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Frequently Asked Questions
E-commerce Ace is the ultimate core system that streamlines
everything from order processing to inventory management.
Grow yourbusiness without growing your workload.
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Product Basics
Q1 What is Tsuhan Ace?
A. Tsuhan Ace is a core system for EC and mail-order businesses provided by A.R. System Co., Ltd. It centralizes order, inventory, and customer management, and features flexible data utilization through 999 free items. It has a 36-year track record since its launch in 1990.
Q2 What is a core system?
A. A core system centralizes core business operations such as orders, inventory, customers, and sales. In the mail-order business, it integrates data from peripheral tools like EC carts, WMS, and call centers, enabling cross-channel business management and management analysis.
Q3What is the difference between an EC cart and a core system?
A. An EC cart is specialized for ‘receiving orders.’ A core system handles the entire back-office operation after receiving an order (inventory allocation, shipping instructions, customer management, management analysis). Businesses operating multiple EC malls and physical stores need to integrate both.
Q4What kind of EC/mail-order businesses is Tsuhan Ace for?
A. Tsuhan Ace is optimized for businesses with monthly sales of over 10 million yen operating multiple channels (own EC, EC malls, physical stores, etc.). It has a track record in various retail sectors, including apparel, cosmetics, health foods, food, miscellaneous goods, and sporting goods.
Q5What is the biggest feature of Tsuhan Ace?
A. The biggest feature is the ‘999 Free Items’ function. Businesses can freely add and configure data items in masters such as products, customers, media, and slips. This allows flexible handling of unique requirements within standard features, without the customization costs required by other companies.
Q6What are the '999 Free Items'?
A. A unique feature of Tsuhan Ace that allows you to add up to 999 arbitrary data items to each master, such as products, customers, media, and slips. Businesses can register, change, and delete items themselves, achieving unique data management without additional costs.
Q7Can it be used in the cloud?
A. Yes, it can be operated in a cloud environment. It supports remote work and access from multiple locations. Depending on your situation at the time of implementation, you can choose between cloud and on-premises types.
Q8What devices can it be used on?
A. It is primarily used via a PC web browser. It can be accessed from Windows, Mac, or Chromebook OS, allowing simultaneous use from multiple locations such as call centers, warehouses, and headquarters.
Features & Capabilities
Q9What can be done with Tsuhan Ace?
A. Tsuhan Ace centralizes almost all back-office operations for mail-order businesses, including order management, inventory management (real-time allocation), customer management (CRM), campaign management, slip management, multi-channel integration, data extraction/analysis, and operator support functions.
Q10Is inventory management real-time?
A. Yes, Tsuhan Ace’s inventory management is real-time. By instantly centralizing inventory across online, offline, and physical stores and reflecting it across all stores and EC malls, it prevents opportunity loss and excess inventory.
Q11What is the order support function?
A. The order support function automatically executes sample additions, coupon applications, and alert displays for orders that meet preset conditions. These are displayed in real-time on the telephone operator’s screen, allowing even inexperienced operators to respond appropriately.
Q12Can it be integrated with multiple EC malls?
A. Yes, we have integration experience with major EC malls and carts such as Rakuten Ichiba, Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon, Shopify, and EC-CUBE. It supports both API integration and CSV mapping, allowing centralized management of order data from each mall in the same format.
Q13Does it support regular purchases/subscriptions?
A. Yes, it supports the management of regular purchases. Standard features include automatic calculation of the next delivery date, payment cycle management, suspension/cancellation management, and step-mail integration. It is also widely used by businesses specializing in single-item repeat mail orders.
Q14Does it have customer management (CRM) functions?
A. Yes, Tsuhan Ace comes standard with CRM functions. By centralizing customer purchase history, inquiry history, point information, etc., and adding arbitrary free items, businesses can perform unique segment analysis and One-to-One marketing.
Q15Can campaign management be performed?
A. Yes, it supports the concurrent operation of multiple campaigns. Campaigns are automatically applied to customers meeting the conditions and reflected on slips, so discount rates are automatically applied even for telephone orders.
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Q16Can data extraction and analysis be performed?
A. Yes, instant data extraction based on specified conditions is possible. You can aggregate and extract data by arbitrary conditions such as customer attributes, purchase history, media inflow, and product categories, which can be utilized for planning data-driven marketing measures. Integration with BI tools is also possible.
Q17Can it be integrated with a call center?
A. Yes, it supports telephone orders at call centers. Customer information and order history are automatically displayed on the operator’s screen, and the application of campaigns and discounts is automated, enabling high-quality responses that do not rely on operator experience.
Q18Can it be integrated with a Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
A. Yes, we have integration experience with major WMS. We streamline logistics operations through optimal distance warehouse automatic designation, inventory allocation, automatic creation of order slips, and shipping instruction integration.
Implementation & Pricing
Q19How much does Tsuhan Ace cost?
A. Pricing varies depending on business scale, utilized functions, integration scope, and customization. For a standard scale, it starts from XX0,000 yen per month, with initial costs from XX0,000 yen. For details, please request materials via the inquiry form. (*Exact amount pending internal confirmation)
Q20How long is the implementation period?
A. The standard implementation period is 3 to 6 months. It takes 1-2 months for hearing/requirements definition, 1-2 months for environment setup and initial configuration, and 1-2 months for parallel operation and operational training. If migrating from an existing system, expect an additional 1-2 months.
Q21What is the flow up to implementation?
A. The process proceeds as follows: 1) Inquiry/document request, 2) Hearing/requirements definition, 3) Quotation, 4) Contract, 5) Kickoff/design, 6) Development/customization, 7) Data migration/testing, 8) Parallel operation/training, 9) Go-live. It typically takes 3 to 6 months from contract to go-live.
Q22Can IT Introduction Subsidies be used?
A. Yes, Tsuhan Ace has a track record of being adopted as a target tool for the IT Introduction Subsidy. For SMEs and small businesses, up to 1/2 of the implementation cost (maximum 4.5 million yen) may be subsidized. We provide application support for the grant review.
Q23Is customization possible?
A. Yes, customization tailored to your business requirements is possible. However, because Tsuhan Ace can handle many unique requirements within its standard scope thanks to its 999 free items and rich standard features, a key characteristic is that customization costs can be kept to a minimum.
Q24Is it possible to switch from another system?
A. Yes, it is possible. We support everything from data migration (customers, products, order history, etc.) from the existing system, to restructuring operational procedures, to designing the parallel operation period. We have a rich track record of system replacements.
Q25Is there a minimum contract period?
A. Basically, it is an annual contract. Detailed contract conditions will be guided individually based on business scale and utilized functions. (*Exact conditions pending internal confirmation)
Q26Is there a free trial?
A. Due to the nature of core business systems, Tsuhan Ace does not offer a free trial format. Instead, you can confirm actual usability through demonstrations and introductions of existing case studies. Please apply for a demo via the inquiry form.
Target Users & Suitability
Q27What business scale is it suitable for?
A. It is suitable for businesses with monthly sales of over 10 million yen and annual orders in the thousands. It fits especially well for businesses with challenges such as operating multiple channels, having unique business requirements, or wanting to strengthen data-driven management decisions.
Q28Can it be used by small-scale mail-order businesses?
A. For small-scale businesses with monthly sales of a few million yen, implementing a core system might be premature. At that stage, an Order Management System (OMS) is often more cost-effective. We recommend considering a transition to Tsuhan Ace as the business grows.
Q29Does it support BtoB transactions?
A. Yes, it supports both BtoB and BtoC. It handles BtoB-specific requirements such as business partner management, billing/payment management, multiple price tiers, and importing FAX/telephone orders.
Q30Does it support cross-border EC?
A. Yes, it does. Multi-currency management, centralized management of product information for overseas markets, and integration with cross-border logistics are possible.
Q31Is it suitable for D2C brands?
A. Yes, it is highly suitable for D2C brands. Essential D2C functions such as regular purchase/subscription management, customer LTV analysis, step-mail integration, and CRM functions are standard.
Q32What industries is it suitable for?
A. It is compatible with a wide range of retail industries, including apparel, cosmetics, health foods, food, miscellaneous goods, and sporting goods. Its flexibility adapts to various formats, such as single-item repeat models, multi-product models, made-to-order, BtoB, and cross-border EC.
System Comparison
Q33What is the difference from other mail-order core systems?
A. There are three main differences: 1) A 36-year track record since 1990 exclusively for EC/mail-order, 2) Flexibility that suppresses customization costs through 999 free items, and 3) A structure where development and support are well-versed in mail-order operations and offer business improvement proposals.
Q34Is it different from an ERP?
A. Tsuhan Ace is a core system specialized for mail-order/EC. While a general ERP integrates company-wide operations like accounting, HR, and production management, Tsuhan Ace is deeply optimized for mail-order operations, providing exactly the necessary features for mail-order businesses.
Q35What is the difference from an OMS (Order Management System)?
A. An OMS specializes mainly in order management. Tsuhan Ace is a core system that centrally manages not just orders, but also inventory, customer management (CRM), campaign management, data analysis, and other system integrations. It is often adopted as a step up from an OMS.
Q36What is the difference from Next Engine?
A. Next Engine is an OMS with strengths in mall operations, while Tsuhan Ace covers a broader business area as a core system. Additionally, Tsuhan Ace’s strengths lie in its ability to handle unique business requirements with 999 free items and the depth of its CRM and operator support functions.
Q37Are Shopify's features alone not enough?
A. Shopify is excellent as an EC cart, but back-office operations after an order (inventory allocation, customer management, campaign management, call center integration, multi-mall integration, etc.) require a core system. Many businesses use Tsuhan Ace integrated with Shopify.
Q38Can it be used concurrently with existing systems?
A. Yes, concurrent use is possible. It can be used alongside existing EC carts, WMS, CRM, and MA tools via API or CSV integration. You do not need to replace all existing systems; it is common to use Tsuhan Ace as the core and integrate peripheral systems.
Operation & Support
Q39What is the support structure?
A. For Tsuhan Ace, a dedicated support representative is assigned to support customers in collaboration with development engineers. We provide continuous operational support through regular meetings, daily updates, and FAQ site updates.
Q40Can employees unfamiliar with the operation use it?
A. Yes, Tsuhan Ace is designed with a focus on operability, allowing even unfamiliar employees to adapt quickly. The operator screen automatically displays customer info, product info, and appropriate response instructions, enabling high-quality responses regardless of experience.
Q41Is there training after implementation?
A. Yes, operational training is included in the implementation process. We conduct hands-on training simulating actual operations and provide continuous support after go-live through manuals, FAQs, and regular meetings.
Q42How do you handle system failures?
A. We monitor the system 24 hours a day and promptly execute recovery procedures in the event of a failure. The cloud operating environment is redundant, minimizing the risk of business interruption. (*Detailed SLAs are based on individual contracts)
Q43Are requests for feature additions and improvements reflected?
A. Yes, we continuously collect customer requests and reflect them in regular feature updates. Over 36 years, we have expanded features based on customer voices and continue to make improvements aligned with actual business conditions.
Q44Will there be additional costs after the contract?
A. You can use it without additional costs within the scope of standard features. Additional integrations or special customizations will require a separate quote. Tsuhan Ace’s strength is its ability to cover many unique requirements within standard features using the 999 free items.
Company & Track Record
Q45What kind of company is A.R. System Co., Ltd.?
A. Established in 1982, A.R. System Co., Ltd. is a software development company specializing in mail-order core systems. We have provided Tsuhan Ace since 1990 and have supported the back-office operations of EC/mail-order businesses for 36 years. Our head office is in Tokyo.
Q46What kind of implementation track record do you have?
A. We have a track record in a wide range of industries, including apparel, cosmetics, health foods, food, miscellaneous goods, and sporting goods. Representative cases include Grand Blue Co., Ltd. (apparel, 10 stores) and Geotech Golf Component Co., Ltd. (golf goods, custom-made).
Q47Are customer reviews after implementation published?
A. Yes, we publish voices from multiple customers on our case study page. We introduce pre-implementation challenges, reasons for selection, post-implementation effects, and future prospects in the actual words of the persons in charge.
Q48Are security measures comprehensive?
A. Yes, Tsuhan Ace implements strict security measures as a core system handling customer information. We provide multi-layered security, including data encryption, access control, regular security audits, and a redundant cloud environment.
Q49What is the percentage of customers who continue to use the service?
A. Many customers use our service long-term. We have many customers who have been with us for over 20 years since the Tsuhan Pro era (the predecessor to Tsuhan Ace). (*Exact retention rate pending internal confirmation)
Q50Where can I make an inquiry?
A. You can contact us via the inquiry form on our official website or by phone (03-5811-1864, weekdays 10:00-18:00). We accept document requests, demonstration applications, implementation consultations, and other questions.