‌【Interview】Mr.Sato, CEO of Shippio, on the purpose of LDS (Logistics DX summit)

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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily May 29, 2025 (Thu)

‌【Interview】Mr.Sato, CEO of Shippio, on the purpose of LDS (Logistics DX summit)

Shippio CEO Takanori Sato

　Shippio, which provides the “Shippio“ series of digitalization services for international logistics ・・・ next %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+which+provides+the+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%9C+series+of+digitalization+services+for+international+logistics%2C+will+be+holding+the+annual+%E2%80%9CLogistics+DX+SUMMIT+%28LDS%29+2025%E2%80%9C+to+discuss+transformation+of+the+logistics+industry+in+Tokyo+on+June+4.+This+is+the+third+time+the+company+is+holding+this+event%2C+and+we+would+like+to+look+at+what+kind+of+changes+it+will+bring+to+the+industry.+We+asked+CEO+and+Representative+Director+Takanori+Sato+about+the+goals+of+holding+LDS.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--This+will+be+the+third+time+that+LDS+is+held.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+is+an+event+that+I+have+wanted+to+continue+for+a+long+time+since+it+first+took+place%2C+so+I+feel+it+is+meaningful+that+we+can+continue+to+hold+it.+The+logistics+industry+is+a+large-scale%2C+heavy+industry+with+longstanding+business+practices+and+aspects+of+the+equipment+industry%2C+but+now+is+the+time+to+change+the+industrial+structure+itself.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+often+say+that+what+the+logistics+industry+really+needs+is+not+%E2%80%99DX+%28Digital+Transformation%29%E2%80%99+but+%E2%80%99IX+%28Industrial+Transformation%29%E2%80%99.+LDS+is+positioned+as+a+place+for+discussion+and+learning+to+bring+about+major+change+in+the+industry.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+difference+between+%E2%80%9CDX%E2%80%9C+and+%E2%80%9CIX%E2%80%9C%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIX+is+not+just+about+updating+operations+and+systems%2C+it+is+about+changing+the+very+nature+of+industry.+I+believe+that+like+a+chrysalis+transforming+into+a+butterfly%2C+it+is+necessary+to+change+so+much+that+it+cannot+revert+to+its+original+form.+For+the+logistics+industry+to+achieve+this+transformation%2C+it+will+not+be+possible+through+the+efforts+of+just+one+company+or+a+few+players.+That%E2%80%99s+why+we+need+a+forum+where+industry+stakeholders+can+come+together+in+a+cross-sectional+way+and+discuss+what+challenges+they+are+currently+facing+and+how+they+should+change.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+evaluate+the+progress+of+DX+in+the+logistics+industry%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWhen+we+launched+%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E+in+2016%2C+people+said+that+DX+was+not+necessary+in+the+logistics+industry.+However%2C+now+every+company+is+realizing+that+they+%E2%80%98have+to+do+something.%E2%80%99+Having+said+that%2C+it+is+still+unclear+%E2%80%98what+to+do%E2%80%99.+After+all%2C+what+is+required+is+a+fundamental+transformation+that+goes+beyond+simply+improving+business+efficiency+and+introducing+new+tools.+I+would+like+to+speak+passionately+about+that+aspect+at+this+event.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+role+does+%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E+play+in+the+logistics+industry%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+goal+is+not+to+be+just+a+tool+vendor%2C+but+to+act+as+a+guide.+Our+services+have+been+adopted+by+companies+in+a+wide+range+of+industries%2C+and+because+we+have+a+wide+range+of+case+studies%2C+we+are+in+a+position+to+show+our+customers+where+to+start%2C+depending+on+their+business+type%2C+scale%2C+and+challenges.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+strengths+lie+in+our+know-how+in+onboarding+%28implementation+support%29+and+customer+success+%28support+for+customer+success%29.+For+example%2C+even+if+a+logistics+company+develops+a+tool+on+its+own%2C+it+would+be+difficult+for+it+to+have+the+function+to+train+customers+to+use+it+effectively.+This+is+where+the+strengths+of+a+startup+like+us+come+into+play.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Discussing+current+topics+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+intention+behind+this+year%E2%80%99s+session+structure%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+the+keynote+speech%2C+we+have+invited+Fumiaki+Kobayashi%2C+a+member+of+the+House+of+Representatives+%28State+Minister+of+the+Environment%29+who+is+of+the+same+generation+as+me+and+is+a+leader+in+digital+policy+at+the+national+level%2C+to+speak+from+the+perspective+of+legacy+industries+from+the+national+perspective.+Furthermore%2C+in+the+first+session%2C+following+on+from+last+year%2C+CLOs+%28Chief+Logistics+Officers%29+and+other+corporate+supply+chain+managers+will+take+to+the+stage+to+talk+about+changes+that+have+occurred+since+last+year.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+also+prepared+a+contemporary+session+that+only+our+company+could+offer%2C+titled+%E2%80%99Private+Equity+Funds%E2%80%99+Growth+Strategies+and+the+Future+of+Industry+Reorganization.%E2%80%99+I+would+like+to+explore+why+foreign+funds+are+now+acquiring+logistics+companies+one+after+another%2C+along+with+the+structural+issues+facing+Japanese+logistics+companies.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+do+you+think+about+the+restructuring+of+the+logistics+industry%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CDue+to+the+declining+population%2C+we+are+reaching+the+limit+of+sustaining+logistics+work+that+have+been+supported+through+human+labor.+Unless+back-office+and+middle-office+operations+are+consolidated%2C+integrated%2C+and+streamlined%2C+business+management+itself+will+not+be+viable.+It+can+be+said+that+integration+and+restructuring%2C+including+M%26A+%28mergers+and+acquisitions%29%2C+are+now+an+urgent+matter.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--AI+%28artificial+intelligence%29+will+also+be+covered+in+a+separate+session.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWith+a+title+%E2%80%98The+forefront+of+the+evolution+of+logistics+through+AI%2C%E2%80%99+the+seminar+will+introduce+examples+of+actual+operations+where+AI+is+being+incorporated+into+business+processes.+The+advent+of+ChatGPT+has+accelerated+the+practical+use+of+generative+AI%2C+but+it+feels+like+many+executives+in+the+logistics+industry+have+yet+to+jump+on+board.+By+starting+with+a+basic+discussion+in+the+session%2C+I+hope+to+make+it+a+session+that+makes+people+think%2C+%E2%80%99I+wonder+if+I+should+try+using+AI.%E2%80%99%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Have+you+noticed+any+changes+in+the+LDS+visitor+demographic%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CLast+year%2C+about+500+people+attended%2C+and+it+was+impressive+to+see+so+many+section+chief+and+department+chief+level+managers+in+attendance.+Participants+in+these+types+of+events+tend+to+be+young%2C+so+I+think+it+is+a+big+change+that+people+closer+to+management+are+starting+to+take+an+interest.+The+logistics+industry+has+yet+to+adopt+a+culture+of+openly+speaking+with+other+companies%2C+so+through+these+sessions+we+hope+to+provide+an+opportunity+for+dialogue+within+the+industry.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Please+tell+us+your+enthusiasm+for+this+event.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+year%2C+I+believe+I+have+put+together+some+interesting+sessions+that+I+would+want+to+hear+myself.+This+will+be+the+first+time+that+LDS+will+provide+a+main+session+venue+and+a+private+session+venue%2C+and+hold+joint+events.+At+the+private+session+venue%2C+we+plan+to+hold+an+awards+ceremony+for+customers+who+have+achieved+results+by+using+our+products%2C+a+user+networking+event%2C+and+the+announcement+of+new+products.+We+especially+want+mid-career+employees+and+the+next+generation+of+leaders+who+will+lead+their+companies+to+attend.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Takanori+Sato+graduated+from+Chuo+University+in+2006+and+joined+MITSUI+%26+CO.%2C+LTD.+After+working+in+the+petroleum+department+and+corporate+investment+department%2C+he+founded+%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E+in+June+2016.+In+2018%2C+the+company+began+offering+the+digital+forwarding+service+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3EShippio%3C%2Fb%3E+Forwarding.%E2%80%9C+In+2022%2C+the+company+acquired+Kyowa+Kaiun%2C+a+customs+brokerage+company%2C+through+M%26A+and+entered+the+customs+brokerage+business.+He+is+from+Kanagawa+Prefecture+and+42+years+old.+%3Cbr%3E%28Published+from+time+to+time%29+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%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