Breaking global expansion into four phases to clarify where AI adds value and where local expertise remains essential

September 25, 2026 – GLOBAL ANGLE participated as a speaker at Overseas Business EXPO 2026 Tokyo, held on September 17–18, 2026. The event was organized by the Overseas Business EXPO Executive Committee, consisting of Resorz Co., Ltd. and the International Collaboration Promotion Association.

On September 17, Shinji Yamanaka, Founder & CEO of GLOBAL ANGLE Pte. Ltd., and Yuki Kazama, Associate Director, delivered a session titled “Global Business × AI: How to Use AI Across Each Stage of International Expansion.”

During the session, GLOBAL ANGLE introduced a four-phase framework for global business development: market research and screening, market entry and decision-making, business launch and execution, and business expansion and growth.

Using practical examples, the speakers explained where AI can improve efficiency and where local expertise remains essential at each stage.

The Gap Between AI-Accessible Data and Market Reality

The rapid adoption of generative AI has made it significantly faster and easier to collect and organize publicly available information such as market size, major competitors, and regulatory frameworks.

Despite this, only 38.3% of Japanese companies that expand overseas operations do so for more than three years. Even though AI and other tools have made information more accessible, the reality of sustaining and establishing a long-term business in an overseas market poses a difficult challenge.

GLOBAL ANGLE identified a critical gap between publicly available data that AI can access and the realities of what is actually happening in the market.

Companies may be able to understand market size or formal regulatory requirements through publicly available information, but important questions often remain unanswered:

  • Which companies actually hold influence within the market?
  • How are regulations interpreted and applied in practice?
  • What do customers and business partners genuinely prioritize?
  • Why have competitors entered or withdrawn from the market?
  • Can a potential local partner truly be trusted?

These insights may not appear in publicly available datasets, yet they can have a major impact on market-entry and business-development decisions.

For companies that do not have dedicated international business teams, there is also a risk that research generated quickly by AI becomes the primary basis for decision-making.

The challenge is not choosing between AI and local expertise, but knowing when each should be used.

Where AI Adds Value — and Where Local Expertise Is Essential

In the early stages of market research, AI can significantly improve the efficiency of screening, information gathering, and hypothesis development.

However, as companies move toward market-entry decisions, business launch, sales, and marketing, the importance of local professionals who can speak directly with stakeholders, observe what is happening in the market, and validate assumptions becomes greater.

Physical presence alone does not guarantee meaningful market insight.

What matters is having professionals with deep knowledge of the local language, culture, commercial practices, and industry dynamics.

By conducting interviews with local companies and consumers, visiting stores and business locations, and verifying conditions directly on the ground, local professionals can uncover the context behind the data and provide a deeper understanding of market realities.

GLOBAL ANGLE operates a network of over 200 local professionals across more than 70 countries, enabling companies to conduct primary research including corporate interviews, consumer research, store checks, and other forms of on-the-ground investigation.

Combining AI with Local Expertise

GLOBAL ANGLE sees AI as an important tool for increasing the speed and efficiency of information gathering and analysis.

At the same time, information that is critical to final decision-making should be obtained and verified first-hand by professionals in the local market.

Where necessary, those professionals can move beyond validation and support execution on the ground.

By combining AI and local expertise according to each stage of international expansion, GLOBAL ANGLE supports companies from initial market research and market-entry decisions through business launch and expansion. 

Looking Ahead

GLOBAL ANGLE provides consultation and support for companies considering overseas expansion, including questions such as:

  • How should AI and local market research be combined at our current stage of expansion?
  • What information should we validate before making a market-entry decision?
  • How can we better understand the realities of a target market?
  • How can we identify and approach potential partners or customers locally?

Through its global network of local professionals, GLOBAL ANGLE supports companies in moving from information gathering to informed decision-making and practical execution.