Nomura Research Institute Ltd. Asia

ABOUT THIS COMPANY:

Binary operations

Tokyo-based Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI) serves as both a think-tank and a systems integration firm. NRI offers two main service segments: consulting services and IT solution services. Consulting oversees both management consulting and systems consulting. Through the IT solutions segment, the firm provides system development and application sales, system management and operation services, and other things such as IT outsourcing services and specific tech solutions for asset management. Largely working with clients in Japan, NRI is strongest in financial services (particularly securities and insurance), but handles a variety of sectors including distribution, manufacturing, media, construction and real estate, and government. Two of NRI's biggest long-term clients include financial services giant Nomura Holdings and retail group Seven & I Holdings—and yes, the latter is the parent company of ubiquitous convenience store 7-Eleven.

Management consulting services for corporate clients include: management strategies and corporate governance; business strategies and development; human resources strategies and organizational/personnel reform; corporate culture and business operation reforms; industrial policies and administrative evaluation; M&A and alliances advisory; and international business strategies.  Outside Japan, the management consulting division includes branches in Seoul, Taipei, Manila and Moscow. Meanwhile, through its systems consulting arm, NRI prides itself on its "neutrality" and vendor-free operations, offering systems design, infrastructure and management; IT strategy and procurement; and other services.

Of NRI's two business segments, IT solution services is by far the largest, bringing in over 90 percent of NRI's revenue in the 2008-09 fiscal year, while the consulting segment brought in a little less than 10 percent. NRI's strength is greatest at home in Japan—overseas revenue typically accounts for less than 10 percent of annual earnings—but the firm is expanding in other regions, particularly mainland China. In Asia Pacific, NRI also has outposts in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Korea, and further afield has offices in the U.S., the U.K. and Russia. With the global economic crisis, focus has shifted a bit for the firm; management consulting projects decreased for the fiscal year, but systems consulting projects (particularly in financial services) increased.