DGFT and Gakken Group Launch an Industry-Specific Payment Solution for Childcare and Education Facilities

Using the “Cloud Pay” series to shift cash collection for childcare supply sales to QR code payments

2026.04.20

DG Financial Technology, Inc. (a Digital Garage Group company; Headquarters: Tokyo; Keizo Odori, Representative Director, President and CEO; “DGFT”) announces that “Cloud Pay Neo” (Japanese Patent No. 7641080), part of its “Cloud Pay” series of QR code payment solutions, has been adopted as a payment solution for the product sales service of Gakken SEED Co., Ltd. (a Gakken Group company; Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Shinichi Kobayashi, President and COO; “Gakken SEED”), which sells childcare products for childcare and educational facilities.

Gakken SEED previously conducted operations to receive funds for the sales of aprons and other supplies for childcare professionals to childcare and educational facilities by collecting cash on site or accepting bank transfers. By switching this arrangement to QR code payments with “Cloud Pay Neo,” Gakken SEED will mitigate the time constraints related to collecting fees while also curbing the risk of carrying cash. This switch will also help to reduce the operational burden in tallying fees, dealing with small change, and other actions related to handling cash. This initiative is part of DGFT’s efforts to provide payment solutions through the “Cloud Pay” series to cater to the challenges faced on-site at different industries and lines of work.

Background of Initiative
The market for child-related businesses in Japan has been estimated at 10.9059 trillion yen^(*1) in fiscal 2024. This goes to show how large the market is in the field of childcare and education. However, many kindergartens, nurseries, and other similar facilities tend to conduct transactions in cash, resulting in a wide range of clerical operations, such as collecting, checking, and managing the money. One study^(*2) has shown that only 5.5% of childcare and educational facilities have implemented cashless payments, and 57.5% of facilities carry out invoices and fee collection with cash. As such, streamlining payments and fee collection at these sites has been an important and long-running issue.
Gakken SEED was in a similar situation. Previously, operations chiefly involved sales representatives visiting each location to collect fees in cash from nursery employees or dealing with bank transfers. This resulted in not only time-based costs for these visits, but also risks with loss and calculation errors, as well as issues with operational burden in relation to aggregation work and handling small changes.
To solve these issues, “Cloud Pay Neo” from DGFT was implemented as a payment method for product sales at Gakken SEED.

Overview
The service in this initiative enables a QR code for “Cloud Pay Neo” to be printed on each invoice. Nursery employees can scan these QR codes with a smartphone to easily complete payments using a credit card or many other options.
*The business operator must make preparations in advance to print and issue QR codes on invoices.

Implementing this service is expected to reduce the burden in relation to sales representatives visiting locations to collect fees. This will also mitigate risks involved with collecting and carrying cash, while helping to achieve more efficient fee collection work.
Moreover, the nursery employees who make payments will be able to do so using the QR code printed on each invoice, allowing for a smooth payment experience using a wide range of methods without restrictions on location.
This initiative will start operations at a select range of locations, and will roll out the service later to all sites in Japan.

Supported Payment Methods
• Credit card (VISA / Mastercard / JCB / American Express (AMEX) / Diners Club)
• Mobile payment services (PayPay / au PAY / d PAY^® / Rakuten Pay)
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

Comment from the Adopting Company　
<Takeshi Koresawa, Manager, Second Sales Promotion Section, Second Sales Department, Gakken SEED Co., Ltd.>
Gakken SEED provides products and services to childcare and educational institutions across Japan.
With the introduction of DGFT’s “Cloud Pay Neo,” we expect to improve the efficiency of payment collection operations, which have traditionally placed a burden on staff in the field.
Specifically, we expect the solution to reduce the time required for both sales and administrative operations, while also lowering the risk of uncollected payments and speeding up payment processing. We believe these improvements will deliver benefits in both operational efficiency and customer experience.
Going forward, while remaining closely aligned with the needs of childcare and educational settings, we will continue working together with DGFT to provide services that are even easier to use.

Outlook
Going forward, DGFT will drive the rollout across Japan while monitoring the status of operations. DGFT will also consider the potential for further expanding payment services as it supports the realization of a payment environment with a more seamless and convenient solution. DGFT will consider expanding this function beyond the fields of childcare and education and bringing it to a wide range of industries and areas of work, including B2B. DGFT will contribute to the digitalization of invoicing and fee collection work by providing flexible payment solutions that cater to business operators’ needs.

About Gakken SEED
Gakken SEED Co., Ltd., a member of the Gakken Group, primarily operates businesses serving childcare and educational institutions across Japan. The company plans, develops, and sells teaching materials, educational tools, playground equipment, and fixtures for a wide range of facilities, including kindergartens, nursery schools, and certified centers for early childhood education and care. In addition, it provides comprehensive support for addressing on-site challenges through services such as facility design, environmental planning consultancy, ICT services, and training programs.
Gakken SEED also works to enhance value in childcare and educational settings through a multi-faceted approach, including direct marketing and e-commerce-based services, as well as products and training programs for childcare professionals. Leveraging its nationwide distributor network, the company contributes to creating environments that support children’s growth while helping reduce workloads and improve the quality of work for those on the front lines.
https://gakken-seed.co.jp/　(Japanese only)

About the “Cloud Pay” Series
The “Cloud Pay” series is one of Japan’s largest* QR code payment platforms, offering bundled QR code payment services that enable merchants to accept multiple payment brands through a single contract with DGFT. By simply scanning a QR code displayed at the point of sale, customers can make cashless payments using credit cards and various code-based payment methods, while the service also supports cash payments.
Because merchants can accept payments from multiple brands through a one-stop solution without needing to complete individual contracts for each payment brand, they can build a highly convenient cashless payment environment while reducing the burden of implementation. The ease of introducing cashless payments has been very well received, and adoption has expanded beyond retail stores and restaurants to include vending machines, payment kiosks, events, and amusement facilities.

*Press release from September 25, 2024
DGFT’s Integrated QR Code Payment “Cloud Pay” Now Compatible with Square, One of the World’s Largest Payment Platforms

About DG Financial Technology, Inc.
Name: DG Financial Technology, Inc.
Representative: Representative: President and Representative Director: Keizo Odori
Head office: DG Bldg. 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Date founded: April 1997
Business: DGFT provides various cashless payment solutions such as credit card, QR code, and others to more than 1 million online and offline locations of merchants across Japan. In addition to the payment service provider business, DGFT also provides e-commerce infrastructure, marketing tools, fraud detection solutions, and other services in collaboration with the Digital Garage Group and strategic partners to support various businesses in their efforts to go cashless and promote digital transformation.
Registrations:
・Registered as an electronic payment agency or intermediary
・Registered fund transfer operator
・Registered business operator for handling credit card numbers and similar data
URL:https://company.dgft.jp/

About Digital Garage, Inc.
Name: Digital Garage, Inc.
Representative: Kaoru Hayashi, Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO
Head office address: DG Bldg., 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shibuya PARCO DG Bldg., 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Date founded: August 1995
Digital Garage, Inc. is the leading payment service provider in Japan. With the corporate purpose of “Designing ‘New Context’ for a sustainable society with technology,” Digital Garage operates payment business services for various comprehensive payment platforms in Japan. Digital Garage also runs a marketing business providing one-stop solutions in both the digital and real worlds, as well as a startup investment and development business for approaching promising startups and technologies in Japan and overseas. Digital Garage is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (TSE Prime: 4819). For more on Digital Garage, visit garage.co.jp/en　

*Company names, product names, and service names mentioned in this release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
*Information in this press release is subject to change without notice.

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