（ 2023 年 1 月 12 日，台北訊 ）跨國 AI 公司 iKala 今（12）日宣布收購康坦數位行銷（KONTENT），強化旗下 AI 網紅行銷服務 KOL Radar 的成長動能。康坦數位行銷為台灣的數位行銷公司，專注於提供網紅行銷、數位廣告投放，以及內容製作與策劃。本次收購將以 iKala 的 AI 網紅數據行銷軟體即服務（SaaS） KOL Radar 和一站式網紅行銷服務能量，結合康坦數位行銷的深度內容產製服務，鞏固垂直整合的競爭優勢，加速協助雙方既有和未來企業品牌客戶，透過成效型網紅行銷精準獲客。
iKala KOL Radar 運用獨家 AI 技術以及大數據分析，提供網紅篩選與合作、數據追蹤、成效評估等一站式服務，其網紅數據庫於 2022 年底已正式擴張至超過 100 萬筆跨國網紅名單，此次收購康坦數位行銷也彰顯擴張服務能量的決心。iKala 將活用康坦數位行銷在垂直領域的網紅行銷專業與資源，以及其在數位廣告、多媒體內容製作上的多年實務經驗與創意，全面滿足企業與品牌在數據化網紅行銷及數位行銷專案上的多元需求。
據 Influencer Marketing Hub 指出，全球網紅行銷市場規模已在 2022 年成長到 164 億美元 ( 約台幣 5,036 億元 )，更將在 2028 年成長至 849 億美元（約 2.6 兆台幣）。隨著疫情驅動企業加快數位化腳步及提高跨境網紅行銷需求，iKala 亦積極透過 AI 驅動的 KOL Radar 網紅行銷服務推動日本企業外銷至台灣，而康坦數位行銷的加入將有效擴增網紅行銷服務的營運能量，回應跨境網紅行銷之市場需求，同時也將為 iKala 擴大更多垂直產業的品牌客戶，讓康坦數位行銷長年深耕公部門、零售以及美妝類別的客戶，也能運用 AI 科技及數據分析，獲得最佳成效的網紅推薦。
iKala 共同創辦人暨執行長程世嘉表示：「隨著全球消費者行為與注意力轉移、創作者經濟加速崛起，我們看好網紅行銷產業發展與市場需求成長。而康坦的加入讓 iKala 能增強 AI 科技、數據及網紅行銷服務整合綜效，為我們在亞洲的現有和未來客戶帶來更多成長。此次收購後，我們除了將持續強化在 AI 網紅行銷領域的研發與創新，也會加快擴增 KOL Radar 跨境網紅行銷服務動能，讓所有企業都能透過 AI 驅動的數位轉型及數據行銷整體解決方案，開拓更多商業機會。」
康坦數位行銷 CEO 陳世凱表示：「我們自創辦以來，一直都致力於讓網紅行銷成為品牌拓展知名度、進而有效獲客的關鍵利器，而 iKala 是亞洲領先的 AI 企業，以 AI 技術賦能企業與品牌實踐成效型網紅行銷，我們的理念與目標不謀而合。我們很期待接下來能與 iKala 攜手強化市場佈局，以 AI 數據力加深康坦既有的網紅行銷服務經驗，共同為更多不同類型的企業提供最全面且數據化的網紅行銷服務。」
iKala 擁有 AI 驅動的整體數位轉型解決方案，能透過雲端服務與行銷科技應用產品，協助企業發揮數據價值，掌握顧客旅程中的每一個接觸點，進而建立長期顧客忠誠度。
iKala Announces Appointment of Tsuchiya Ryuji as Country Manager of iKala Japan
Tokyo, November 11th, 2022 — iKala, Asia's leading Human-Centered AI company headquartered in Taiwan, announced today that Tsuchiya Ryuji has been appointed the Country Manager of iKala Japan Co., Ltd. (head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "iKala"). Along with the announcement, the company also pledged to significantly expand the number of global influencers on its AI influencer data marketing platform KOL Radar to one million before the end of 2022. iKala aims to create Asia's largest influencer database to facilitate the acceleration of AI-driven digital transformation for Japanese industries.
As the global economic, trade, and consumer market environment continues to experience volatile changes, businesses around the world are accelerating the pace of digitalization to move towards a data-driven operational strategy. In Japan, the demand for digital transformation and export has increased significantly. To meet market demand and demonstrate the company's commitment to Japan's market, iKala has recruited Tsuchiya as the Country Manager of iKala Japan to advance the implementation of iKala AI digital transformation solution. Tsuchiya has more than 20 years of industry experience. Having held key positions at Universal Studios Japan, Warner Bros. Japan, and Coca-Cola Japan, Tsuchiya led his team in market forecasting and analysis to formulate marketing strategies. Before joining iKala, while formulating operational strategies for Universal Studios Japan in response to the impact of the Covid-19, Tsuchiya also conducted market response analysis and consumer demand forecasting to continue to realize mid to long-term business plans. In his new role, Tsuchiya will utilize his local perspective to grow iKala's sales in the Japanese market.
Since the company's establishment in Taiwan in May 2011, iKala has been developing and offering cloud and AI technology services and AI data-driven influencer marketing services in Asia. Among them, the AI influencer data marketing service "KOL Radar" is widely recognized by the Taiwanese and Asian markets, with many companies already utilizing the platform's services. iKala Japan also started offering KOL Radar services at the beginning of its establishment in September 2021. Companies use AI-driven influencer marketing services to promote Japanese exports to Taiwan. So far, clients from the retail, beauty, household appliances, baby and children, and apparel industries have signed up or renewed contracts with KOL Radar. With Tsuchiya joining as the new Country Manager for iKala Japan, iKala will be fully committed to helping Japanese businesses accelerate customer acquisition and expand their international presence. iKala has also announced an expansion plan to include one million international influencers on KOL Radar's list by the end of 2022, of which, 700,000 are Japanese influencers.
KOL Radar is a one-stop service that facilitates proprietary AI technology and big data analysis to analyze massive amount of real-time influencer data across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which can be used to identify the best "matching" between an influencer and a company's product or service. AI is used to analyze and filter influencers to find the best candidate match for D2C companies to create performance-based influencer marketing with data driven marketing strategy.
"I am delighted to announce the exciting news of the appointment of the Country Manager of iKala Japan, which reflects iKala's commitment to future expansion in the Japanese market," said iKala Co-Founder & CEO Sega Cheng.
"Mr. Tsuchiya Ryuji has a wealth of marketing experience and is familiar with the Japanese market. I believe his expertise can provide the support and services that Japanese companies are looking for. Our team in Japan will continue to grow as iKala enhances our services and R&D capabilities. Our target is to reach more than 10 times the revenue growth for Japan in 2023 compared to this year. We look forward to seeing our AI digital transformation solution help more Japanese companies expand their market presence," added Cheng.
iKala Japan Country Manager Tsuchiya Ryuji said: "I look forward to using my experiences in marketing and business development, along with my understanding of Japanese companies' needs for digital marketing, to help Japanese enterprises accelerate customer acquisition and cross-border business expansion through the use of digital solutions. iKala empowers businesses through AI solutions, and the company's vision resonates with mine. Moving forward, I will work closely with the Taiwan office to promote the advancement of Japanese industries' digital transformation. My goal is to help more Japanese brands to export their high-quality products to Taiwan and Southeast Asia."
Tsuchiya Ryuji, Country Manager of iKala Japan
In addition to providing cross-border solutions, iKala will launch a SaaS subscription service on KOL Radar in the Japanese Market on November 14. The subscription service provides Japanese companies with the most comprehensive influencer data while offering effective influencer recommendations through AI technology that provides a one-stop solution for influencer screening, data tracking, and performance evaluation. Looking ahead, iKala will focus on its expansion in the Japanese market and continue to increase its service capacity. The company aspires to help Japanese brands strengthen their use of data-driven decisions through KOL Radar's cross-border influencer marketing service and SaaS subscription service.
iKala 從 2011 年 5 月於台灣成立至今，在亞洲地區發展 AI 雲端整合解決方案與 AI 數據化網紅行銷服務等事業。其中，AI 網紅數據平台 KOL Radar 獲得台灣與亞洲市場的肯定，至今已有許多企業導入。iKala 日本公司也於 2021 年 9 月設立之際，開始提供日本市場此項服務，透過 AI 驅動的網紅行銷服務推動日本企業外銷至台灣，至今已有來自零售、美妝、家電、幼童、服飾等產業的品牌客戶陸續導入及續約合作。藉由本次日本總經理上任，iKala 將正式全力協助日本企業加速獲客、搶佔海外市場。同時，iKala 亦宣布網紅數據擴增計畫，其 AI 網紅數據資料庫 KOL Radar 將於 2022 年底囊括 100 萬筆跨國網紅名單，其中日本名單佔 70 萬。
KOL Radar 是運用獨家 AI 技術以及大數據分析，提供 Facebook、YouTube、Instagram、TikTok 跨國網紅數據資料的一站式分析服務，可將網紅和企業欲推廣的商品或服務間的「適合度」數據化，運用 AI 分析篩選網紅，幫助 D2C 企業精準配對最佳合作人選，打造成效型網紅行銷。
iKala 日本總經理土屋隆司表示：「我很期待將長年在行銷與商務開發方面的耕耘，以及對於日本企業在數據行銷方面需求的了解，能夠協助日本企業透過數位解決方案加速獲客與跨境事業拓展。iKala 是運用 AI 賦能企業解決問題的公司，其願景與我的想法不謀而合。今後，我會與總公司密切合作，推動日本整體產業的數位轉型進程，協助更多的日本品牌將其高品質的產品輸出至台灣和東南亞。」
土屋隆司，iKala Japan 總經理
除了提供跨境解決方案，iKala 也將於 11 月 14 日在日本市場推出 KOL Radar 的 SaaS 訂閱方案，提供日本企業最全面的網紅數據資料，一站滿足網紅篩選、數據追蹤、成效評估等功能，輕鬆透過 AI 技術達成最佳化網紅推薦。展望未來，iKala 將持續積極擴張日本市場服務能量，以 KOL Radar 跨境網紅行銷服務及 SaaS 訂閱服務，幫助日本品牌更深化利用數據驅動決策。
