Expansion of Business Support Services for Franchisees

「To strengthen franchisee support, we are working to improve organizational capabilities by redefining the skills required of support staff. We also pre-launched an owned-media website in July, with full-scale operation scheduled for September, and are developing richer and better content, including videos and manga, so that customers can learn about CENTURY21's frontline operations and choose our services.」

「As part of our sales enhancement efforts, we conducted sales training throughout the fiscal year. The nationwide training program, attended by many franchisee sales staff from across Japan, ended in January, and almost all participants substantially exceeded their own results from the previous year. In particular, the top performers were recognized at the Japan Convention held in Tokyo in April.」

「During the interim accounting period, we continued to provide business succession and M&A support as one element of strengthened franchisee support, and the first M&A support transaction was completed in July. In addition, we held online seminars as part of our educational activities for franchisees.」

「To improve franchisee performance, we launched the Century 21 Management Academy, including the School of Human Resources, where participants learn know-how relating to recruiting, developing and retaining personnel, and the School of Money, where they learn financial strategy.」

「In particular, as part of efforts to strengthen franchisee support, we revamped the e-learning system for franchisee employees and expanded its content, while newly establishing functions to check learners' understanding and manage learning histories. We also added to the automated sales and purchase agreement preparation system a function that automatically transfers the results of on-site government-office and property inspections, in order to improve franchisee operational efficiency.」

「Next, we newly introduced a mentor system as a measure to support improved franchisee performance. Experienced franchisee managers provide advice to franchisee managers in the growth stage, helping identify solutions to specific management issues common to franchisees. The system is expected to improve franchisee management.」

「To strengthen franchisee sales, we formed a new partnership with 一建設株式会社 and launched the real estate purchase service Rakuraku Relocation. Under this service, 一建設株式会社 purchases the home that a customer wishes to sell through a franchisee, after which the customer may continue living there for up to one year rent-free while looking for a new home. In terms of staffing support, we partnered with Timee,Inc. to expand franchisees' options for securing personnel for short-term assignments. We also partnered with 株式会社Facilo to improve franchisee operational efficiency, incorporating into the sales support system 21Cloud a function that efficiently organizes property information and enables it to be provided promptly to customers.」

「Next, as a sales enhancement measure, we began business partnerships with アルヒ株式会社, Japan's largest specialist mortgage lender, and アルヒ住み替えコンシェルジュ株式会社.」

「As a measure to support franchisee sales growth, we focused on strengthening property acquisition capabilities, particularly support for obtaining exclusive brokerage mandates for existing homes. This has contributed to maintaining and expanding franchisee sales amid sluggish supply of newly built detached homes. As a measure to expand services for franchisee customers, we began providing the Century 21 24-Hour Life Support service for resolving household problems.」

「In addition to continuing basic training during the initial stage of opening new franchise locations, we conducted training to strengthen the property acquisition capabilities of each location, including existing franchisees.」

「In September this year, we formed a partnership with ジャパンベストレスキューシステム株式会社 as part of our efforts to strengthen franchisee support. We began providing the Century 21 24-Hour Life Support service for resolving household problems to customers who purchased newly built or existing detached homes or condominiums through franchisees. This is intended to enhance the services offered by franchisees while providing purchasers with 10 years of long-term peace of mind and a better quality of life.」

「Next, to strengthen support for franchisees' digital transformation, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and reducing costs, we began providing franchisees on 11 May with an electronic contract system supplied on an OEM basis and developed by Japan PropTech Co.,Ltd.」

「The company also began providing franchisees with its new core system, Connect21. The system migrated certain expense items that previously required bank transfers to automatic debit, improving administrative efficiency for franchisees. In addition, as part of efforts to strengthen information security at franchisees, the company provided introductions to a cloud storage service and employee training services using e-learning.」

「Amid this business environment, the company continues to expand new products and services to strengthen its existing franchise business platform and improve its market competitiveness. First, as part of efforts to strengthen franchisee information security and business continuity planning, it began providing Microsoft's cloud storage service Microsoft 365 and an Information Security Support Program comprising information security e-learning and a dedicated guidebook. Next, to strengthen recruitment support for franchisees, it published more than 160 videos in total on the Real Estate CHANNEL YouTube channel launched last year, growing viewership to more than 230,000 views and encouraging applications to franchisees. In addition, to support franchisees' transactions with foreign customers and address vacant properties, it began providing ROOMiD Global Plan, a rent guarantee service exclusively for foreign nationals developed through collaboration between 株式会社グローバルトラストネットワークス and 株式会社エポスカード.」

「First, the company supported efforts to strengthen the ability to acquire properties for sale, which is necessary for franchisees to grow their performance when the market is strong. Specifically, it strengthened partnerships with external bulk property valuation websites, introduced an email distribution system for customers and added functions to its management system, and continued holding online seminars.」

「The company conducted a 4-part series of training sessions to strengthen franchisees' rental property management and seminars on the Act on Proper Management of Rental Housing.」

「To support the use of IT to improve franchisee operating efficiency, the company entered into business alliances with AR株式会社, which handles VRROOM, a VR app for real estate, and イタンジ株式会社, which handles ITANDI BB, a one-stop service for rental real estate operations through digitization.」

「During the third quarter, to support an increase in franchisees' renovation-related revenue and promote the circulation of existing homes, the company began providing Reform Simulator 21, a tool for proposing renovations to customers, and related services to franchisees nationwide from October. The number of user accounts exceeded 100 within 2 months of launch, and future effects are expected.」

「Next, to expand its recurring-revenue business, the company entered into a business alliance with Non Brokers株式会社, which operates the nationwide matching website Inspec Kaitori for companies specializing in the purchase of detached houses, and began recruiting purchasing partners for franchisees. In addition, to support an increase in franchisees' renovation-related revenue, the company announced Reform Simulator 21, a tool for proposing renovations to customers, together with related services, and began providing them on 7 October.」

「The company will strengthen overall store competitiveness through brokerage acquisition sales, recruitment and training, IT support, and other measures tailored to the circumstances of each franchisee.」

「The company entered into a business alliance with 株式会社エスクロー・エージェント・ジャパン regarding the use of H'OURS, a face-to-face-free payment service provided by that company, to make franchisee transaction settlements more efficient, reduce the administrative burden on transaction parties, and expand services for franchisees.」

「The effectiveness of activities by the FC Consulting Department, established to improve performance and curb the withdrawal rate, also helped keep the number of withdrawing stores low, at approximately 50% of the previous year's level.」

「ⅱ) Strengthening comprehensive store competitiveness through management, sales, IT, recruitment, and training support tailored to each franchisee ⅳ) Strengthening market competitiveness through the development and provision of new products and services」

「To address intensifying competition in the industry, the company opened an FC Consulting Office, a specialist team focused on providing guidance to improve franchisee performance.」

「As measures to revitalize the circulation of existing homes, the company is implementing initiatives including the renewal of defect warranty products, training focused on used-home transaction practices, and training to address the mandatory explanatory disclosure requirements for inspections.」

「During the first quarter, the company reorganized its structure to unify the chain of command between headquarters and branches, seeking to improve operational efficiency and accelerate decision-making. As an IT service for franchisees, it began pilot operation of a system that directs customers to franchisees after AI-powered chat-based customer service, together with its capital and business alliance partner 株式会社ietty.」

「As a franchisee support measure, the company released 21Cloud, its new sales support system that had been under development. It also introduced a web seminar and meeting system for all franchisees to strengthen training for franchisees in remote areas.」

「The company continued to hold its customer service competition this year to improve franchisees' customer service techniques and sought to raise skill levels across Century 21, among other measures.」

「As measures to support franchisees, the company newly opened a West Japan Branch to strengthen support and accelerate decision-making in western Japan. It also implemented various measures, including introducing a web seminar and meeting system for all franchisees to facilitate closer communication with franchisees in remote areas and contribute to sound store operations.」

「Amid this business environment, to further strengthen its franchisee support structure, the company increased personnel responsible for field services and training services and newly opened a West Japan Branch to strengthen services and accelerate decision-making for franchisees in western Japan.」

「② Expansion of business support services for franchisees (improving store quality and enhancing competitiveness)」