC operations. Through this service, EC operators will be able to outsource everything from site development and order management to customer support, warehouse/inventory management, and last-mile delivery, thereby enabling them to focus on core activities such as product planning, brand strategy, and marketing. The service will also offer EC users a secure and comfortable experience, allowing them to flexibly choose delivery methods to suit their lifestyles.

Under its management policy, “The Brand-New Deal: Profit opportunities are shifting downstream,” ITOCHU is accelerating its downstream-focused growth investments. Through this alliance, ITOCHU aims to expand its EC fulfillment business and create new customer experiences in the EC domain through the DX of last-mile logistics.