NTT Data helps customers transform their businesses through digital technology. In 2015, NTT Data began developing iQuattro®, a digital supply chain platform that enables manufacturing companies to centralize data scattered across supply chains to optimize production, logistics, shipping, and predictive maintenance. Previously, companies used email or fax for this exchange, but with iQuattro®, this can now occur on a single data management platform via APIs.

In 2018, when expanding “iQuattro® to version 2.0,” NTT Data sought an API management platform. They needed a platform that supported both cloud and on-prem environments that offered flexibility, security, and multi-cloud compatibility.

NTT Data implemented Kong Gateway as their API management platform for iQuattro®. The team selected Kong because it offered:

• Flexible deployment options in hybrid environments, supporting both cloud and on-prem environments
• Robust multi-tenant capabilities with unified authentication and access management
• Route-level authentication configuration under unified settings
• Platform-agnostic architecture enabling multi-cloud connectivity

“Kong does not tie us to a specific cloud provider," said Kota Enokida, NTT Data Corporation Consulting Business Division, Supply Chain Unit Senior Staff. "If we need to migrate services from one cloud to another, Kong ensures seamless management."

Shinichiro Matsunaga, NTT Data Corporation Consulting Business Division, Supply Chain Unit Director, elaborated on the importance of multi-tenancy.

“Since "iQuattro®" manages on a single platform, managing service boundaries for each provision destination is very important. If settings from one company affect another company, it would lose trust in the provided service. We designed "iQuattro®" with that trust in mind, and Kong's capabilities are essential there,” Matsunaga said.

When operating in a multi-tenant environment, more detailed authentication and access management are necessary, Enokida said. But with Kong's services, you can configure settings like route-level authentication. "This becomes more complex as customers and projects increase, so I think it will become even more valuable going forward."

Matsunaga said they’ve continued to be pleased with Kong, highlighting the enduring success of the partnership over the years. 

“Kong's significant advancement in industry positioning is a pleasing point as a user. At the time of selection, we intended to grow the "iQuattro®" business along with the selected API platform's growth, and we were actively utilizing startup products. The fact that it grew beyond our expectations is a point where Kong exceeded expectations.”

In addition, Kong's Japanese subsidiary has enabled smoother communications for the team at NTT DATA.

“With the establishment of the Japanese subsidiary, Kong can respond with a better understanding of the domestic market situation, so we feel we can focus more on our business,” Matsunaga said.

“From an engineer's perspective, having documentation in Japanese is extremely helpful,” Enokida said. “Being able to handle inquiries smoothly in Japanese has also made it easier to concentrate on development.”

Through implementing Kong, NTT Data enhanced development efficiency, achieving approximately 30% reduction in development costs and operational burden.

“As a technologist myself, I feel Kong is a well-designed product,” Matsunaga said. “Being able to agree with the product's design philosophy is important, and in that area too I feel we made the right choice with Kong. I've had several opportunities to talk with Kong's executives, and I feel they’re a company that truly values the customer's voice. They sincerely address requests and opinions from our company, just one of their many customers — and respond quickly. This attitude is just one of the benefits of using Kong.”

To streamline development even more, Enokida said they plan to further incorporate Kong into "iQuattro®" to leverage the product's benefits and strengths.

“Situations where operations and testing in DevOps take time, and there’s a need to quickly restore environments when issues occur," Enokida said. "For this, Kong has development tools like Insomnia, and we want to use these to further improve development efficiency.”

The platform's success led NTT Data to become a Kong sales partner in August 2024, with plans to expand Kong's implementation beyond manufacturing into finance and public sector applications.