Akakabe Group, operating 119 drugstores in Osaka Prefecture, introduces 'Kanry Employee Benefits' for all 2,400 employees

Kanry, Inc. announced that its employee benefit service, 'Kanry Employee Benefits,' has been adopted by all companies within the Akakabe Holdings Group, including 'Drug Akakabe,' 'Akakabe Pharmacy,' and 'Cares.'

With this implementation, all approximately 2,400 employees, including part-time and contract staff, can now use internal discounts and nationwide benefit offers through a single smartphone app. By digitizing previously analog processes, the company aims to reduce burdens on store staff while leveraging the Akakabe Group's regional dominance in Osaka to activate cross-store traffic. This strategy is intended to improve employee retention and engagement for those contributing to regional healthcare infrastructure.

Background: Focusing on Staff Retention to Support 'Contribution to Regional Healthcare'

Founded in 1954, Akakabe operates 119 drugstores and pharmacies in Osaka Prefecture. Beyond its core operations, the group manages services such as elderly meal delivery and company-led daycares, earning strong trust as a firm deeply rooted in local communities.

Guided by the mission 'Providing convenience for everyone,' the company sought to enhance its benefit systems to offer unique added value for those working at Akakabe. However, the existing manual employee discount system was complex, creating operational burdens at the register and in management.

To solve these issues and create an environment where all employees can equally access benefits regardless of employment status or location, the company chose to integrate 'Kanry Employee Benefits,' which allows for intuitive searching of discounts via a map-based UI.

Reasons for Adoption and Expected Effects

The decision to adopt the service was based on its ability to realize a group-wide benefit system that is 'low-burden and sustainable.'

Key reasons included: - Intuitive user experience with map UI and app: Allows searching for nearby benefit stores. - Unified management and security of discounts: Centralized management on the app with flexible condition settings. - Cross-store traffic leveraging dominant locations: Encourages employees to visit stores other than their workplace, enhancing engagement. - Design minimizing management burden: Support structures, such as Kanry handling inquiries, reduce administrative workloads.

Expected outcomes include: - Improved employee satisfaction: Providing non-wage benefits to promote retention. - Increased operational efficiency via 'Discount DX': Reducing issuance and management labor at the store level. - Activation of cross-store traffic: Creating synergies across the entire group.

Corporate Comment

Tomonori Minagawa, President and Representative Director of Akakabe Co., Ltd.: 'We have walked as a company deeply rooted in the local community with the goal of contributing to building a town where everyone can live healthily. This is supported by each of our employees on the front lines. With this introduction, we have not only digitized benefits but also enabled all employees to access nationwide offers. Moving forward, we intend to utilize this service as a foundation for creating an "Akakabe-unique regional economic sphere."'