SHIFT, a leading Japanese IT services firm, has introduced Advanced Forward‑Deployed Engineering (Advanced FDE), a technology‑agnostic AI platform that guides enterprises from initial AI adoption through continuous operational use. The service selects optimal AI models and generative‑AI tools, implements them, and provides ongoing monitoring to embed AI into daily business processes.
Technology‑Neutral AI Service: Advanced FDE
Advanced FDE offers a full‑cycle approach that begins with mapping a client’s existing workflows, identifying pain points, and recommending the most suitable AI agents or generative‑AI solutions. SHIFT remains involved during implementation, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement, ensuring AI becomes a sustainable part of the organization rather than a one‑off experiment.
End‑to‑End AI Adoption Journey
The methodology covers four key phases: discovery, solution design, deployment, and ongoing optimization. By staying vendor‑agnostic, SHIFT helps companies integrate AI without being locked into a single provider, allowing flexibility to switch models as technology evolves.
System Visualization with SHIFTDQS
In parallel, SHIFT has developed the SHIFTDQS System Visualization Service, an AI‑driven tool that automatically extracts and displays external specifications of software systems. This capability accelerates the modernization of legacy codebases, reduces re‑engineering risk, and supports multilingual environments.
Addressing Legacy Code Challenges
SHIFTDQS visualizes complex system architectures, making it easier for development teams to understand dependencies and plan upgrades. The tool’s AI core continuously learns from new code patterns, improving accuracy over time and helping firms bridge the talent gap in legacy system maintenance.
Alignment with Japan’s National AI Strategy
SHIFT’s neutral, security‑first stance aligns with the Japanese government’s AI initiatives that emphasize responsible AI adoption, data protection, and public‑private collaboration. By offering a vendor‑agnostic platform, SHIFT positions itself as a trusted partner for enterprises seeking to comply with emerging AI regulations while driving productivity.
Impact on the Japanese IT Ecosystem
- Accelerated AI adoption – A neutral advisory layer lowers barriers for mid‑size and large enterprises, expanding AI penetration across Japan’s corporate sector.
- Talent augmentation – SHIFTDQS directly tackles the shortage of engineers skilled in legacy system modernization, supporting workforce upskilling.
- Platform‑engineering momentum – Combining AI advisory with system visualization places SHIFT at the intersection of AI productivity gains and platform‑engineering adoption.
- Synergy with public‑sector AI – The vendor‑agnostic model aligns with government AI projects, creating opportunities for public‑private partnerships.
Challenges and Next Steps
Success will depend on maintaining up‑to‑date expertise across a rapidly evolving AI landscape, ensuring compliance with Japan’s forthcoming AI regulations, and delivering measurable ROI for clients. SHIFT plans to pilot Advanced FDE with a select group of customers, gather performance data, and refine its methodology before a broader rollout. The SHIFTDQS service will undergo beta testing later this year, with a full commercial launch scheduled for early next year.
Outlook for Japan’s IT Industry
Japan’s IT sector faces demographic pressures and legacy‑system inertia, but a coordinated national AI strategy offers a path to renewed productivity. SHIFT’s technology‑neutral, end‑to‑end AI service model aims to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation, potentially revitalizing both its market position and the broader Japanese software engineering landscape.
