Overcoming the high hurdles of exporting bio-based products: The decisions and breakthroughs of bio-venturesReplitech Co., Ltd.

Could you tell us what led you to introduce STANDAGE's automated trading service this time?

Our company was considering exporting bio-reagents to China. However, China has very strict import regulations on biological products, and despite contacting many forwarding companies, we were repeatedly told that they could not handle our products. In this difficult environment, while searching for our next move, we had the opportunity to consult with STANDAGE. As we continued our discussions with their representative, we learned that they had experience handling similar cases in the past, and we began to seriously consider introducing their "Leave it to us Trading" service.

Since we already had trading partners in China before implementing "Omakase Trading," we needed to prioritize speed and quickly establish export routes. Therefore, we did not compare it with other companies and ultimately decided to implement "Omakase Trading."

What exactly did it entail?

What we value most is the concrete support provided by STANDAGE's staff, based on their extensive past experience. Despite the high regulatory hurdles, they work with us to figure out how to export and explore various possibilities. Currently, progress is inconsistent due to the time required to clear export regulations and the difficulty of the export process. Nevertheless, they constantly seek the best approach and even attempt trial shipments.

In fact, there was one instance where the product arrived at the destination, but the transportation time was significantly longer than expected, and temperature control also became an issue. However, through this experience, we were able to understand the realistic challenges, and we feel that specific areas for improvement for the future are becoming clearer.

What effects have you seen since implementing it?

For our company, which was completely new to exporting, the biggest achievement was simply gaining a grasp of the export flow. We are still in the trial-and-error stage, but through each project, we are beginning to understand what documents are required, which routes are appropriate, the timelines involved, and the associated risks.
In particular, the ability to explore possibilities with alternative products or new methods, even when exporting to China proves difficult, will be a great asset for future overseas expansion.

What kind of support do you expect from Omakase Trading in the future?

Going forward, we aim to establish a standard export flow and create a system that allows us to operate efficiently. By creating a successful case study, we hope to internalize a standard process—such as "this is the flow for this product"—for future projects, enabling us to respond quickly.
We expect STANDAGE to continue providing meticulous support, much like a teacher instructing students, while also maintaining a clear overall picture. In particular, we would appreciate it if you could guide us when we might get lost, such as explaining the meaning and timing of necessary documents and sharing progress updates.

Comment from Mr. Shirakawa of Replitech

Export operations are uncharted territory for us, and we constantly feel anxious, wondering, "Am I doing this right?" In this context, we expect STANDAGE to work alongside us, almost like an extension of our sales team. Going forward, we hope to collaborate even more closely and move together towards our goals.

To ensure that exports are not just a one-off challenge but become an integral part of our business, we would appreciate your continued careful support.