[US B2B Frontier] How far has 'ABM' evolved with AI? Symphony Marketing's Ichiro Niwayama presents an emergency briefing on the latest global trends

Ipros Corporation will host a special lecture at the '2nd AI/DX Sales & Marketing Exhibition' (part of Ipros AI 2026 Summer), taking place on July 30, 2026 (Thursday) at Ariake GYM-EX, featuring Ichiro Niwayama, President and CEO of Symphony Marketing Inc., who has supported B2B marketing for over 600 companies across 36 years.

With the rapid proliferation of generative AI, 'ABM (Account-Based Marketing),' a cornerstone of B2B marketing, is undergoing a dramatic evolution. This lecture will provide an emergency briefing on the 'B2B strategy for the AI era' that Japanese companies must grasp immediately, based on the latest findings from the 'Forrester B2B Summit North America,' held in the U.S. in April 2026.

Background: Why is 'ABM x AI' attracting attention in business?

Traditional B2B marketing prioritized 'lead generation from the masses,' but recent years have seen a shift toward 'building deep relationships with key accounts.' ABM has emerged as the representative framework for this approach.

In the U.S., generative AI has accelerated the use of AI in sales and marketing, including customer analysis, proposal optimization, and content creation.

Meanwhile, in Japan, many report that they do not know how to concretely integrate AI into B2B marketing, or have introduced tools without achieving tangible results.

Given this context, the lecture will explain changes in B2B marketing in the AI era and perspectives Japanese companies should adopt, based on the latest insights from the 'Forrester B2B Summit North America' held in Phoenix, U.S., in April 2026.

Highlights of the lecture

◆ [US Trend] The Reality of 'AI x ABM' discussed at the April Forrester Summit Introducing the latest B2B marketing trends presented at the 'Forrester B2B Summit North America' held in April.

◆ [AI x B2B] How humans and AI collaborate in marketing-advanced countries Explaining practical examples of sales and marketing in overseas companies where AI utilization is progressing.

◆ [For Japanese Companies] How should Japanese companies integrate global trends? Mr. Niwayama, an expert on world-leading B2B marketing, discusses essential perspectives for Japanese enterprises.

Seminar Overview

Latest US information for Japanese companies: ABM, the mainstream of B2B marketing transformed by AI

Lecturer: Ichiro Niwayama (President and CEO, Symphony Marketing Inc.) Date: July 30, 2026 (Thursday), 15:00–15:40 Venue: Ariake GYM-EX, Hall A

Lecturer Profile

Ichiro Niwayama Founded Symphony Marketing Inc. in 1990. Over 36 years, he has provided B2B marketing consulting for approximately 600 companies, supporting marketing and sales strategy planning, organizational restructuring, and talent development for both domestic and international markets. He holds deep networks with global B2B marketing professionals and introduces world-leading marketing practices to Japan. He is a visiting professor at Chuo Graduate School of Strategic Management and a lecturer at WASEDA NEO. Author of 'Do Not Chase New Business in Corporate Sales: Build the Best Relationship with Key Accounts through ABM' (Nikkei BP).