#Japan #Tokyo #AI Agent #PortX #Formula

Introduction to PortX's AI Agent

In a significant leap for business transformation, PortX has rolled out a cutting-edge AI Agent within its development and operational framework, Formula. This innovative feature, dubbed the Current Analysis AI Agent, aims to decode the complex structures of existing business systems by analyzing source codes and design documents, ultimately automating the generation of critical specifications that can serve as a foundation for change. The interaction of technology and business processes is becoming increasingly essential, especially in the competitive landscape of large-scale manufacturing operations.

Breaking Through Invisible Walls

For major players in manufacturing, core operations such as inventory management, order fulfillment, production logistics, and demand planning are pivotal for maintaining a competitive edge. It’s important to note that many supporting systems have been adapted, extended, and managed over decades, leading to a situation where individual employees understand only their limited scope. As a result, grasping the wholeness of these operations has become challenging, necessitating consultation across multiple departmental personnel. Few individuals can provide a comprehensive understanding of “why this process exists” and “what impacts a change”.

To develop new designs based purely on source code and design documents often leads to project setbacks and overlooked specifications. Verifying existing specifications requires intervention from the busy IT departments or current vendors, making it difficult to achieve a holistic review due to time constraints. PortX recognizes that this “invisible wall” is one of the significant barriers to transforming core business processes.

Understanding the Current Analysis AI Agent

The Current Analysis AI Agent is a revolutionary tool that uses AI to interpret existing systems' source codes, design documents, and operational documents, structuring them into a foundational framework known as the Formula Recipe. Upon creation of the Formula Recipe, the Formula system autonomously generates various output products, including design documentation, screens, code, API definitions, and database definitions. This means that once the Current Analysis AI has interpreted the existing system, a prototype of a modern application that replicates current operations is readily available.

Utilizing this prototype allows stakeholders to decide easily what to retain from current operations and what needs change. The transition from understanding the current state to designing a future state, and implementing it can now be streamlined and connected within the Formula ecosystem.

Key Features

Support for COBOL Source Code on Mainframes

Many major manufacturing companies still use COBOL-based systems on mainframes for critical operations. The Current Analysis AI has a proven track record of interpreting COBOL source codes, adaptable for systems that have undergone decades of modifications, allowing it to grasp both business logic and operational structures effectively.

Directly Transforming Outputs into Operational Applications

Unlike traditional methods that result in visual reports or analysis documents, the outputs from the Current Analysis AI are structured into a Formula Recipe. This facilitates the automatic generation of connected artifacts, resulting in an operational application that can be instantiated immediately. Users can engage with this application while discussing with relevant parties about what to retain and what to change. This process of not merely visualizing the current structure but enabling discussions around actionable applications fosters a smoother pathway for transformation.

Shared Transformation Map for All Stakeholders

Previously, understanding the entire scope of current systems required considerable time and effort, as various departments and vendors needed to be consulted individually. The advent of the Current Analysis AI, which visualizes business structures, offers everyone within the organization—departments of business operations, IT, and executive management—the ability to engage in discussions without the need for individual confirmations. This shared map allows for the smooth progression of decision-making regarding what to retain and what to change, fostering consensus among stakeholders in front of a functioning application.

Comprehensive Transformation Support via Formula

The recently announced AI development and operational platform, Formula, provides end-to-end support starting from business scenarios, right through to requirements definition, design, implementation, and operation. With the inclusion of the Current Analysis AI, even large firms with legacy systems can now access transformation support through Formula. Whether starting from new business concepts or decoding existing systems, the Formula framework allows for high-efficiency delivery and transformation.

Contact and Conclusion

The service site provides more details on PortX's support areas, processes, and the inner workings of Formula. Please visit the service site for further information.

In a statement, Hironari Ishida, CEO of PortX, noted that systems crucial to core operations in large organizations have accumulated wisdom and ingenuity over decades. “Many individuals have added modifications and alternative processing to keep daily operations running smoothly, leading to the current configurations of these systems. It is essential not to overlook this legacy as merely outdated but to acknowledge it as an integral part of the company's history.”

Yet, he pointed out, with this accumulated knowledge, many individuals are only aware of their limited sections of the system. This reality complicates efforts to innovate, as all involved must begin discussions without a shared “map” of current operations.

Ishida added that the Current Analysis AI embedded within Formula helps uncover the knowledge embedded in existing systems, including those built with mainframe COBOL, structuring it into a Formula Recipe. This capability leads to immediate availability of both design documents and applications, enabling business and IT departments to discuss and visualize transformations effectively. PortX aims not to discard the accumulated knowledge but rather to ensure that IT and business units share a common map, allowing smooth decision-making related to what stays and what should change.

About PortX

Company Name: PortX Inc.
Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
CEO: Hironari Ishida
Founded: December 2019
Business Focus: Supporting AI-native transformation of core operations and system integration
Website: PortX
PortX specializes in supply chain operations, offering unified advancement in business transformation and system construction. Through its proprietary platform, Formula, PortX merges operational scenarios with system implementations, fostering competitive business transformations.