With the rise of generative AI, the way systems are developed is changing dramatically. What SI companies need from now on goes beyond development capability. It requires the ability to enter the customer’s field, combine AI with business knowledge, and keep improving operations continuously.
Until now, the main role of SI companies has been to listen to customer requirements, then design, develop, and operate systems. But as AI begins to support software development, the center of value is shifting from building systems to solving business problems.
We believe that the SI company of the future is more than a development vendor. It is an organization that practices Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE).
The Limits of AI Consulting
In recent years, many companies have begun exploring AI. ChatGPT is used for operational improvement, Claude for document creation and automation, NotebookLM for knowledge organization, and many other AI tools are entering daily work.
These efforts are valuable. However, many of them focus mainly on teaching people how to use tools, and do not yet reach the point of transforming the actual business process itself.
- Only some employees use AI regularly
- AI is not embedded into business processes
- Impact depends too much on individual skill
- The initiative ends after the initial tool introduction
What companies truly need goes beyond introducing AI tools. They need to embed AI into daily operations and create a system for continuous improvement.
What Is a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)?
In the AI industry, the role of the Forward Deployed Engineer, or FDE, is gaining attention. An FDE is not just an engineer. The role is to enter the customer’s field, understand the work, discover problems, design AI-enabled solutions, build systems and agents, and keep improving them over time.
Mainly designs and develops systems according to defined requirements.
Finds problems in the field and transforms the business itself through AI and systems.
Why FDE Becomes Important
AI can write code. It can create screens and automate tests. But finding the real problem requires a deep understanding of the business.
For example, when a customer says they want to automate quotation creation, the real issue may be delayed approval flows, scattered customer data, weak cost management, or an inefficient sales process.
The value of FDE is not to build exactly what was requested, but to identify what should be built and implement it as business improvement.
From Packaged Software to AI Business Platforms
Enterprise systems used to evolve through packaged software such as ERP, CRM, SFA, and groupware. Package vendors increased value by reflecting knowledge gained from many companies into their products, then providing that knowledge to the next customer.
In the AI era, this idea remains important. What evolves, however, extends beyond features. Business knowledge, agent design, AI know-how, workflows, and organizational knowledge all become reusable assets.
A Platform That Makes FDE Reproducible
FDE work is highly advanced. It requires business analysis, problem definition, AI solution design, implementation into real systems, and repeated improvement.
Until now, this work has depended heavily on individual experience and skill, making it difficult to reproduce as an organization. We believe this challenge can be solved by turning FDE work itself into a platform.
Releasing AiGen-One, an AI Business Platform
We have released AiGen-One, an AI business platform that supports FDE work. AiGen-One is not simply an AI chat tool.
It provides one platform for customer dialogue, business analysis, requirement organization, AI use-case design, business system generation, AI agent building, knowledge capture, workflow automation, and continuous improvement.
- Business analysis and problem definition
- AI use-case design and agent building
- Business system generation and external service integration
- Knowledge capture and workflow automation
- Continuous improvement after implementation
The purpose of AiGen-One is broader than using AI. It is to visualize, standardize, and make reusable the advanced business-improvement work performed by FDEs across the entire organization.
By turning FDE knowledge and know-how, which used to be highly individual, into a platform, we aim to provide an environment where anyone can practice advanced business improvement.
Toward a New SI Company for the AI Era
Through AiGen-One, we will transform FDE knowledge and experience into a form that anyone can use, and support a new era of AI-driven business transformation. That is the future shape of SI companies as we see it.
Shogo Harada原田 祥吾
CEO · Linnoedge Inc. · LinkedIn↗
Operating IT offshore development and overseas expansion support businesses across two bases: Tokyo and Vietnam. A leader who believes in “Systems over Spirit,” structuring cross-border businesses that often tend to be opaque. Committed to providing “reproducible quality” to organizations and clients rather than relying solely on individual skills.