HAMON Inc. and Arks Japan Inc. Form Business Alliance: Solving Regional Talent Shortages with AI for Next-Generation EC & Digital Marketing Support

HAMON Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yuta Ogasawara, hereinafter 'HAMON'), which develops EC support, SNS operations, and influencer marketing, and Arks Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Shogo Sakamoto, hereinafter 'Arks Japan'), which develops AI-driven marketing support, announce that they have concluded a business alliance.

This partnership aims to overcome talent shortages—a crucial issue in regional revitalization—using the power of AI. By combining the practical expertise in EC, Instagram operations, and influencers that HAMON has built alongside regional businesses with Arks Japan's AI capabilities, we will construct a digital marketing support system that maximizes the inherent potential of regional businesses. We will promote the power to deliver regional charm to the nation and the world from a technological perspective.

Background and Purpose of the Business Alliance In promoting regional revitalization, the growth of local industries and businesses is an indispensable pillar. While regional businesses have strengths in unique product appeal, brand power, and community ties, the structural problem of lacking digital marketing talent prevents them from fully realizing this potential. Although EC, Instagram operations, and influencer marketing are effective means of delivering regional charm to the nation and the world, measures are often postponed because dedicated personnel cannot be secured, widening the gap in digital utilization.

On the other hand, with the rapid evolution of AI, it is becoming a reality to automate and elevate various marketing processes, such as content creation, data analysis, effectiveness measurement, and creator management. An era has arrived where high-quality digital marketing can be continuously deployed even with limited resources by appropriately utilizing AI.

HAMON has sincerely faced regional businesses and accumulated abundant practical experience in EC support, Instagram operations, and influencer marketing. Arks Japan boasts strengths in AI utilization support specialized for EC and web marketing, focusing on business design that generates maximum results with minimal resources. We reached an agreement on this partnership based on the conviction that by collaborating, we can maximize the charm and potential of regional businesses, strongly promoting regional revitalization from the aspect of digital marketing x AI.

Support Areas Created by the Collaboration: EC Support x AI Utilization EC delivers the charm of regional businesses' products and services to consumers nationwide. By combining HAMON's EC support know-how with Arks Japan's AI implementation capabilities, we automate and streamline product strategy, content creation, and customer communication, realizing a high-standard EC operation system even with a small team. We will create an environment where regional businesses can utilize EC as an economic engine for regional revitalization while focusing on their own strengths.

### Instagram Operations x AI Utilization SNS is an important platform for regional businesses to broadcast their unique worldview and charm, nurturing fan communities. We will drastically reduce operational man-hours by using AI for content planning, post optimization, and engagement analysis. By fusing qualitative insights gained from HAMON's operational track record with AI data analysis, we will create a system where regional businesses can contribute to activating the local economy through continuous account growth.

### Influencer Support x AI Utilization In delivering regional charm to the nation and the world, influencer marketi...