Maruzen Junkudo and PubteX Launch RFID Initiative to Transform Publishing Distribution

Maruzen Junkudo Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Hitoshi Nishikawa, hereinafter 'Maruzen Junkudo') and PubteX Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Jun Watanabe, hereinafter 'PubteX') have jointly launched the 'RFID Store Utilization Project,' leveraging RFID technology as a foundational step toward addressing structural challenges in the publishing distribution industry.

This project aims not only to enhance bookstore operations but also to drive structural reform across the entire publishing supply chain by establishing new, data-driven operational models.

As part of the project, Maruzen Junkudo is implementing BOOKTRAIL®, a book traceability system developed by PubteX.

BOOKTRAIL® has already been introduced in 21 stores, with plans to expand to a total of 50 stores by the end of January 2027.

※BOOKTRAIL® is a book traceability system developed by PubteX that enables real-time monitoring of publication distribution status through the use of RFID technology.

<Image: Store staff using an RFID handheld reader to scan books on shelves>

Background

Bookstores manage tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of book titles, yet have limited means to track the real-time location and distribution status of individual books. As a result, inventory management and book searches have long relied on manual labor and staff experience.

This operational model has contributed to persistently high return rates in the publishing industry, making data-driven inventory optimization and maximizing sales opportunities an urgent priority.

In recent years, worsening labor shortages have further challenged the sustainability of traditional bookstore operations, necessitating a fundamental reevaluation of operational practices.

In response, transitioning to an RFID-based operational model—enabling real-time visibility of book movements—has become a critical initiative for both bookstores and the broader publishing distribution ecosystem.

Initiatives under the 'RFID Store Utilization Project'

The project aims to achieve item-level visibility using RFID technology, shifting bookstore operations from labor-dependent to data-driven management.

Maruzen Junkudo will lead operational design and validation using its physical stores as test sites, while PubteX will provide the system infrastructure and data analytics. Together, the two companies will co-develop a standardized model for next-generation bookstore operations based on RFID.

Through this project, both companies aim to go beyond individual operational efficiency, contributing to solving systemic challenges in the publishing industry and improving the efficiency and sustainability of the entire supply chain.

Key Initiatives of the RFID Store Utilization Project

Modernization of Operational Infrastructure

Establish RFID as a standard infrastructure to improve the efficiency and accuracy of inventory checks and stock management through batch reading of multiple items.

Data-Driven Store Management

Integrate with POS data to visualize inventory dynamics, enabling a shift from experience-based operations to data-driven store management.

Contribution to the Broader Publishing Industry

Share and utilize collected data with publishers and distributors to improve demand forecasting, optimize restocking, reduce returns, and enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain.

<Image: Concept of bookstore operational efficiency and supply chain transformation through RFID utilization>

Future Outlook

Maruzen Junkudo and PubteX will continue to develop and share insights and operational models gained from this initiative, collaborating with industry stakeholders to promote broader adoption.

The two companies will widely disseminate their findings to accelerate RFID adoption and utilization across the publishing industry. They strongly encourage more bookstores and publishers to adopt similar initiatives to advance data-driven, high-efficiency store operations.

Company Overview

Company Name: Maruzen Junkudo Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 9F, Tokyo Dia Building No. 5, 1-28-23 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Founded: August 2010

Representative: Hitoshi Nishikawa

Business: Retail sales of books, magazines, and related services

Website: https://www.maruzenjunkudo.co.jp/

Company Name: PubteX Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 7F, KDX Toranomon Ichome Building, 1-10-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Founded: March 2022

Representative: Jun Watanabe

Business: Planning, development, and provision of RFID-based systems for publishing distribution

Website: https://www.pubtex.com/