As SaaS is said to be dead, SaaS companies that hold systems-of-record (SOR) data are using it as a weapon to chart their next moves. Hubble, immedio and ランプ are using AI to embed themselves more deeply in customer operations and are creating early examples for the industry.
The first part outlined the SaaS model and explained that SaaS companies holding companies’ records, or systems-of-record (SOR), are difficult to replace and are being strengthened with AI as a weapon. This article reports on discussions held in Kyoto in early September with three companies backed by Kurabayashi Yo (倉林陽): Hubble, which is advancing the use of AI in contract operations; immedio, which is automating sales meeting scheduling; and ランプ, which presented a case study on AI-powered promotions for restaurants. Hubble has completed cumulative funding of ¥1.5 billion in its Series B round and is advancing efforts to use AI to streamline routine contract-related work as adoption expands, primarily among large enterprises. immedio has released its AI customer engagement service and demonstrated an operating model that creates sales opportunities by proposing appropriate actions for website visitors. Through Ritel, ランプ is entrusting promotional operations to AI and seeking to optimize restaurant businesses by integrating their data.
All three companies are using SOR data and seeking to transform their businesses into “AI that takes on work” by embedding AI in day-to-day operations. Their distinguishing feature is that they go beyond automating contract review, sales meetings and promotional distribution to design and operate entire workflows, including legal, sales and promotion. Pricing models, including traffic-based charges, performance-based fees, flat fees and usage-based charges, remain under consideration, but the areas in which AI replaces human work are expected to continue expanding.