Plus Inc. Partners with 01Bank to Leverage 'Smart Kaigo' Procurement Data for Streamlined SME Lending

Overview of the Initiative

On August 10, 2026, Plus Inc. announced a strategic partnership with 01Bank to incorporate business activity data from its e-commerce service for nursing and welfare facilities, "Smart Kaigo," into the bank's loan screening process. This collaboration is designed to address the persistent capital access challenges faced by nursing care providers.

Mechanism and Data Utilization

This initiative utilizes "PFer" (Platformer) data—including product procurement and service usage history accumulated on the Smart Kaigo platform—to enhance 01Bank’s credit assessment process. Specifically, the data is integrated into the bank’s "01Karte" tool, which visualizes business performance based on three core pillars:

• Product and Service Capability
• Sales and Marketing Strength
• Organizational Management

Value Proposition for Care Providers

By visualizing these metrics through radar charts, nursing facilities can intuitively grasp their competitive strengths and areas for improvement. Beyond estimating loan eligibility, the service offers actionable insights for business growth. This data-driven approach enables a more comprehensive evaluation of business viability, facilitating faster and more efficient access to financing.

Context and Future Outlook

01Bank’s business model centers on partnering with SaaS providers to analyze non-financial data—such as service usage patterns—to obtain an accurate view of an SME's operational status. Plus Inc. continues to expand its management support services for the "Smart Kaigo" ecosystem and remains committed to strengthening operational support for nursing and welfare facilities through ongoing collaborations with key business partners.