HELP YOU Launches BPO Center Operations in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Knit Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takao Akizawa; hereinafter "Knit"), the operator of the online outsourcing service "HELP YOU," was founded with the premise of full remote work and currently has over 600 individuals performing tasks online from across Japan and 35 countries worldwide.

We have now commenced operations of a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) center in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. This facility will be operated by Knit under consignment from the Matsumoto Monozukuri Industry Support Center General Foundation.

Through its online outsourcing service "HELP YOU," Knit has been supporting companies in resolving labor shortages, primarily in their back-office operations. Following the establishment of our Fukuoka Center in 2024, we have newly opened the Matsumoto Center to build a system capable of handling a wide range of tasks, including those requiring physical handling that are difficult to manage online.

The Matsumoto Center will handle tasks such as digitization of paper documents, proxy dispatch of direct mail, telephone support, warehouse operations, and security-related projects, as well as the creation and annotation of training data necessary for AI development. We aim to simultaneously support local employment creation and improve operational efficiency and DX promotion for companies nationwide, including those in the Matsumoto area.

HELP YOU BPO Center

HELP YOU Launches BPO Center Operations in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Background of Establishment

Labor shortages are a serious issue in the Matsumoto City area. While the number of people relocating to the area has been increasing in recent years, there are also cases where young people move out of the prefecture due to a lack of employment opportunities. Furthermore, there is a need to create employment opportunities for diverse working styles, such as for parents who wish to work.

On the corporate side, tasks that cannot be handled internally are increasing, including digitization of paper documents, dispatch operations, inquiry handling, data entry, and creation of training data for AI development. In particular, tasks involving personal or confidential information pose a challenge for external outsourcing due to security concerns.

To address these issues, HELP YOU has launched operations at the Matsumoto Center. With a secure environment equipped with a security room, we are establishing a system where companies can confidently outsource offline tasks and highly confidential operations that are difficult to manage online.

Leveraging the back-office operational expertise cultivated to date and its nationwide talent network, HELP YOU aims to simultaneously promote local employment and resolve corporate labor shortages by providing employment and skill development opportunities in Matsumoto.

Facility Overview

Center Name

Matsumoto Center

Location

1F, NTT East Matsumoto Daimachi Building, 3-3-9 Ote, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, 390-0074

Sazangaku (33GAKU)

Opening Date

April 2026

Seating Capacity

38 seats

Floor Area

37.02 tsubo

Operation

Knit Inc. (under consignment from the Matsumoto Monozukuri Industry Support Center General Foundation)

This facility is equipped with a security room to ensure the thorough security of confidential information. With advanced equipment and operational systems, we will accurately perform practical tasks, including physical handling.

Features of the Matsumoto Center

1 Collaboration with ICT Hub Facility "Sazangaku (33GAKU)"

The Matsumoto Center is located within "Sazangaku," Matsumoto City's ICT hub facility.

Sazangaku is a facility operated by the Matsumoto Monozukuri Industry Support Center General Foundation, serving as a regional industry and entrepreneurship support hub with functions for co-working spaces, satellite offices, and telework offices. It operates with the aim of supporting startups and entrepreneurship, promoting inter-company collaboration, and advancing new ways of working utilizing ICT.

It also focuses on creating an environment where diverse individuals, including parents, can work comfortably, supporting the active participation of local talent through the development of telework offices and childcare facilities.

2 Equipped with a Security Room

To handle tasks involving personal and confidential information,

Access Control

Dedicated Terminal Management

Operation Log Management

are implemented.

We can also handle offline tasks that are difficult to manage solely online.

3 Operational System with P Mark Certification

Both Knit, which operates the center, and Sazangaku have obtained the Privacy Mark, ensuring a system where operations can be safely outsourced.

Services Handled

Service Type

Overview

Specific Examples

Warehousing Services

Storage and inventory management of goods, and arrangement of delivery as needed.

Shipping of textbooks for participants as needed, etc.

Direct Mail Dispatch Agency

Comprehensive agency for the entire process from printing and enclosing to dispatch.

Dispatch of newsletters and cover letters, printing, binding, and delivery of course materials, etc.

Telephone Operations (Outbound Calls)

Outbound calls to existing customers, etc. (surveys, interviews, etc.).

Interview surveys for affiliated stores, user satisfaction surveys for services, etc.

Telephone Operations (Inbound Calls)

Handling inbound calls (inquiries, etc.) from service users, etc.

Reservation reception for local shared buses, inquiry response for game apps, etc.

Security Projects

Data processing and management that can only be performed with specific devices or under secure communication environments.

Data entry into proprietary core systems, proxy management of equipment using leased PCs, etc.

Annotation Services

Creation of data for AI model training

Creation of training data for AI development, labeling and classification of images, videos, and text.

Usage Scene Examples

The Matsumoto Center handles the following types of business needs:

Example 1: Digitization of Paper Documents

Digitizing business cards obtained at exhibitions, paper application forms, response postcards, questionnaires, etc., and registering them in customer management systems or internal databases. By digitizing information stored on paper, we support the efficiency of sales activities, customer follow-up, and internal management tasks.

Example 2: Annotation for AI Development

We support the creation of training data necessary for AI model learning by performing tasks such as object detection, labeling, classification, and verification on image, video, and text data. For example, this includes tasks like drawing bounding boxes around objects in images, labeling specific scenes or objects in videos, and classifying/checking text data.

Example 3: Telephone Reception and Interview Operations

We handle inbound and outbound call operations, including reservation reception for local services, inquiry response, interviews with existing customers, and satisfaction surveys. By externalizing contact points with service users, we reduce the operational burden on companies and local governments.

Detailed Information on HELP YOU BPO Center

https://help-you.me/bpo-center/

Message from Representative

Takao Akizawa, President and CEO, Knit Inc.

Takao Akizawa, President and CEO, Knit Inc.

Through the online outsourcing service "HELP YOU," Knit Inc. has been supporting companies nationwide in resolving labor shortages and improving operational efficiency. On the other hand, we have received many requests for tasks that are difficult to handle solely online, such as handling paper documents, dispatch operations, and data processing in secure environments.

By launching BPO center operations in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, we will create new employment opportunities in the region and strengthen our system to address a wide range of corporate business challenges. Moving forward, we will expand our scope of services to include annotation tasks that support AI development, in addition to back-office operations, thereby providing value to both the region and companies.

Future Development

Through the operation of the Matsumoto Center, Knit will promote the creation of locally rooted employment and enhance its offline operational capabilities for companies nationwide. By collaborating with the Fukuoka Center, which has been operational since 2024, we will establish a system that can flexibly respond to a wider range of needs and aim for further expansion of our BPO business.

Overview of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Municipality Name: Matsumoto City Main Office Location: 3-7 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture Population: Approximately 230,000 (as of May 1, Reiwa 8) Mayor: Yoshinari Gakuen Phone Number: 0263-34-3000 (Main) URL: https://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/

Knit Inc.

Knit Inc.

Company Name: Knit Inc.

Representative: Takao Akizawa, President and CEO

Head Office Location: Green Fantasia Building 407, 1-11-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Established: August 2017 *HELP YOU service launched in 2015

Business Description: Operation of the online outsourcing service "HELP YOU." Also develops learning services for workers and media businesses to support workers.

URL: https://knit-inc.com/

What is the Online Outsourcing Service "HELP YOU"?

Online Outsourcing Service "HELP YOU"

A business efficiency service where a team of skilled assistants with diverse skill sets supports your work. We undertake back-office tasks (HR, accounting, sales support, document creation, etc.) as online outsourcing, contributing to the creation of an environment where you can focus on your core business.

Our members are located in 35 countries worldwide, including the United States, France, and Germany, as well as across Japan, including Tokyo, Miyagi Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, and Fukuoka Prefecture.

HELP YOU Service Site: https://help-you.me/

HELP YOU Recruitment Site: https://va.help-you.me/

<Inquiries Regarding This Matter>

Knit Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Ozawa

Phone Number: 050-5212-5574

Email Address: [email protected]