Cybozu Inc., (TSE: 4776), the parent company of Kintone, a provider of cloud-based workplace solutions, has formally designated Southeast Asia as its most promising region for global investment. This strategic commitment places Malaysia, its Southeast Asia headquarters, at the center of the Group’s regional expansion, with plans to accelerate digital transformation for the SME sector across the territory.
“If asked to identify the most promising region for global investment today, Southeast Asia is the clear choice,” stated Yoshihisa Aono, CEO of Cybozu Inc. “Beyond mature hubs like Singapore, we see the highest potential for returns in Malaysia and Thailand, where the appetite for digital transformation is strong while our resources are in a high-return environment that allows for scalable growth.”
As part of its intensified focus, Cybozu is injecting an initial US$6.4 million (RM25 million) into its Malaysia operations. The decision follows a milestone year for the Group, which recorded consolidated sales of US$240.06 million (RM932.6 million) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, supported by a 33.9% year-on-year surge in its flagship Kintone platform.
Building on this global momentum, Cybozu aims to champion Malaysia’s digital potential in alignment with The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). As Malaysia’s digital economy is projected to reach between US$45 billion and US$70 billion by 2030, Cybozu’s investment serves as a critical engine for this national growth.
This decision is further validated by Cybozu’s strong start to the year, where January 2026 consolidated sales reached US$21.6 million (RM83.8 million), a 17.0% year-on-year increase, reflecting the strong commercial viability and recurring revenue potential of the Group’s cloud-centric expansion.
Southeast Asia currently stands as the Group’s fastest-growing market, recording a 13.4% year-on-year increase in subscribing companies. This contrasts sharply with mature software markets, where high saturation and competitive entry costs have slowed customer acquisition, resulting in unchanged year-on-year growth.
Key to its regional success, Cybozu’s flagship platform, Kintone, surpassed US$138.72 million (RM539 million), up 33.9% year on year. Growth is particularly evident in hyper-local markets such as Malaysia and Thailand, where the latter achieved 300% year-on-year growth in 2025 compared to 2024 in its customer base. Kintone has already demonstrated momentum through partnerships with organizations such as the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC).
Strategic Expansion into Customer Excellence in the AI Era
As part of its intensified commitment to the region, Cybozu is investing an initial US$6.4 million into its Malaysian headquarters for wider Southeast Asian growth. This capital allows the Group to align its expansion with national digital goals such as The 13th Malaysia Plan by providing the infrastructure necessary for local businesses to realize tangible value from digital transformation.
Building on the momentum of the previous initiatives with Kintone AI Lab and its strategic partnership with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Kintone is evolving its Malaysian strategy to champion a new standard of customer excellence.
While AI increasingly handles the mechanics of routine workflow management, Cybozu is doubling down on an area that technology cannot replicate – human relationships. This shift ensures that digital tools serve to deepen interpersonal connections and nurture professional trust. The cornerstone of this expansion is the launch of Kintone’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Suite, a structured program that absorbs administrative burdens. This marks a definitive move toward this relationship-first philosophy that empowers Malaysian SMEs to become stewards of customer success. This transition enables them to reclaim their time to focus on the high-value human engagement that drives global competitiveness.
“This investment is a testament to our unwavering belief in Malaysia’s potential as a regional digital powerhouse. For too long, the ‘technostress’ of fragmented systems has drained the energy of the local workforce,” added Tsubasa Nakazawa, Managing Director of Kintone Southeast Asia. “We aim to empower Malaysian SMEs to shift their focus from managing information to nurturing the human connections that define long-term success and drive global competitiveness”.
To further support local adoption, Kintone will introduce a Malay language support feature for all Kintone platforms, alongside its newest CRM Suite launch in February 2026. The localisation initiative is aimed at improving accessibility and driving higher-value SME engagement across diverse sectors, including traditional industries transitioning toward digital workflows.
The enhanced language features will be available to all Malaysian businesses beginning 8 March 2026. For more information on the latest Malaysian initiatives and to explore the new features, please visit https://www.kintone.com/en-sea/lp/my/goodbye-hello/en/ or the general regional site at https://www.kintone.com/en-sea/.