Ken Nakajima, President and CEO, Infomart Corporation

If you take on the challenge seriously, your work will create excitement

■ Profile

In 1988, he joined Sanwa Bank (now Mitsubishi UFJ Bank). He held positions in the systems department, overseas postings, new corporate sales, and new business development at headquarters, before joining Infomart in 2010. He was appointed director and head of the corporate planning department, where he was responsible for launching the "BtoB Platform Invoice" and strategic human resources. In 2019, he was appointed managing director. He has been in his current position since 2022.

Infomart Corporation has revolutionized the ordering system for the food and beverage industry. This cloud-based business model is now being applied to other industries and other systems, and the company's growth knows no bounds. We spoke to President Nakajima of this rapidly growing company about the appeal of the company and his passion as its leader.

　Throughout high school and college, I devoted myself entirely to rugby. Because I had the lofty goal of becoming number one in Japan, I was able to keep moving forward no matter how difficult or painful it was. This experience of giving my all to rugby has also become a guiding principle for my life ever since. Through rugby, I acquired the three elements of inspiration: difficulty, sincerity, and achievement. This means that when you seriously tackle something difficult that far exceeds your own abilities and the expectations of those around you, and then achieve it, you can experience true inspiration. During my time devoted to rugby, the odds were against me, but the excitement of winning after practicing to the limit was incomparable to a comfortable victory. It's no exaggeration to say that there's no other success experience that sends shivers down your spine.
　After entering the workforce, while I was unsure of my future and choices, the thought suddenly crossed my mind: "I want to experience that thrill again." Looking back, I realized that I had mistakenly assumed that only rugby could give me that thrill. When I set my life goal as "to experience true excitement at work," my attitude toward work changed 180 degrees. Even now, I continue to want to take on any job with all my heart. Of course, money, status, and honor are important in the workplace, but I firmly believe that the excitement that comes from a sense of accomplishment is many times more valuable. After all, that feeling of elation is unforgettable and addictive.

■ Involve others in your growth

　There's one other thing I gained from my rugby experience that's worth mentioning. That is, I learned the skills to help others grow, not just myself. In rugby, where the quality of team play is crucial, good results won't come if only one person has high motivation and high-level skills. It goes without saying that results won't come unless everyone on the team feels the same way. I strongly believe this is true not only for sports, but also for corporate organizations.
　If people can get into a cycle of positive thinking, "I achieved something and it moved me, and I want to experience that same feeling again, so I'll try harder," they're invincible. They can't be defeated by anyone. However, there are some people who can't be honest with themselves and belittle those who are trying really hard or feeling frustrated. I personally think it's uncool not to be positive about trying hard, so if there are people like that around me, I will do my best to pull them on my side. I've always led with the desire to share in the excitement of the experience, and this has kept the good cycle going, so I hope to continue to increase the number of "inspiration addicts" like me in the future (laughs).

■ Gaining trust through overwhelming implementation results

　At Infomart, we offer eight services, but our two main businesses are "Ordering and placing services for the restaurant industry" and "Electronic invoicing services." Thanks to you, the former in particular has been adopted by approximately half of the restaurant chains across the country. The reason for its popularity is that orders can be placed from anywhere, 24 hours a day, reducing delivery errors and data entry work. By utilizing a cloud system, initial costs can be kept to a minimum, which is also one of the reasons that has lowered the hurdle to adoption.　
　"Providing cloud services" is a field that has been gaining attention recently, and there are many competitors in the industry, but our strength lies in our top-class operational know-how. Because it is an "order-taking" system, it cannot be established as a service simply by being implemented by the store. In other words, we need to approach each customer so that their business partners will also want to implement it. By repeatedly holding explanatory meetings about the system and conducting steady sales, and by establishing a consistent support system after implementation, we are creating an environment where users can use it with ease and peace of mind.

■Message

　Just as there are many experiences you can only have after entering the workforce, there are also many you can only have while you're a student. One such experience is leadership experience. This doesn't have to mean being a respected figure, like a part-time job leader, seminar leader, or club leader. It could be something like taking the lead in planning a trip with friends. Just gaining experience in moving a group in one direction, even if it means feeling stressed, amidst a world of multifaceted opinions and interests, will teach you how to interact with and communicate with others. This will definitely be useful in society.
　If you want to experience the thrill of changing the world, come to Infomart. I love doing everything with all my heart, so I'm waiting for you. Let's see the most amazing scenery together!

Student newspaper April 2022 issue Rion Kanda, third year student at Japan Women's University