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SB Payment Service Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, President and CEO Jun Shinba, hereinafter referred to as "SBPS"), a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp., and ACD Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, Chairman and CEO Choemon Tabe, Representative Director) President and CEO Hiromichi Furui (hereinafter referred to as "ACD") will collaborate to start providing the table order and payment system "WeSearch for Visiting Japan Table Order System" from November 2023. At stores that have introduced the "WeSearch for Visiting Japan Table Order System," when Chinese visitors to Japan scan the QR code posted at each table with their smartphones, Chinese menus and explanations are displayed, and a staff member guides them through the ordering process. You can make calls and payments quickly and in one stop.

Background to the launch of “WeSearch for Japan Visit Table Order System”

In April 2023, restrictions on entry into Japan from overseas were lifted, and in June, the number of foreign visitors to Japan exceeded 2 million ^*1, and inbound demand is steadily recovering. It is predicted that the situation will return to the level before the spread of the new coronavirus infection in 2024, and we will need to take better care of foreign visitors to Japan than ever before. According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ^*2, when foreign visitors to Japan have trouble communicating in Japan, the most common reason cited by 65.8% is when choosing and ordering food at a restaurant, and businesses provide explanations in a foreign language. We believe that it is necessary to improve menus, ordering methods, and support for cashless payments. In addition, since the Chinese-speaking countries of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong together account for 55.5% of travel spending by foreign visitors to Japan ^*3, SBPS and ACD have recently announced a new website for businesses that need to accommodate Chinese visitors to Japan. We have started offering "WeSearch for Japan Visit Table Order System".

About “WeSearch for Japan Visit Table Order System”

"WeSearch for Visiting Japan Table Order System" is a WeChat mini-program within the messenger app "WeChat" used by more than 1.3 billion people in China.It uses tools familiar to Chinese people to select menu items in Chinese. You can complete the order and payment.

Advantages of introduction

1. ① Resolve language issues when ordering
   By simply scanning the QR code for each table with their smartphone, Chinese visitors to Japan can order, call a staff member, and pay at checkout in a one-stop and speedy manner. Stores can easily and centrally manage everything from entry time for each table, number of orders, order details, calls to staff, and payment at checkout using a Japanese-compatible management screen, reducing the operational burden.
2. ② Eliminates anxiety when entering the store and anxiety about additional orders
   Posting that the store is a "WeSearch for Japan Table Order System installed store" will lead to an increase in the store entry rate, and even after entering the store, customers can easily make optional menus and additional orders, which can increase the order rate and average spend per customer. Masu.
3. ③ Increase your ability to attract customers! SNS marketing is possible on the “WeChat” app used by 1.3 billion people
   You can attract inbound customers by promoting store information and menus to users on the "WeChat" app. If users have a great dining experience, they can spread the word to their friends on the WeChat app, which is expected to attract new customers.

SBPS and ACD will continue to provide highly convenient services that meet the needs of business operators.

• *1 According to research by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
• *2 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “Evaluation of Japanese restaurants by foreign tourists visiting Japan”
• *3 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tourism Agency “Consumption Trends of Foreign Visitors to Japan”

• -Company names and product / service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

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