Hiroaki Takayama, Anfini Group COO: “In daily operations, we strive to create an environment where employees can grow, provide conditions tailored to their individual needs, and empower them to unlock their full potential through their work.”

In a fast-paced industry often defined by grueling hours and high-pressure environments, Anfini Group was born out of a desire to challenge the status quo and prioritize the happiness and well-being of employees. With a mission to create a new consulting paradigm, the company seamlessly integrates strategic advisory services, cutting-edge digital transformation solutions, and professional development opportunities. Anfini operates through three core divisions: Strategy Consulting, ERP Consulting, and Incubation. The Strategy Consulting Division collaborates with corporate executives to craft data-driven strategies, develop new business ventures, and drive innovation. Meanwhile, the ERP Consulting Division focuses on implementing SAP’s S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, empowering businesses to harness digital transformation through efficient Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

Education is another cornerstone of Anfini’s vision. The company provides tailored training programs to job-seekers aspiring to break into consulting and to professionals looking to upskill in SAP technologies. Its corporate training solutions also equip organizations with foundational consulting skills and SAP expertise, ensuring long-term value creation for clients and individuals alike.

Anfini’s commitment to innovation extends into its Incubation Division, which operates the “One Connect” platform. This pioneering SaaS solution streamlines industry data aggregation, providing consultants and consulting firms with centralized insights and resources. Complementing this is “KPIEdge,” a powerful cloud management solution designed to enable data-driven management by visualizing and analyzing key performance indicators from SAP systems.

Through its holistic approach to consulting, education, and SaaS innovation, Anfini is not just reshaping consulting services—it’s redefining how consulting firms operate. In this exclusive interview with The Silicon Review, COO Hiroaki Takayama discusses the motto driving Anfini’s success, key insights, and how the company fosters a culture of empowerment and excellence.

Q. Anfini’s mission is to “draw out the infinite potential of customers and contribute to their long-term development.” Can you share specific examples of how this mission has translated into real-world success stories?

In the initial phase of the SAP implementation, the primary objective was system renewal. However, after listening to the company’s growth strategy, we redefined the desired management and operational models that the company should aim for. Based on this redefinition, we reviewed operations in line with “Fit to Standard”, aligning business processes with management practices and systems tailored to the ideal state of management. Additionally, we worked to realize operations that leverage the client’s strengths, which serve as the foundation for growth, and provided consulting aimed at ensuring long-term development for the future.

Q. The name “Anfini” symbolizes infinite potential and long-lasting connections. How do these principles guide your day-to-day operations and client relationships?

We, Anfini, uphold the principle of “Consultants First, Company Second,” placing the happiness of our employees as our top priority. In daily operations, we strive to create an environment where employees can grow, provide conditions tailored to their individual needs, and empower them to unlock their full potential through their work.

We also aim to reform the norms of the consulting industry, such as long working hours and strict coaching, to establish a workplace where employees can work comfortably over the long term. By enabling employees to stay with the company long term, we ensure that our workforce possesses abundant skills and knowledge, allowing us to deliver greater value to our clients.

Q. Anfini operates in consulting, education, incubation, and SaaS. Which of these areas has seen the most growth recently, and what factors have driven this success?

The education business recently has been growing the most. Since launching our education services, the number of participants in our B2C SAP consultant training program (SAP Consult Labo) has been increasing, creating new synergies such as trainees participating in our SAP projects.

In our B2B training services, we build relationships with companies through training programs and generate synergies beyond service delivery. This includes collaborating on business development activities to acquire joint project opportunities.

Q. Your management consulting services range from strategy formulation to IT solution implementation. How does Anfini differentiate itself in a crowded consulting market?

Amid the growing demand for promoting digital transformation (DX), we provide support for ERP package implementation to achieve true digital transformation (DX) for client companies, we provide support for data-driven management and offer it to realize data-driven operations.

In many organizations, ERP implementation often becomes the end goal, and most companies fail to reach the data-driven management that should follow.

To achieve management based on data, we focus on transforming management philosophy, such as formulating business strategies based on data obtained from ERP packages, and driving operational changes through “Fit to Standard” based on ERP systems. Our capability to facilitate enterprise-wide transformation sets us apart as a key differentiator.

Q. With a focus on SAP consulting, what strategies does Anfini employ to stay ahead in this specialized domain?

We implement SAP with the goal of achieving data-driven management, utilizing Anfini’s unique implementation methodology, “POC Theory,” to ensure that SAP implementation goes beyond a standard deployment and serves as a driver for the company’s digital transformation (DX).

Q. Anfini provides job-hunting and skill training for aspiring consultants. What gaps in the market do these educational programs address, and how have they impacted your talent pipeline?

Job hunting and career transitions in the consulting industry are unique compared to other industries, with case interviews and other specialized challenges that are uncommon elsewhere. Due to this uniqueness, general career advisors without consulting experience or insights cannot provide effective support. Additionally, many of the skills and knowledge required to become a consultant are advanced soft skills, which are more difficult to acquire compared to what is typically required in other industries.

As a result, there are very few service providers capable of delivering effective career support and education, leaving market needs unmet. At our company, we leverage the skills and expertise gained through our core consulting business to deliver high-quality, effective career support and education services that address market demands. Under this quality education framework, we provide training to individuals with the potential to become consultants, assess their skills and personalities, and prioritize hiring exceptional talent that aligns well with our organization.

Q. Your team includes experienced consultants and industry insiders. How does this expertise enhance the quality of career development support you offer?

In building a consultant’s career, it is essential to enhance one’s market value. When working at a large consulting firm, individuals often only recognize their value and evaluation within the company and can only grow in ways that align with the company’s expectations.

In Anfini, through the launch of our platform business, OneConnect, we aggregate project information for freelance consultants and projects from major firms. This allows us to instantly identify and analyze the skills and knowledge currently in demand in the market, as well as those that will be required in the future.

Based on this information, we support each consultant in developing their careers as high-value professionals,

Meet the leader behind the success of Anfini

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Anfini, Hiroaki Takayama plays a pivotal role in driving operational excellence and strategic growth across the company’s three core verticals: Consulting, Education, and Incubation.

In the Consulting Division, Hiroaki ensures the delivery of high-quality services through robust internal training and coaching programs. His focus on professional development empowers Anfini’s consultants to maintain a consistent standard of excellence, even as the company scales.

In the Education Division, Hiroaki spearheads the development and execution of innovative educational services. By transforming the expertise of Anfini’s consultants into actionable learning solutions, he oversees the end-to-end process—from knowledge aggregation and planning to service delivery—while directly engaging with clients to ensure impactful outcomes.

In the Incubation Division, Hiroaki leads the development of groundbreaking services, including OneConnect and KPIEdge. Leveraging his extensive IT consulting background, he plays a central role in crafting the architectural design of these solutions, guiding every stage from business planning to product development. His expertise ensures these services meet the evolving needs of the market while advancing Anfini’s mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

Hiroaki’s leadership reflects his commitment to operational innovation and his ability to integrate technical expertise with strategic foresight, driving Anfini’s success across diverse business areas.

“Anfini’s commitment to innovation extends into its Incubation Division, which operates the “One Connect” platform. This pioneering SaaS solution streamlines industry data aggregation, providing consultants and consulting firms with centralized insights and resources.”