Fugaku Express, Seino Last One Mile, and NEXT DELIVERY enter an alliance to expand new smart logistics SkyHub® throughout Yamanashi Prefecture and to create a phase-free disaster prevention infrastructure. ～Fugaku Express and NEXT DELIVERY sign the second SkyHub® Provider License agreement.～

FUGAKU EXPRESS Co., Ltd. (Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; President: Katsuhide Asanuma; hereinafter “Fugaku Express”), SEINO.LAST.ONE.MILE Co.,Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Shuji Kawai; hereinafter “Seino Last One Mile”), and NEXT DELIVERY Inc. (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture; Representative Director: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “NEXT DELIVERY”) announced that on June 28, 2024, they signed an alliance agreement (hereinafter: “agreement”) to expand the new smart logistics SkyHub®*1 to the entirety of Yamanashi Prefecture and to create a phase-free disaster prevention infrastructure in the event of a disaster.
Prior to this agreement, Fugaku Express and NEXT DELIVERY entered into a SkyHub® Provider License*2 (“SPL”) agreement on June 20, 2024.
Seino Holdings Co., Ltd. and Aeronext Inc., the parent company of NEXT DELIVERY, signed an agreement in January 2021 to commercialize a new smart logistics system that achieves inventory-free, unmanned logistics, combining drone delivery with existing truck delivery to improve the efficiency of local logistics and promote solutions for local communities. New smart logistics system, SkyHub®, has already been implemented in several regions in Japan, including Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. NEXT DELIVERY is implementing regional operations of new smart logistics SkyHub® services.
Seino Last One Mile was established in April 2024 for the purpose of prompt decision-making and strengthening collaboration within the Seino Group to resolve issues related to the last mile logistics. Seino Last One Mile is responsible for planning and development of last mile-related businesses, open innovation, system development and operation, and shared services.
Fugaku Express is the largest transportation company in Yamanashi Prefecture, which connects Yamanashi Prefecture with the rest of Japan meeting a wide variety of logistics needs. In addition to expanding its transportation business in Yamanashi Prefecture, including special consolidation and shared delivery, the company has recently been expanding its warehousing, distribution, security, and other business fields.
SPL packages the new smart logistics SkyHub® service that NEXT DELIVERY has been providing nationwide, and provides the independently developed delivery management system SkyHub®TMS*3 and drone operation services to third parties. This contract is the second SPL in Japan, following Nakatsu Express in Oita Prefecture in February 2024.
Through the conclusion of the agreement and the SPL Agreement, the three parties will work together to address driver shortages due to population decline, global environmental issues, efficiency improvement through cargo consolidation, decarbonization, etc., as well as build and develop a phase-free regional logistics infrastructure in Yamanashi Prefecture that will be sustainable for both local residents and local businesses.

【Agreement Outline】
1. Date
June 28, 2024

2. Purpose of Agreement
The three parties will work together to expand the New Smart Logistics SkyHub® throughout Yamanashi Prefecture. The main objectives of this agreement are to improve transportation efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and maintain convenience for customers by pursuing the New Smart Logistics SkyHub®, as well as to address the logistics issues represented by the Logistics 2024 problem.
Fugaku Express and local governments in Yamanashi Prefecture have individual agreements in place for disaster relief, but with this agreement the three parties will work together to build and promote a phase-free regional logistics infrastructure that is sustainable for both local residents and local businesses, and that is capable of transporting emergency supplies in the event of a disaster, thus contributing to the development of a sustainable and resilient community.

3. Agreement Details
（１） Advancing new smart logistics SkyHub®
（２） Establishment and provision of a phase-free regional logistics platform, SkyHub® Emergency Package*4
（３） Expansion of SkyHub® shared delivery service to the entirety of Yamanashi Prefecture
In August 2023, Fugaku Express, Seino Holdings Co., Ltd., Aeronext Inc. and NEXT DELIVERY started a joint delivery service to Kosuge Village and neighboring Tabayama Village, an area where new smart logistics SkyHub® has been implemented, as part of efforts to address the 2024 logistics problem. The shared delivery service started in August 2023 for the purpose of maintaining and rebuilding the delivery network in the mid-mountainous area.
In the future, the parties aim to improve the efficiency of regional logistics and address regional issues by linking logistics systems and incorporating drone delivery, and by introducing new smart logistics SkyHub® as a regional logistics service in all regions of Yamanashi Prefecture. Also the parties will build and implement a phase-free regional logistics platform, SkyHub® Emergency Package, that will enable smooth delivery of emergency supplies using logistics drones, in the event of a disaster.

【Roles of Each Party】
（1）Fugaku Express
 Improved logistics efficiency and increased cargo handling volume by linking SkyHub®︎TMS with Fugaku Express’ logistics system
 Establishment of a system to expand the shared delivery service started in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture to the entire prefecture
 New smart logistics SkyHub® collaboration with local governments in Yamanashi Prefecture with whom there are disaster agreements

（2）Seino Last One Mile
 Overall project management of the project and relationship with Fugaku Express
 Provide know-how for new smart logistics SkyHub®, which is being deployed nationwide

（3）NEXT DELIVERY
 Provide know-how for new smart logistics SkyHub®, which is being deployed nationwide
 Provision of SPL to Fugaku Express (provision of the SkyHub®TMS transport and delivery management system, know-how on drone delivery, operational support, and permission to use various trademarks)
 Overall relationship development with local governments in Yamanashi Prefecture for new smart logistics SkyHub®

<Comments from Katsuhide Asanuma, President, Fugaku Express>
We look forward to this opportunity this agreement affords to further cooperate in building a regional logistics network and addressing regional issues.

<Comments from Shuji Kawai,President, Seino Last One Mile >
We are very grateful for this opportunity. We will use this business alliance as an opportunity to further deepen our collaboration and, from the perspective of disaster prevention and disaster mitigation, build a system to prepare for emergencies. This will be done by implementing the system for daily use during non-emergency, such as through joint deliveries and the use of new technology associated with drones, as an efficient supply chain in non-emergency times and as a demand chain in emergencies, based on the concept of phase-free. We look forward to deploying this as an infrastructure to create an environment in which the people of Yamanashi Prefecture can live sustainably, safely, and with peace of mind.

<Comments from Keisuke Toji, Representative Director, NEXT DELIVERY>
We are very pleased and honored to take our relationship with Fugaku Express, our first shared delivery partner in Tabayama Village, Kosuge Village, one step further. We could not have asked for a stronger partner in the societal implementation of SkyHub®︎ new smart logistics throughout Yamanashi Prefecture. We will continue to work with the Yamanashi Prefectural Government to firmly establish SkyHub®︎ as a phase-free societal infrastructure with an eye toward aiding in times of disaster.

Reference

*1 New Logistics SkyHub®︎
A new smart logistics platform jointly developed and deployed by Aeronext and Seino HD that connects existing logistics and drone logistics, as well as connecting ground and air infrastructure to deliver goods anytime, anywhere. SkyHub®︎ is an open and standardized that incorporates drone delivery, and on this platform, based on the Drone Depot®︎, we will develop and provide services tailored to local issues and needs, such as SkyHub® application-based delivery service, on-demand delivery, pharmaceutical delivery, and joint delivery of packages from different logistics companies in one package. The introduction of SkyHub® not only has the logistics benefits of promoting unmanned and inventory-free operations and improving last mile delivery efficiency, but also introduces a new logistics infrastructure. SkyHub® will contribute to solving social issues in the region, such as transportation problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, SkyHub® will also contribute to address regional issues such as traffic problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, as well as raise the level of satisfaction of residents and communities by improving convenience and quality of life.

*2 SkyHub® Provider License (SPL)
SPL is a system to license to third parties a portion of the know-how, tools, and operations of SkyHub®︎, a new smart logistics system that NEXT DELIVERY has been deploying in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido, and other locations.

*3 SkyHub®TMS
A transportation and delivery management system that serves as a base for new smart logistics to streamline regional logistics by centralizing the management of various types of cargo, allocating cargo to available and optimal delivery resources, and visualizing and quantifying the data of the movement of cargo. The system is equipped with multi-modal functions, and can also be linked with an operation management system for drone deliveries.

*4 SkyHub® Emergency Package
A packaged service to smoothly implement emergency goods delivery using logistics drones and more in times of disaster. By introducing new smart logistics as a regional logistics platform during non-emergency times, new smart logistics can then offer a phase-free integrated disaster logistics measure that can be shifted to a disaster logistics platform, including the use of drones, during emergencies or disasters.

【About FUGAKU EXPRESS Co.,Ltd.】
Fugaku Express was founded in August 1959 as a successor after being initially established in 1944 when 14 small transport companies from six stations between Uenohara Station and Sasago Station on the JR Chuo Line and various stations on the Fujikyu Line merged under a wartime consolidation order. Initially, the company was mainly engaged in freight forwarding transport, but from the late 1960s, with the development of the road transport network, it gradually expanded into the car transport business. In addition, the company expanded its local transport business and expanded its route business to include Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Kanagawa routes. In recent years, the company has also enhanced its warehousing, distribution and security businesses, and as the largest transporter in the prefecture, it connects Yamanashi Prefecture with the rest of the country, meeting diverse logistics needs to this day.
For more information http://www.fugaku.co.jp/company/index.html

【About SEINO.LAST.ONE.MILE Co.,Ltd.】
SEINO.LAST.ONE.MILE Co., Ltd. was created in April 2024 as a subsidiary of Seino Holdings Co. The “last mile,” or the last point of contact for customers with logistics services, is expected to expand further in the future, and this is why we decided to establish a new company to respond flexibly to customer needs. The logistics issues in Japan today are wide-ranging, and specifically include the problems of vulnerable shoppers, depopulated areas, redelivery of packages, and the home delivery crisis. SEINO.LAST.ONE.MILE Co.,Ltd. is responsible for “last-one-mile solutions to social issues,” using business methods to approach these social issues.
*For more information: https://slo.co.jp/company/

【About NEXT DELIVERY】
A strategic subsidiary of Aeronext, whose main business is drone delivery, established in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture in 2021 based on the Aeronext Group’s mission, “A new societal infrastructure for the 100-year life era, a world where enrichment is spread to every corner of the world.” Aeronext and Seino HD jointly develop and deploy SkyHub®, a new smart logistics system that connects existing logistics and drone logistics to create a new societal infrastructure. We are also developing related businesses such as development, sales, operation, and maintenance of both hardware and software related to integrated delivery and drone delivery. Starting with Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, we are working to improve the efficiency of regional logistics and address regional issues throughout Japan, including Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido, and Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture.
*For more information: https://aeronext.com/

*Aeronext, the Aeronext logo, and NEXT DELIVERY, as well as “SkyHub®“,“Drone Depot®”are trademarks of Aeronext Inc.
*Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.