As concerns rise regarding vendor lock-in (relying on a specific supplier, making it difficult to switch to another company) during the AI implementation process, Hitachi, Ltd. and Ricoh are deploying support services in different formats.
Hitachi forms FDE teams, Ricoh establishes new AI consulting arm: Seeking countermeasures against vendor lock-in
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
Hitachi, Ltd. has adopted a format where FDEs (Forward Deployed Engineers: engineers who stay on-site to conduct development) responsible for implementing physical AI (AI that operates in physical environments) are organized into teams. The company has indicated its approach to support through a team structure, stating that "one superman is not enough."
On the other hand, Ricoh has newly established an AI consulting company that sets itself apart from traditional FDE models based on on-site residency. Through a partnership-style support model that does not rely on staying on-site, the company aims to address concerns regarding vendor lock-in.
Sources
- FDE時代のパートナー選び、どうすべき？ リコーと日立の新サービスを読む （ITmedia AI+、2026-09-28）