Japan Post and Rakuten to forge digital tie-up aimed at boosting efficiency

Japan Post Co. and major online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. have reached a basic agreement on a tie-up aimed at streamlining logistics with the use of digital technologies. The two companies will try to tackle delivery staff shortages and other logistics-related challenges by sharing Japan Post's massive trove of data on postal items and Rakuten's forecast information regarding online shopping demand, they said on Thursday. The mail delivery arm of Japan Post Holdings Co. and Rakuten will also consider cooperation in other fields such as cashless payment and mobile phone services. They aim to sign a final agreement in around March next year. "We see tie-up possibilities in a variety of fields, even outside the financial and mobile sectors," Japan Post Holdings President Hiroya Masuda told a news conference, showing the group's strong interest in enhancing business ties with Rakuten.