Topic · 13 articles

Business software and the SME tech stack in Japan

The software a small Japanese business actually runs on is rarely the one on the org chart. It is usually LINE, Excel, a shared drive, an accounting service, a few subscriptions nobody remembers signing up for, and one person who knows how it all fits together.

These articles cover choosing and running that stack: what belongs in it, how to pick a CRM or a project tool your team will keep using, how to cut overlapping subscriptions, how to set rules for chat and email, and how to manage shared accounts safely.

Start by writing down what you already use and who depends on it. Most good software decisions follow from that list, and many problems can be solved with tools you already pay for.

All articles in this topic

13
  1. Mac clipboard history, and using the tools you already own How to open clipboard history on a Mac with macOS Tahoe, what to watch for with sensitive data, and why small businesses should use what they already pay for first.
  2. The real Japanese SME stack: LINE, Excel, fax and one person Many small businesses in Japan actually run on LINE, Excel, fax, shared logins and one person who knows everything. How to map that real stack and make it safe.
  3. When should a small business stop managing its own IT? A 10-point checklist for small businesses in Japan to judge when do-it-yourself IT has become a risk, and what kind of outside help fits the problem.
  4. Why CRM rollouts fail at Japanese SMEs, and what works CRM projects at small Japanese businesses usually fail before the software matters. How to choose a CRM, set it up simply and get your team to use it.
  5. Notion vs Backlog vs Linear: which suits a team in Japan? Notion, Backlog and Linear compared for teams in Japan: Japanese support, documentation, developer workflow and which to choose for mixed or bilingual teams.
  6. How to cut overlapping SaaS subscriptions in a Japan SME A practical way for small businesses in Japan to find unused and overlapping software subscriptions, handle annual contracts and cancel without breaking work.
  7. Fractional CTO or technology advisor in Japan: what SMEs need What a fractional CTO or part-time technology advisor does for a small business in Japan, how it differs from managed IT or an SIer, and how to scope it well.
  8. Shared accounts and logins in a small business: who owns what Shared logins, drives, inboxes and chat only work with shared rules. How small businesses in Japan can set owners, access and records for the tools everyone uses.
  9. Client communication rules: email setup, chat and calls Client communication rules that keep projects moving: authenticate email with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, limit chat apps, acknowledge messages, book calls.
  10. Choosing between LINE, Chatwork, Slack and Teams in Japan How a Japanese business should split work between LINE, Chatwork, Slack, Teams and email, and the rules that stop decisions getting lost between apps.
  11. Booking pages in Japan: Calendly, TimeRex or Google Calendar Replace scheduling emails with a booking page: when to use Calendly, TimeRex or Google Calendar in Japan, how to take payment and what to set up first.
  12. Scheduling emails in Gmail and Outlook across Japan time zones How to schedule emails in Gmail, Outlook and Slack, why delayed sending helps teams in Japan keep reasonable hours, and how to time overseas messages.
  13. Digital business cards and meishi etiquette in Japan Do digital business cards work in Japan? How meishi etiquette still applies, when to use Eight, Sansan or an NFC card, and how to follow up properly.