Nippon Express drives DX for logistics with NEC Vol.2

February 2,2022

To this end, Nippon Express announced a business tie-up agreement with Japanese technology company NEC in June 2021. The alliance aims to not only transform the logistics sector but to also generate new businesses beyond transport and warehousing through DX, all the while contributing to pressing social issues from worker shortages to sustainability.

― Linking logistics and technology leaders

The agreement represents the latest stage in a long history of cooperation between the two companies. For decades, Nippon Express has provided logistics services to NEC, while NEC has helped the group digitalise its operations. In 2013, the companies deepened their ties by establishing a joint venture - Nittsu NEC Logistics - to create one of the world's leading ICT logistics companies.

"Both companies also share a background of supporting social infrastructure: NEC has supported Japan's telecommunications infrastructure while Nippon Express has done so for its logistics," explains Masuda. "So many of the project themes we are considering have a social aspect."

The companies have already announced several initiatives from the alliance of different time scales. These include near-term projects to develop more automated and efficient warehousing operations and medium- to long-term projects to develop solutions around remote-controlled robots, visualising CO2 emissions across supply chains and cross-industry logistics platforms.

Fumiaki Matsubara, executive vice president and president
of Enterprise Business Unit, NEC Corporation

"It has never been more important to forecast needs with a clear grasp of different time scales and proactively develop current technologies to meet these challenges. That's precisely what our tie-up with Nippon Express aims for," says Fumiaki Matsubara, executive vice president and president of Enterprise Business Unit, NEC Corporation. "Through this strategic alliance, we hope to solve each other's management agendas, contribute to global issues together and heighten our group's value chain."

This content was paid for and produced by Nippon Express in partnership with the Commercial Department of the Financial Times.