#Japan #Tokyo #Belluna #Devin #ULS Consulting

Introduction

In a collaborative effort to enhance system efficiency and development quality, ULS Consulting, a Tokyo-based consulting firm, has joined forces with Belluna, a leading mail-order company based in Saitama Prefecture. This partnership revolves around the implementation of Devin, an autonomous AI software engineer, marking a significant step forward in Belluna's digital transformation journey.

Belluna: A Versatile Company

Founded in the 1970s, Belluna has diversified its portfolio from catalog sales to various sectors such as real estate, hotels, and food services. Not only does it offer a wide range of products, including apparel, cosmetics, and groceries, but it also leverages smartphones and digital marketing to provide comprehensive value to its customers. As the company expanded, it became clear that the complexity of its core business systems, which had undergone numerous modifications over the years, was becoming a challenge. Additionally, with the growth of its various business arms, the number of systems had also proliferated, resulting in increased maintenance and operational burdens.

The Need for Change

One of the pressing issues at Belluna was the reliance on obsolete programming languages, such as COBOL. The scarcity of skilled developers in these areas presented a significant hurdle for the company. In response, Belluna recognized the necessity for a shift towards AI-driven development to better meet its business needs with limited human resources.

ULS Consulting's Expertise

ULS Consulting was selected for this project due to its extensive experience with Devin and its profound consulting insights in core system development and maintenance. The team began by conducting an in-depth analysis of the existing systems, which included creating documentation, identifying the scope of system modifications, and implementing testing protocols. ULS's approach allowed for a broader application of Devin across various aspects of business system maintenance and operation.

Trial Run Success

A pivotal moment in this collaboration came with the commencement of a trial run in October 2025. This initiative aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Devin within specific business systems. The results were impressive: the trial yielded a 29% reduction in time spent on investigative tasks and document creation. Not only did this translate to significant labor savings, but it also lowered dependency on specific individuals and helped standardize quality across the board.

Ambitious Plans Ahead

Hiroyuki Sekiguchi, the Director of the IT Planning Division at Belluna, expressed his optimism regarding the results. He noted, "While our systems have supported our long-term business expansion, we have faced challenges such as technical debt and the risk of reliance on individual technicians. Securing experts in languages like COBOL has been particularly difficult. The introduction of Devin represents not just a technology trial but a comprehensive understanding of our system structure and development processes. The ability to optimize how we utilize Devin is crucial. The achievement of a 29% reduction in labor is a significant step towards addressing our challenges. Our goal is to expand this successful AI-driven development experience across the entire organization, establishing a new development style where AI and humans collaborate seamlessly."

Conclusion

Looking ahead, ULS Consulting will continue to fervently support Belluna in cementing its AI-driven development framework. This partnership exemplifies a strategic move towards future-ready solutions, fostering innovation and efficiency in the world of business technology.

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