Hitachi Solutions Engineers Recognized at Microsoft Top Partner Engineer Award 2026

In a significant achievement, Hitachi Solutions has announced that three of its talented engineers have received the prestigious Microsoft Top Partner Engineer Award 2026. This award, presented by Microsoft Japan, honors outstanding engineers from partner companies who have excelled in various technological domains. The winners from Hitachi Solutions are:

- Takahiro Matsuno, IT Architect, Group 5, Global Application Division (Outstanding for four consecutive years)
- Hidetaka Saito, Chief Engineer, Group 4, Global Application Division
- Hisakumi Akai, Unit Leader, Group 5, Global Application Division

About the Award

The Microsoft Top Partner Engineer Award aims to recognize individual engineers contributing significantly to cloud business initiatives. The award encompasses three key areas: Cloud & AI Platforms, Security, and AI Business Solutions. The three distinguished engineers from Hitachi Solutions were selected for their exceptional accomplishments in the AI Business Solutions category.

This category presents solutions that enhance work efficiency and business processes by leveraging AI agents, including Microsoft Copilot, across Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Power Platform. Their efforts have not only involved large-scale projects but also included significant contributions to case studies and the development of proprietary solutions that drive digital transformation for clients.

Contributions to AI Business Solutions

The recipients have been integral in advancing digital transformation (DX) for clients by responding to large projects and fostering in-house software and package development. Utilizing the latest technologies, they have contributed to specialization recognition through projects and certifications.

Moreover, their commitment extends to training the next generation of technologists through community events and internal Centers of Excellence (CoE). This dedication to fostering high technical proficiency in AI Business Solutions has not gone unnoticed.

One notable project includes the adoption of GitHub Copilot, which has revolutionized the development process by enhancing efficiency through code completion and design review automation, thus ensuring a stable quality of products.

Embracing AI for Future Developments

To maximize the effectiveness of AI deployment, Hitachi Solutions has established operational rules that balance security and governance without over-relying on AI. An efficient architectural framework has also been set up to mitigate functional overlaps between AI agents and other applications, ensuring seamless integration and practical implementation.

These initiatives are rooted in practical know-how accumulated from various projects, allowing Hitachi Solutions to promote reproducibility and enhance the quality of AI utilization, thus facilitating a broader application across diverse operations.

A Vision for the Future

Hitachi Solutions is poised to leverage its strong global partnership with Microsoft to continue supporting businesses in building diverse international systems. Embracing advanced technologies, they will deploy a holistic approach encompassing Microsoft Dynamics 365, Copilot products, AI data analysis platforms like Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Azure OpenAI in Foundry Models, and Microsoft Power Platform.

By integrating these Microsoft products and services, Hitachi aims to enhance sustainable business operations for a varied range of clients.

Comments from Microsoft Japan

Tomohiro Asano, Executive Officer of Microsoft Japan, expressed his appreciation for the engineers’ hard work and commitment, stating, “I am thrilled to award Takahiro Matsuno, Hidetaka Saito, and Hisakumi Akai with the Microsoft Top Partner Engineer Award 2026. This award recognizes their broad contributions towards delivering value and advancing digital transformation for customers.” He further emphasized the importance of their expertise and experience in promoting Microsoft technologies.

Hitachi Solutions and Microsoft Dynamics 365

Hitachi Solutions brings to the table a wealth of global capabilities and operational experience through the Microsoft Dynamics 365 initiatives. Their solutions benefit from collaborative efforts with various group companies, enhancing delivery for over 2,400 global system deployments. Hitachi’s continuous support spans from system construction to maintenance and operation on a worldwide scale.

For more details about Hitachi Solutions, visit their official website at Hitachi Solutions.