Fractional CMO for B2B Manufacturing & Engineering in Japan

Get senior marketing leadership without hiring a full-time CMO. Specialized in B2B marketing strategy and execution, grounded in data analytics and impactful implementation of AI tools.

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Clarity Starts
With The Foundation

In B2B manufacturing and engineering companies, marketing decisions tend to break down in the same places. Budget becomes hard to justify, tools become hard to evaluate, and visibility into performance becomes scattered.

These problems usually appear together, and they point to the same underlying issue.

Budget Without Accountability

In technical, sales-driven organizations, marketing budgets tend to grow incrementally. A website update here, an event there, a handful of paid ads, etc.

Over time, spend increases without a clear link to pipeline or revenue, making it difficult to judge impact.

Tools
Without Alignment

New tools are often introduced by vendors, agencies, or headquarters, including marketing automation, GEO/AEO, and CRM add-ons.

Licenses are paid continuously but adoption remains low, and reporting still falls back to Excel.

Temporary Lack of Resources

You need temporary leadership during business launch or to fill in the gap during maternity / paternity leave. A fractional CMO delivers “plug and play” without long onboarding and keeps strategy, campaigns and reporting on track, without changing your org chart or hiring permanently.

How it works

What is Fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) provides senior marketing leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive.

The role exists to bring structure and accountability where marketing has grown fragmented across budget, tools, and channels. Rather than adding more activity, a fractional CMO defines priorities, sets clear ownership, and connects decisions to measurable outcomes.

In Japan, this model is still relatively new and is sometimes referred to as a part-time CMO or external CMO. The structure gives companies access to experienced leadership without changing their headcount.

1. Strategy and Prioritization (Do-With-You)

2. Budget and Performance Alignment (Do-For-You)

3. Tool and Process Coordination (Do-With-You)

4. Measurement and Reporting Standards (Do-For-You)

5. Coaching and Guidance (Do-With-You)

How We Are Different

Marketing That Creates Value, Reduces Waste, and Is Easier to Manage Over Time

HiCoData works as a hands-on, senior sparring partner for B2B manufacturing and engineering teams, with a focus on fast alignment, low friction, and clear decision-making within existing technical and organizational constraints.

Financial chart icon representing marketing budget accountability for B2B manufacturing

Industry Fluency

Our experience across automotive, telecom, industrial systems, and materials, allows us to engage directly with technical teams without extensive onboarding.

Technology integration icon showing marketing tools alignment for engineering companies

Seamless Integration

Clean integration into existing SOPs, quality, and compliance frameworks, while operating within established engineering and management processes.

Clear, Actionable Reporting

Receive concise reporting based on sound analytics and visualization standards so decisions can be made quickly across teams.

Our Services

What We Help You With

Digital Marketing Level Up

2-Day Workshop

A focused two-day workshop to map your current marketing activities, tools, and KPIs. We assess your marketing maturity, identify gaps, and highlight clear priorities for improvement.

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Fractional CMO Support

5-Month Support

Ongoing senior marketing leadership over a 5-month period. We define or refine positioning, clarify priorities, and support execution so sales and marketing work from the same framework.

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Marketing Analytics Coaching

3-Month Coaching

A four-week hands-on program to build or improve a marketing dashboard using Looker Studio. We work with real data from GA4, campaigns, and CRM exports, focusing on what your team needs to review each month.

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FLOW

How We Work Together

We keep the engagement simple and transparent. Most collaborations follow these three steps:

Fractional CMO discovery call process for B2B marketing strategy assessment

Step 1.

Discovery call (30-45 Minutes)

We discuss your business, current marketing and sales setup, and what you want to change. If there is a fit, we agree on the most appropriate starting point.

Two-day marketing maturity assessment workshop for manufacturing companies

Step 2.

Assessment Workshop (2 Days)

We assess the maturity of your business most effectively with a set of predefined questions. You can either answer the questions on your own or through a guided workshop. As a result of the assessment you will receive a scorecard and improvement plan.

Marketing execution and performance review process with fractional CMO leadership

Step 3.

30-90 Day Plan

Based on scope, we define a short, focused plan. This includes priorities, expected outcomes, meeting rhythm, and clear ownership.

Marketing dashboard showing performance metrics for B2B manufacturing companies in Japan

Step 4.

Execution and Review

We work alongside your team, review progress regularly, and adjust based on data and feedback. At the end of the period, you decide whether to continue, expand, or pause.

Bring Clarity back to your marketing and make decisions with confidence.

Book a call with us to identify the gaps in your setup and map the fastest path to measurable improvement.

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Heiko Dalichau

CEO & Business Advisor

About HiCo Data

Why Work with Us?

I’m Heiko, a fractional CMO and data-driven marketer based in Tokyo, and I lead HiCoData.

HiCoData is a boutique consulting practice supporting B2B manufacturing and engineering companies in Japan. I have over 20 years of experience working with B2B manufacturing, electronics, and engineering companies across Europe and Japan.

My background spans product design, product marketing, corporate strategy, and digital marketing, which allows me to work across technical, commercial, and executive contexts.

This combination helps me bridge the gap between engineering, sales, and management, and turn marketing into a structured system that supports long-term growth.