JAST thrives with innovative IT solutions, Asian expansion
Independent software developer Japan System Techniques (JAST) has adopted a two-pronged approach towards achieving sustained growth amid changing market conditions in the information technology (IT) industry.
Independent software developer Japan System Techniques (JAST) has adopted a two-pronged approach towards achieving sustained growth amid changing market conditions in the information technology (IT) industry.
"In addition to developing next-generation versions of our mainstay offerings, we are now building our own proprietary brand of software," says CEO Takeaki Hirabayashi. "We have also stepped up efforts to take our products and services to Asia."
Marking its 40th year in business last year, JAST has become a leading provider of strategic management systems to universities, with its Gakuen series ranking No 1 in Japan. JAST also continues to strengthen its core competencies in contracted software development for corporations and public agencies, and multivendor system sales for building IT and telecom infrastructure.
As part of its expansion strategy, JAST has ventured into in-house software development.
It has found early success in its proprietary JMICS automated electronic health insurance claims checking system, BankNeo IT services integration package for financial institutions, and smartphone applications. JAST has begun offering JMICS as a cloud-based medical information system.
To further enrich its services menu, JAST has customised its Gakuen solutions for the Chinese education market and initiated collaborative work with a number of universities, including Huizhou University. It aims to solidify its footprint in the country through its consolidated subsidiary GuiLin Anxin Software.
"We recognise that China is our key market for growth," Hirabayashi says. "With more than 3,000 universities, China represents a big market for Gakuen and our other integration packages."
JAST also hopes to build up its Southeast Asian operations, leveraging the strengths of its subsidiaries in Thailand and Singapore and strategic alliances with Chinese and Korean IT firms. It is keen on working with more like-minded organisations having relevant technologies, middleware and operational knowledge.
"These expansion efforts are in line with our main thrust - to create a better society by providing pertinent IT solutions and services," Hirabayashi says.
www.jast.jp
