Showa Shinkin Bank Adopts 'BM Portal,' a Business Matching Management Service for Financial Institutions

Kokopelli Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shigeru Kondo, hereinafter 'Kokopelli') announces that Showa Shinkin Bank (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Masanori Yorimoto) has decided to adopt 'BM Portal,' a business matching management service designed for financial institutions.

This service is a platform that centralizes financial institutions’ business matching operations online.

Message from Showa Shinkin Bank

Financial institutions conduct business matching activities as part of their support for clients’ digital transformation (DX) and core business operations. This involves introducing services and products from partner companies to address specific challenges faced by client companies. However, these operations often rely heavily on individual staff members’ practices, leading to insufficient sharing of case information and expertise within the institution.

To address these challenges, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the quality of client-focused proposals, Showa Shinkin Bank has decided to adopt the 'BM Portal.'

Features and Capabilities of BM Portal

### Business Matching Workflow

In financial institution-led business matching, services that solve client companies’ challenges are identified from multiple partner companies, followed by introductions and meeting arrangements. Currently, due to insufficient digital transformation (DX), information exchange throughout this process incurs high management costs. Additionally, service selection often depends on individual staff members’ personal expertise, creating inefficiencies.

BM Portal resolves these issues, enabling efficient and effective matching operations. By centralizing information and enabling real-time progress tracking, the platform accelerates negotiations, improves efficiency, and increases closing rates. Furthermore, it offers significant benefits to both client and partner companies. Previously, consent forms and invoices had to be created on paper and delivered in person or by mail to bank staff. With BM Portal, these procedures are completed entirely online, drastically reducing administrative burdens.

### Key Features of BM Portal

- Management of Partner Company Service Information

Client companies’ challenges can be registered as needs, and services or products offered by partner companies can be searched using the platform’s search functionality.

- Digitalization of Introduction Consent Forms

Consent forms for sharing information with partner companies can be created, reviewed, and internally approved online. This paperless process accelerates procedures and reduces administrative workload.

- Progress Tracking for Business Matching

Prevents duplicate cases and visualizes progress, minimizing oversights and enabling more strategic and efficient matching proposals.

- Systematization of Business Matching Knowledge and Case Studies

Captures previously siloed expertise from individual staff members, digitizing know-how to create an environment where all employees can make optimal proposals.

- Flexible Workflow Functionality

Workflow features incorporating managerial approval processes support rapid decision-making, prevent delays or missed approvals, and ensure smooth operations.

- Unified Operations via Invoice Issuance Function

Manages the entire process from deal closure to invoice issuance. Supports efficient accounting operations and smooth transactions, with customizable invoice templates.

Future Outlook

BM Portal will continue to support the operational efficiency of financial institutions’ business matching activities, while striving to enhance the service and expand functionalities—such as AI-powered recommendation features for matching cases.

Currently, BM Portal adoption has been decided or is under consideration by multiple other financial institutions, and rollout to additional institutions is planned to expand progressively.

Additionally, Kokopelli has developed and operated 'Big Advance,' a business support platform for SMEs, for approximately eight years, facilitating over 200,000 business meetings to date. As a leading company in business matching, Kokopelli will leverage its proven track record and field expertise to continue supporting financial institutions in solving SME challenges, creating new business opportunities, and contributing to regional economic revitalization.

About Kokopelli Inc.

Name: Kokopelli Inc.

Headquarters: Kioicho Building 11F, 3-12 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Shigeru Kondo, CEO

Founded: June 2007

Business: Business platform services

URL: https://www.kokopelli-inc.com/

Main Services: 'Big Advance' – Business support platform for SMEs

'BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL' – International business matching platform