[Top Picks Selected by Active IT Engineers #3] Who Will Win in the AI Era? Notable Domestic SI Companies

[Top Picks Selected by Active IT Engineers #3]

Who Will Win in the AI Era? Domestic SI Companies That Active IT Engineers Are Watching

Introduction

In the stock market, NVIDIA and semiconductor-related stocks are attracting significant attention.

They are certainly companies at the center of the AI boom.

However, as an active IT engineer, I am also paying attention to a different group of companies.

These are domestic SI (System Integrator) companies.

"In an era where AI writes programs, are SI companies really necessary?"

Some people may have that question.

My answer is that they are necessary precisely because it is the AI era.

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SI companies are not just "companies that build systems"

Many people think of SI companies as "system development companies."

However, in the field, their role has become much broader.

For example,

* Integrating AI into internal company systems
* Migrating to the cloud
* Ensuring security
* Protecting personal information
* Keeping systems running 24/7, 365 days a year
* Continuing services even during disasters

The role of SI companies includes these tasks as well.

Even if AI can write code, designing the "entire corporate structure" is not easy.

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Companies I am watching

NTT DATA

One of the largest domestic SI companies.

It supports numerous government and financial systems and is leading Japan's DX.

I believe it is highly likely to remain a central presence even in the AI era.

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Nomura Research Institute (NRI)

A company that balances consulting and SI.

In addition to high profit margins, its strength lies in its "ability to solve corporate problems."

It is not just a development company, but a presence that supports corporate transformation.

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NEC

It has strengths in AI technology that supports social infrastructure, such as facial recognition, biometric authentication, defense, and communications.

It is a company with value that cannot be measured by generative AI alone.

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Fujitsu

In recent years, it has been actively investing in cloud, AI, and quantum computing.

Its image has changed significantly from a hardware manufacturer, and it is increasing its presence as a DX company.

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TIS, SCSK, BIPROGY

They are not flashy.

However,

Payments.

Finance.

Distribution.

Manufacturing.

Local governments.

They are responsible for many systems that support society.

I believe that as AI becomes more widespread, the importance of these companies will increase.

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What I feel as an IT engineer

As someone involved in operational design, BCP, and DR, what I feel strongly is that

"It is harder to keep a system running than it is to build it."

No matter how much AI evolves,

Troubleshooting.

Operational design.

Monitoring.

Security.

Backup.

Disaster countermeasures.

These will never become unnecessary.

What companies are really looking for is

not "introducing AI"

but "a mechanism that can safely operate AI."

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Companies valued in the shadow of the AI boom

When it comes to AI-related stocks, semiconductor manufacturers and generative AI companies stand out.

However, it is the SI companies that take on the role of delivering that technology to the corporate front lines.

I believe that this "behind-the-scenes" presence will become increasingly important in the future.

They are not flashy.

Even so, they are companies that support Japan's DX and keep social infrastructure running.

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Evaluation as an active IT engineer

★★★★★

I highly rate domestic SI companies as

"a group of companies that support the social infrastructure of the AI era."

As the AI boom continues, the value of SI companies that can design and operate an entire corporate system will increase.

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Conclusion

Stock prices fluctuate daily.

However, what is truly important is "whether the company will still be needed by society 10 years from now."

Even as more companies introduce AI, companies that can safely operate that AI, link it with existing systems, and finish it into a form that can be used in society are indispensable.

I believe that domestic SI companies, which take on that role, are one of the main players supporting Japan's DX.

Which SI company do you think will grow the most in the AI era?

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