Sansan Co., Ltd.
The business card app “Eight” with the highest usage rate exceeds 3.5 million users.
~Digital business cards are becoming popular among businesspeople who place importance on business cards, as they save the hassle of exchanging and managing business cards~
……
Sansan Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce that its business card app “Eight” (*1), which has the highest usage rate, has surpassed 3.5 million users (*2). The recent increase in the number of users is due to an increase in the number of business people who place importance on time performance (Taipa). Digital business cards do not require carrying around a business card case and do not require complicated business etiquette compared to paper business cards, so they are becoming popular among business people who seek efficiency by eliminating waste. Since September 2023, Eight has been offering a “touch business card exchange” function (*3) that allows business cards to be exchanged simply by holding up a smartphone, and the number of users has increased as digital business cards have become more popular, reaching 3.5 million users this time. I broke through people.
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/49627/551/resize/d49627-551-6f7408f37da7b49a588e-0.png&s3=49627-551-be842fd7e6af6c7ea9fede414f4883a0-1200×630.png ]
■Background of the spread of digital business cards
In recent years, the “Taipa” concept, which emphasizes time versus effectiveness, has become widespread among business people.
Traditional habits are also changing, such as an increase in remote sales to reduce commuting time and listening to the news on the radio at double speed. Up until now, exchanging business cards has been considered important as etiquette in business, but some people have complained that it’s a hassle to carry around a business card case, that they’re worried about whether the etiquette for exchanging paper business cards is appropriate, and that it’s difficult to manage the paper business cards they receive. There were also concerns. For this reason, there is increasing interest in digital business cards, which reduce the waste caused by paper business cards and can continue to connect efficiently. According to a survey conducted by our company (*4), approximately 40% of businesspeople are considering using digital business cards.
In addition, digital business cards are increasingly being used not only in business meetings, but also at trade shows where there is concern about business cards running out. At the Business IT & SaaS EXPO 2024, an exhibition hosted by our company in January and attended by approximately 3,500 people, digital business cards were exchanged 41,368 times (an average of 12 times per person). Digital business cards are likely to become even more popular in the future as businesspeople become more aware of the need for business.
■What is the business card app “Eight”?
This year marks the 12th anniversary of Eight since its launch in 2012. From an app for business card management, we have expanded its functionality as an SNS for business, and in September of last year we added a “touch business card exchange” function that allows you to exchange business cards by simply holding your smartphones at each other. With this function, Eight allows you to exchange business cards, manage business cards, and keep up with the latest status of transfers, promotions, job changes, etc. of the person you are exchanging business cards with, all with just your mobile phone. As interest in digital business cards increases, Eight’s “touch business card exchange” function is leading to an increase in the number of users.
https://8card.net/
■Advantages of using “Touch Business Card Exchange”
・No need for complicated business card exchange etiquette, so you can connect easily
When the people you want to exchange business cards with have their smartphones close to each other with the Eight app open, you can instantly exchange business cards. In the case of paper business cards, there were some business etiquette just for exchanging business cards, such as how to receive and give business cards, how to place and put away the received business cards, but with touch business card exchange, there is no need for complicated manners and it is easy to do. You can exchange business cards.
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/49627/551/resize/d49627-551-65a62fd17393ca4536b5-0.png&s3=49627-551-fd7ea61dc47d1c1072b3c1288416fb81-1200×580.png ]
・Easy to find conversation topics from information other than business cards In addition to business card information, Eight allows you to enter information such as career summary, work history, educational background, and skill tags. Therefore, it is easier to find unexpected commonalities with the person you exchange business cards with, and it is easier to create opportunities for communication than with paper business cards.
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/49627/551/resize/d49627-551-59c82ea2ce9480ce9021-0.png&s3=49627-551-c9c4295837691e89fb13998714ef02fb-1200×580.png ]
・You can also keep track of information on promotions and transfers, allowing you to maintain relationships.
With Eight, you will receive a notification when the person you exchanged business cards with is promoted or transferred. You can also post updates and announcements on your feed, just like on business SNS, so you can see in real time what the person you are exchanging business cards with is currently doing. You can also like and comment on notifications and feed posts, allowing you to maintain the relationship even after exchanging business cards.
[Image 4: https://prtimes.jp/i/49627/551/resize/d49627-551-3ab5fdd08eb9e11d265d-0.png&s3=49627-551-0ff45d53a97a932530e4b82304995890-1200×580.png ]
・Resolve paper business card problems such as running out of business cards during business meetings and losing business cards that have been exchanged.
According to a survey conducted by our company (*4), approximately 50% of businesspeople have experienced problems related to paper business cards, such as “running out of business cards during business negotiations” and “losing business cards that were exchanged.” Digital business cards can eliminate the problems that business people have with paper business cards because they can exchange and manage business cards with just a smartphone.
*1: The usage rate No. 1 is indicated based on the results of the following survey.
Survey name: Survey on business card apps for individuals Survey target: 1,035 men and women in their 20s to 60s who have used business card apps for individuals Survey period: November 10th to November 11th, 2023 Survey contractor: Co., Ltd. macromill
*2: Number of authenticated users who registered their business cards in Eight’s profile
*3: Sansan Co., Ltd. “Eight launches new function “Touch Business Card Exchange”” (September 26, 2023)
https://jp.corp-sansan.com/news/2023/0926.html
*4: Sansan Co., Ltd. “Survey on the actual status of business card exchange” (published on September 22, 2023)
https://jp.corp-sansan.com/news/2023/0922_2.html
(that’s all)
■Exchange with a touch. Manage smartly. Business card app “Eight” Eight is a business card app that connects valuable encounters with a touch. Since its launch in 2012, it has been used by over 3.5 million users. In addition to managing business cards, Eight allows users to exchange digital business cards by simply holding their smartphones at each other. Digital business cards exchanged with Eight are
automatically updated with information such as promotions, transfers, job changes, etc., so you can get a smart idea of the other person’s current status. Eight uses touch business card exchange and business card management to create business opportunities that leverage the connections you have cultivated over the years.
https://8card.net
■Sansan Co., Ltd. Company Profile
With the mission of “creating innovation from encounters,” we provide DX services that change the way you work. Our main services include the sales DX service “Sansan,” the business card app “Eight,” the invoice management service “Bill One,” and the contract database “Contract One” both domestically and internationally.
Established: June 11, 2007
URL: https://jp.corp-sansan.com
Address: Aoyama Oval Building 13F, 5-52-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 Capital: 6,688 million yen (as of November 30, 2023)
Business content: Planning, development, and sales of DX services that change the way you work
Sansan https://jp.sansan.com
Eight https://8card.net
Bill One https://bill-one.com
Contract One https://contract-one.com
More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000551.000049627.html