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Digital Business Platform

FSTJ 2017-1 Cover Image

Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2017

Fujitsu has come to launch FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc as a new digital business platform to help its customers achieve their own digital transformation. The era of digital transformation requires readiness to provide new services as soon as they are needed and flexibility to connect and use processes and information in ways that exceed existing organizational and industrial frameworks. This special issue introduces the services and implemented technologies for MetaArc, and examples of utilization and effects of MetaArc.

Japanese version: Magazine FUJITSU (Vol. 67, No. 5, September 2016)

Preface

Special Issue on Digital Business Platform (469 KB)
Tango Matsumoto, Corporate Executive Officer, EVP, Vice Head of Digital Service Business, pp.1-2

Overview

Fujitsu's Leading Platform for Digital Business (564 KB)
Noriyuki Nakamura, pp.3-10
In recent years, new digital technologies have been introduced into our business and social environments, causing a major change that is recognized as the digital transformation. To better adapt to this trend, in 2015 Fujitsu launched FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc (hereafter, MetaArc), designed to integrate the latest information and communications technologies (ICTs) such as cloud computing, mobile technology, big data (analytics), the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI). MetaArc is a platform that realizes a seamless collaboration between two kinds of systems-those that create new innovations through connecting people and the physical environment (Systems of Engagement, or SoE) and those that enhance the efficiency of enterprise systems (Systems of Record, or SoR). Together, they make it possible to respond to changes in the business environment quickly and flexibly. MetaArc also offers a series of products useful for making a business grow. This paper introduces FUJITSU Cloud Service K5, the core cloud platform for MetaArc. It then outlines the platform's various component services and products and describes our cloud-centered strategies and efforts to maximize the value provided to our customers.

Services and Implemented Technologies for MetaArc

FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 IaaS for Growth and Innovation of Digital Business (636 KB)
Yuji Wada, Satoshi Iyoda, Hiroshi Takamure, Masashi Kameta, Yasutaka Taniuchi, pp.11-16
FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a new public cloud platform that supports cloud-native systems leveraging cloud-unique functions to dynamically allocate resources. It also supports promising new systems such as Systems of Record (SoR), Systems of Engagement (SoE), and the Internet of Things (IoT). K5 IaaS can respond quickly to user needs due to the use of open technologies and the use of OpenStack software for platform implementation. Additionally, the platform itself and services on the platform can be continuously enhanced through ongoing collaboration with the OpenStack community and its ecosystem. The K5 IaaS architecture is one common to private clouds and on-premise systems, enabling implementation of hybrid systems that seamlessly link existing on-premise business systems with virtual systems on K5 IaaS. This paper describes the functions of K5 IaaS and presents typical use cases.
FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 PaaS Digitalizes Enterprise Systems (597 KB)
Osamu Matsumoto, Kota Kawai, Toshio Takeda, pp.17-24
The modern enterprise is in need of a business transformation to keep up with the rapid evolution of cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile communications, and other digital technologies. The era has arrived in which a competitor may be a company in a completely different industry or a startup company (which was previously inconceivable). In such an era, growth is difficult to achieve by simply continuing one's traditional business, and predicting the future is nearly impossible. Change is required for growth. There is thus a need for enterprise systems that can forecast the future using information and communications technology (ICT), perform testing quickly and repeatedly, and react flexibly to change. To meet this need, Fujitsu launched the FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 Platform as a Service (PaaS) on April 1, 2016. It supports the development, execution, and operation of the business applications that lie at the core of an enterprise business. It combines years of system integration knowledge with open technologies and is aimed at improving the ability of business applications to respond to change. In particular, it enables enterprises to create new businesses by connecting a variety of service functions such as IoT and social media. This paper describes the features of K5 PaaS, the requirements for quickly and flexibly contributing to the digitalization of customers' businesses, and service functions for meeting those requirements.
Integrating Multi-Cloud Environment with FUJITSU Cloud Services Management (671 KB)
Jin Kure, Kazuhiko Ito, Misako Tateiwa, Shingo Suzuki, pp.25-31
In recent years, an increasing number of businesses have come to rely on public cloud computing, employing multiple cloud systems (multi-cloud) simultaneously. Also spreading widely among these multi-cloud operating companies is what is called shadow IT, which refers to public cloud services contracted directly by each department outside the official framework of the organization's systems for less red tape and greater speed. Such use of shadow IT may compromise the organization's governance of information and communications technology (ICT), and differences in specifications and usability between clouds can give rise to issues such as increased operational workload and operational complexity. To address these challenges, Fujitsu offers FUJITSU Cloud Services Management, a service that allows users to integrate multi-cloud management. It provides features and portal sites designed for a multi-cloud environment to centrally manage enterprise-wide usage, contracts and costs. This solution helps enhance ICT governance and optimize ICT operation and spending. This paper presents some of the challenges pertaining to multi-cloud environments, and describes the solutions our service offers.
IoT Platform for Comprehensive Coordination of IoT Systems (691 KB)
Daisuke Namihira, Tomohiro Nakajima, pp.32-37
In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), Fujitsu has been offering the FUJITSU Cloud Service IoT Platform (hereafter, the IoT Platform) since August 2015. It is capable of accumulating and leveraging all kinds of data. The latest improvement to the platform has made the development of IoT systems very simple, with a focus on easy coordination of the IoT Platform with user applications for more effective data utilization (for analysis, visualization, and so on). The result is effortless coordination that covers the entire IoT system. We have also improved service accessibility to overcome area-dependent distribution, with a view to international marketing. As a result, we have achieved more efficient development of IoT applications, and the service can now be provided in a way that is free from regional constraints. This paper presents the FY2016 development/enhancement plan for the IoT Platform, describing various advantages gained through it. It also discusses the platform's role in realizing IoT-system-wide coordination. Finally, the paper concludes with observations on future enhancements so that the IoT Platform continues to be an ideal platform that is compatible with a diverse range of IoT systems.
Toward AI for Human Beings: Human Centric AI Zinrai (633 KB)
Yuzuru Yamakage, Seishi Okamoto, pp.38-44
The demand for information and communications technology (ICT) has grown remarkably in recent years, with customers wanting to leverage it to transform their on-site work and create new business opportunities through innovations. In this climate, the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) is attracting special interest. In the Fujitsu Group, Fujitsu Laboratories has been the hub of the research and development of AI since the 1980s, aiming to realize its practical application. Today, our knowledge and expertise in AI are integrated into a structured system-Human Centric AI Zinrai (hereafter, Zinrai). Based on Fujitsu's knowledge and know-how gained through cutting-edge research, Zinrai comprises the component technologies of sensing and recognition, knowledge processing, and decision-making and support, together with learning technologies that allow these features to be enhanced and grow. Fujitsu takes a unique approach to AI because these technologies are organically integrated to facilitate an ICT environment that helps enrich people's lives and society. This paper presents contextual accounts of AI development at Fujitsu, and describes innovative technologies that represent the four areas of technology within Zinrai: learning, sensory-media, knowledge, and mathematics. It also gives some accounts of collaborative initiatives with our customers to promote the AI business.
Cloud Service for Transformation of On-site Work through Smart Devices (596 KB)
Susumu Terasaka, Masatomo Yasaki, Norie Tachibana, Hiroyoshi Kasai, pp.45-51
The use of smartphones, tablets, and other smart devices is expanding in society, and even companies and organizations are coming to adopt them on a large scale. Introducing smart devices in the workplace has the potential of transforming on-site work and fostering business innovation. Their introduction, however, presents particular problems to an enterprise. For example, a company must implement measures against terminal loss and unauthorized use even in the initial stage of introduction. In fact, a wide range of issues need to be addressed including compatibility with existing business functions and requirements, the ease and cost of operations, and the visualization of on-site work for decision-making purposes. Fujitsu provides FUJITSU Cloud Service MobileSUITE as a cloud-based service to solve these problems. This service provides benefits corresponding to the various stages of using smart devices in business, from countermeasures against terminal loss and unauthorized use to functions for making application development and operation more efficient and facilitating the linking of smart devices with existing business systems. This paper describes how MobileSUITE can solve the problems arising from the use of smart devices in the workplace and presents case studies.
Private Cloud Platform Based on Open Source Technology (578 KB)
Hisatomo Suzuki, Hiroyasu Kageyama, Yustinus Juli, pp.52-57
In recent years, due to rapid technological advancements such as big data utilization, cloud computing, mobile communications/devices, and social media, business owners have been urged to transform their information and communications technology (ICT) systems. However, many companies hesitate to embrace the ICT innovation because they have been incurring a lot of cost with the systems virtualization and integration they have carried out so far. To resolve this situation, Fujitsu proposes FUJITSU Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for Cloud K5 (hereafter, PFC-K5), an integrated private cloud solution. This solution is also one of the private cloud solutions of FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc. PFC-K5 provides an optimal combination of hardware and software for business operations on the cloud, and this solution is delivered to the business owners in a ready-to-use condition. PFC-K5 not only supports business operation lifecycle by providing optimal ICT systems, but also enables business owners to introduce the latest cloud technology to their ICT systems at low cost. Moreover, through infrastructure standardization and automation, business owners can use this solution to reduce their operational cost, and hence move forward with transforming their ICT system. This solution is based on the same technology as FUJITSU Cloud Service K5, making it possible to build a hybrid cloud environment. This paper describes an overview and the features of PFC-K5.

Examples of Utilization and Effects of MetaArc

Migration of Internal Systems to FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 (723 KB)
Makoto Aizawa, Tomohiro Kakuma, Akinori Kanamaru, pp.58-66
Fujitsu has embarked on migrating its internal systems integrated on a public cloud service, aiming to minimize system operation costs, as well as the cost and period of the development of new applications. In order to migrate the systems efficiently to a public cloud while ensuring operational security and safety, we have developed an internal cloud service. It can address various technical challenges in cloud computing, such as security enhancement as well as the development of a network environment for connecting to the cloud service (VPN connection), common shared infrastructure services, system-wide integrated infrastructure monitoring, and operational automation. An internal pilot system was introduced to assess and evaluate the migration operation, and we verified that the internal cloud service could achieve a 30% reduction in the cost of operating the infrastructure, while the new infrastructure would be introduced in a shorter period (to two weeks from four months). These are part of the efforts to integrate the internal systems on the FUJITSU Cloud Service K5, the core of FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc. This paper describes the initiative to develop the internal cloud service and the evaluation of the system migration using the pilot system, with its results. The paper also presents the total cloud-migration plan for Fujitsu's own internal systems, and the expected effects.
Development and Promotion of Application Technologies for Digital Business Platforms (521 KB)
Kiminori Yoshida, pp.67-70
In October 2015, Fujitsu launched FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc (hereafter, MetaArc), a cloud-based package with the latest technologies for business customers' digital transformation. This is a global platform designed to foster digital businesses, and it helps to bridge between people, information, and infrastructure in ways that go beyond corporate/industrial boundaries, thereby bolstering our customers' value-creation and competitiveness. Our division is responsible for making Fujitsu's global business stronger and faster through a structural reform of the entire service-oriented business the Company offers, as we accumulate knowledge (know-how possessed by Fujitsu) in system integration (SI) from borderless activities in Japan as well as internationally. We also pursue a variety of measures to have MetaArc and FUJITSU Cloud Service K5 (hereafter, K5) used domestically and globally. This paper explains some of the measures, including the accumulation of SI knowledge and preparation of internal/external documents in relation to the technical support and preparation of applied technologies through K5-related business deals. In addition, this paper describes measures to make customer systems more adaptable to changes by preparing applied technologies to update to K5, measures to globally distribute MetaArc application technologies, and measures to bolster collaboration with U.S. startup companies.

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