Net Protections, Inc. (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shin Shibata; hereinafter “Net Protections”) rebrands its BtoB payment service NP Kakebarai and publishes a brand book. The rebranding brings with it new copy: “Payment freedom. More choice. More comfort. More reach.” This refers to removing all payment-related barriers associated with corporate activities and offering services that maximize business potential, making it more than merely a payment settlement service. The branding can be viewed from the link below.
Branding details: https://np-kakebarai.com/pdf/brandbook.pdf
The message in the branding
“More choice” alludes to creating an environment where stakeholders wishing to make a better society can trade and achieve their aims naturally.
“More comfort” alludes to removing barriers so that anyone can settle transaction payments with ease.
“More reach” alludes to creating an environment where companies and individuals share mutual trust and can achieve their mission through payment settlement.
Settlement is an important business stage and Net Protections embodies “Payment freedom”, fighting against existing barriers to trigger change in the sector.
The brand color is blue and evokes the ocean. This reflects Net Protections’ desire to adapt flexibly, broadly and deeply to a changing society and an array of commercial transaction methods.
Why rebrand?
NP Kakebarai handles all BtoB settlements, including credit screening, invoice issuance, payment management, and guarantees on uncollected payments, which occur in BtoB transactions. This year, Net Protections is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the service, released in 2011, and as a payment sector partner strives to support the activity and growth of clients’ businesses.
In spite of big and sudden changes and upsets in society, such as work style reforms, revisions to consumption tax law, the introduction of a reduced tax rate system, and COVID-19, Net Protections services have grown together with its varied stakeholders. It is not uncommon for business to drive forward by leveraging IT, as the number of increasing buzzwords such as “digitalization” and “DX” demonstrate. However, many businesses still have worries and reservations, such as those in industries that follow past customs and continue to collect cash face-to-face, and businesses that struggle with debt management, which is exacerbated due to social conditions. The Japanese Government plans to establish a Digital Ministry in September this year, and while the aim is human-friendly digitalization that leaves no one behind, Net Protections is convinced that the role of its NP Deferred Payment for Business will expand.
A decade ago a settlement service that gives a guarantee against uncollected payments did not exist, but now it has grown to an annual circulation of JPY 75 billion, and the annual number of businesses using it has climbed to 410,000. Net Protections cares about what it should do for those that have been with it on its NP Kakebarai journey thus far, and for those who will join on the road ahead. This rebranding is the first step in renewing its commitment.
On the road ahead, through the provision of its NP Kakebarai service, Net Protections intends to continue to contribute to a developing environment in which all stakeholders have more freedom to take on challenges and grow.
About NP Kakebarai
NP Kakebarai is a BtoB Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service that guarantees risk-free transactions and enables to reduce the complicated billing/payment process between merchants and their clients through credit screening, billing, collection, payment confirmation, and payment reminder. With NP Kakebarai, businesses can outsource and digitally transform the whole billing process, thus it is able to reduce unnecessary operations and boost productivity. In addition, NP Kakebarai's sophisticated credit screening system which does not rely on the traditional Credit Bureau, accurately detects delinquency risk while maintaining high approval rate, thus merchants can easily handle SMEs, even individual businesses while preventing risks. Therefore, it contributes to merchants’ sales increase and market expansion, also improvement of cash flow for clients for its flexible payment deadline. As of 2021, NP Kakebarai has annual transaction of JPY 75 billion, used by more than 410,000 companies, as 1 out of 8 companies in Japan makes their payment with NP Kakebarai(※A). NP Kakebarai will continue to be dedicated to providing the service creating a sustainable environment in which all stakeholders can challenge and grow more freely.
For further information regarding NP Kakebarai:: https://np-kakebarai.com/
※1) Based on “Report of the 2019 Basic Survey on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises“ which estimated the number of Japan enterprise to 3.59 million and the number of companies using NP Kakebarai.
Overview of Net Protections, Inc.
Net Protections, Inc. is a pioneer company in Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services in Japan and is leading the market with the largest market share (※2). In 2002, Net Protections launched its first service, NP Atobarai, a BNPL that guarantees risk-free transactions for businesses and provides a deferred payment for customers in Japan for the first time. In FY2020, NP Atobarai’s annual transaction volume has hit the growth rate of 116% compared to the previous fiscal year. NP Atobarai is used by numerous enterprises with over 15.8 million unique users in Japan (※3) and has processed more than 280 million transactions to date. In 2011, Net Protections released NP Kakebarai, a BNPL service for BtoB. NP Kakebarai has grown 127% yearly and played a role as the dominant BtoB payment service in Japan. In 2017, Net Protections launched atone, BtoC BNPL service with membership benefits that offers better shopping experience. In 2018, Net Protections released AFTEE, BtoC BNPL service in Taiwan. Net Protections has accumulated transaction data and knowledge since its first service launched, which has enabled it to build a sophisticated credit screening system and solid operation skills. Net Protections always pursues creating a society where everyone can do business safely and easily.
・Company Name：Net Protections, Inc.
・Representative：Shin Shibata, CEO
・Website：https://corp.netprotections.com/
・Business Outline：BtoC e-commerce Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service, NP Atobarai
BtoB BNPL service, NP Kakebarai
BtoC BNPL service, NP Atobarai air for individual day-to-day operations
BtoC BNPL service with membership benefits, atone
BtoC BNPL service in Taiwan, AFTEE
Point reward program, NP Point Club
・Founded：January, 2000
・Capital：JPY 100 million
・Headquarter：SUMITOMO FUDOSAN KOJIMACHI FIRST BUILDING 5F, 4-2-6 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 Japan
※2) Surveyed Japan’s top 300 companies in the “75th EC and mail order sales ranking” published in Tsuhan Shimbun as of Jan. 7, 2021. Based on the portion of merchants outsourcing BNPL operations that use NP Atobarai as of Mar. 1, 2020.
※3) Source: Company information.The number of annual unique users: the number of users based on the matching of names and phone numbers during a fiscal year (Apr.1, 2020 to Mar.31, 2021)
Direct any inquiries regarding this release to:
Direct any inquiries from media regarding this release to::
Representative: Miyoshi / Iizuka / Tsuchiya
TEL ：03-5572-6062
Email ：netprotections@vectorinc.co.jp
Direct any inquiries from businesses and individuals regarding this release to::
Representative: Net Protections PR Dpt.
Email ：pr@netprotections.co.jp
