Withmo Co., Ltd. Initiates Consulting Support for REIWA Create Co., Ltd., Aiming to Expand Face Recognition Intercom Business

Withmo’s Focus: Strong Product, Underexposed Value
Four Years of Achievements and Market Traction
Why Major Corporations Choose REIWA Create: Differentiation and Occupancy Rate Improvement
Key Strength: Retrofitting Existing Properties into Auto-Lock Buildings
Return on Investment: Rent Increase, Increased Inquiries, and Escaping the Negative Spiral
Multi-functionality and Reliability: Smartphone Integration, Multiple Unlock Methods, and Outage Response
High Repeat Rate Proves Product Strength and Withmo’s Role
Company Information

Withmo’s Focus: Strong Product, Underexposed Value

Withmo Co., Ltd. provides comprehensive consulting services, including management strategy, sales systems, and product development, primarily for housing and real estate-related companies.

REIWA Create, with approximately four years of experience in the face recognition intercom business, has established itself with successful implementations for major listed companies. Withmo’s decision to engage in consulting stems from the observation that while REIWA Create possesses a strong product and proven results, its value has not yet been fully communicated to the market.

Four Years of Achievements and Market Traction

REIWA Create entered the face recognition intercom business about four years ago, inspired by advice that face recognition security was the future and Japan was lagging. Despite initial concerns regarding the product’s origin, the challenges of approaching large corporations, and low market awareness of face recognition technology, the company’s conviction grew after observing its widespread adoption in luxury condominiums in Singapore and Malaysia, and high-end hotels in Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

REIWA Create’s representative, Mr. Okuno, noted the trend: “Japan may be behind, but this shift is inevitable. The government is already using face recognition for airport immigration and driver’s license issuance, and trial introductions are beginning for JR Shinkansen ticket gates. What the government adopts will surely trickle down to the private sector over time. I believe now is the time to act ahead of this trend.”

This foresight proved accurate. Over four years of sales activities, REIWA Create has secured installations with major listed companies like Token Corporation. Repeat orders from individual owners, management companies, and construction companies have also accumulated, building a solid foundation of achievements.

Why Major Corporations Choose REIWA Create: Differentiation and Occupancy Rate Improvement

Major listed companies select REIWA Create’s face recognition intercoms primarily for “differentiation leading to improved occupancy rates.” In a market saturated with properties featuring standard intercoms, a property equipped with cutting-edge face recognition security stands out to potential renters. For prospective tenants viewing properties, it creates an impression of “this property is different from others,” increasing the likelihood of a contract.

Mr. Okuno observed, “They all say, ‘This is the era we’re heading into.’ Especially major companies in Tokyo tend to move early in response to the next era.” Property owners and management companies have reported an increase in viewings and faster contract closures. This approach of enhancing property value to expand the pool of potential tenants offers a fundamentally different solution compared to increasing advertising costs or lowering rents, making REIWA Create’s intercoms a preferred choice.

Key Strength: Retrofitting Existing Properties into Auto-Lock Buildings

REIWA Create’s product offers a significant differentiating feature: the ability to convert existing properties into auto-lock buildings through retrofitting. Traditional intercom systems from manufacturers like Aiphone and Panasonic typically require dedicated electrical wiring, making large-scale construction necessary for existing properties, which presents hurdles in terms of both cost and time.

In contrast, REIWA Create’s system utilizes internet lines, allowing for installation without extensive construction. By simply installing an electric lock and a face recognition terminal at the entrance, a property can be transformed into an auto-lock facility.

Mr. Okuno stated, “The idea of converting a non-auto-lock property into an auto-lock property was probably not common before. If a property has a slightly narrow entrance, simply installing a door and an electric lock there allows it to be registered as an auto-lock property.” This mechanism, combined with AI-powered visual proposals, helps owners understand the transformation more easily, facilitating smoother decision-making for implementation. This ability to enhance property value without extensive renovations is particularly appealing to owners of older apartments without auto-lock systems.

Return on Investment: Rent Increase, Increased Inquiries, and Escaping the Negative Spiral

The effectiveness of the business is demonstrated by numbers. Converting to an auto-lock property allows for a rent increase of at least 3,000 yen per unit per month. For a 30-unit property, this translates to a monthly revenue increase of 90,000 yen. Even if the installation cost of 1.5 to 2 million yen is covered by a 10-year installment plan (approximately 20,000 yen per month), a positive revenue structure is established from the first month.

Furthermore, by appearing in search results for “auto-lock” on real estate portals like SUUMO and At Home, exposure to potential customers significantly increases.

Mr. Okuno explained, “Especially for student apartments, parents often choose rooms for female students. They first search for ‘auto-lock properties.’ Properties without auto-lock don’t even show up in searches. Many owners report an increase in inquiries and viewings.” Conversely, failing to implement auto-lock features can lead to a “negative spiral” where rents must be continuously lowered, and the quality of tenants may decline. Once this cycle begins, recovering the property’s value becomes exceedingly difficult. The ability to solve this structural problem fundamentally, while keeping initial investment low, is the core reason why REIWA Create’s face recognition intercoms are supported by many owners.

Multi-functionality and Reliability: Smartphone Integration, Multiple Unlock Methods, and Outage Response

REIWA Create’s system supports not only face recognition but also QR code and PIN-based unlocking. This provides flexibility for residents who prefer not to register their faces, and for diverse uses such as issuing temporary QR codes for guests in short-term rentals.

Smartphone integration allows owners and managers to respond to visitors in real-time, even from remote locations. In an era where re-delivery is a significant social issue, this remote response capability is also noteworthy for its potential to improve logistics efficiency.

Mr. Okuno illustrated, “Even if I am in Fukuoka, if the doorbell rings at a property in Tokyo, I receive a notification on my smartphone. I can talk to the person and even unlock the entrance. I can also instruct delivery personnel, like those from Sagawa, to place packages in a delivery box.”

Additionally, the system includes a physical lock/unlock mechanism using electrical wiring as a safeguard against internet outage. The design, which allows unlocking via face recognition even when a smartphone’s battery is dead, contributes to daily peace of mind. This meticulous design, addressing the fear of being unable to enter in an emergency, is reflected in the high number of repeat customers.

High Repeat Rate Proves Product Strength and Withmo’s Role

The true value of a product is evident in its repeat rate. Mr. Okuno noted, “Many owners try it on one building, find it effective, and then want to install it on other buildings. Construction companies, after placing an order for one new building, will call us again for their next project. The fact that customers repeat orders demonstrates the reliability of the product.”

Customers who use the product once tend to use it again, and referrals generate further business. This not only proves the product’s strength but also indicates the potential for a scalable business structure with reduced sales costs. However, a strong product alone does not automatically scale a business. Withmo’s role as a consultant is to design and implement mechanisms for how, with what message, and in what sequence the product reaches target customers.

Over the four years since its inception, the system has gained acceptance even among local businesses that were initially skeptical. As face recognition transitions from a “specialized” technology to an “everyday” one, REIWA Create, which has quickly recognized this trend and built a strong track record, is expected to further enhance its presence with Withmo’s consulting support.

Property owners struggling with vacancies, management companies considering enhancing property value, and construction companies seeking to differentiate their housing businesses are encouraged to contact Withmo.