■ Background of introduction

In this age of great change as digital transformation progresses, the use of AI technology has become a strategic top priority for many companies and organizations, and they are exploring ways to create and maximize added value in their businesses through the use of AI. In this environment, the process of solving problems that were previously discovered and solved by the skills and tacit knowledge of on-site craftsmen and artisans, by collecting and analyzing existing scattered data and converting it into assets as digital data, is being recognized as a new on-site capability in the age of digital transformation.

This new on-site capability requires the creation of added value through the use of AI, labor-saving measures to solve the deepening labor shortage, and the succession of on-site technologies. To achieve this, data must not only be collected but also refined for analysis. However, as technology becomes more advanced, the amount of data collected on-site is increasing at an accelerating rate, and the accuracy and speed of data refinement and analysis to utilize the data is inevitably required. Therefore, Macnica, which has been providing and supporting AI solutions to companies seeking to realize the use of AI on-site, has secured abundant computing resources by introducing the NVIDIA® DGX-2™, which can perform high-speed processing of complex calculations essential for generating sophisticated AI models.

■ コンピューティングリソース拡張による想定効果

Developing AI models, improving embedded services, shortening delivery times

Macnica translates customer issues into system requirements, develops optimal AI models with eco-partners and our own data scientists, implements the AI models in the cloud environment, incorporates the AI models into edge terminals, and implements them on-site. We support up to. Collecting and analyzing customer data is essential to this process, and this significant expansion of computing resources will improve the quality of the services we provide and shorten the delivery time for solution proposals.

Expansion of service portfolio for AI-related solutions

Currently, Macnica offers AI solutions for the distribution, healthcare, and electric power industries, as well as the manufacturing industry, where we propose AI x IoT solutions as a target market for our AI business. Highly accurate data analysis is required in various service delivery phases, including services that provide optimal technology fitting according to the issues faced by customers in the field, and one-stop solution proposals from data acquisition to system implementation. With this enhancement of computing resources, we plan to expand the range of target markets and AI solution portfolio that we will propose in the future.

■ Overview of NVIDIA® DGX-2™ that supports AI workloads

NVIDIA® DGX-2™ is the top-of-the-line system developed by NVIDIA and is optimized for parallel computing and deep learning, which are essential for AI systems. Equipped with 16 high-speed interconnected GPUs, each unit has a computing power of 2,000 trillion floating point operations per second, achieving deep learning performance.

Macnica believes that by using NVIDIA® DGX-2™, customers will be able to perform parallel processing of large amounts of complex data at high speed without having to spend time preparing development and verification environments. You can work on large-scale AI model development to solve problems.

■ Future efforts

Macnica As a technology trading company of semiconductors and networks, macnica.ai, Inc. has been providing advanced technologies and solutions from around the world. In January, Macnica announced the overall portfolio of "macnica.ai", its unique AI business, as a companion for AI applications that connects people, technology, and experience in Japan and overseas to support the digital transformation of enterprises. With NVIDIA® DGX-2™, we will further accelerate our AI business as the third pillar of our business after semiconductor and network equipment sales, and contribute to further business efficiency and digital transformation of our customers by providing cutting-edge AI environment and solutions. The Company aims to achieve sales of 30 billion yen in the AI business as a whole over the next five years, including the construction of AI systems and the provision of operation services, including the use of NVIDIA® DGX-2™.
In addition, Macnica will exhibit at the 3rd AI & Artificial Intelligence EXPO, Japan's largest AI exhibition, to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 3 (Wed.) to 5 (Fri.) (Booth 15-1), and will introduce Macnica 's unique AI solutions, including actual examples.

Comment from Mr. Masataka Osaki, Representative of Japan and Vice President of U.S. Headquarters, NVIDIA G.K.

NVIDIA welcomes the introduction of the deep learning system "NVIDIA® DGX-2™" by Macnica. NVIDIA not only provides GPUs that support our customers' businesses, but also builds a strong partnership with Macnica and contributes to accelerating the growth of our customers' businesses. In the future, NVIDIA will continue to work closely with Macnica to support customers' deep learning needs and aim to maximize the added value of customers' AI-based businesses.

* Company names and product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*Source http://www.meti.go.jp/report/whitepaper/mono/2018/index.html

About Macnica

Since its establishment in 1972, Macnica has been a technology trading company and solution provider that plans, develops, and sells semiconductors and network-related equipment in the electronics and information and communications fields. We carry a wide variety of cutting-edge electronic products and always provide advanced technology and knowledge with higher added value. We also accurately grasp market trends and customer needs, establish our own detailed services and support, and support product design and development. Furthermore, in recent years, we have been actively engaged in activities to create new businesses targeting markets where technological innovation is occurring and which are expected to further expand in the future. the Company is headquartered in Yokohama, and operates in countries including Japan, the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Israel, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. We are developing global business based on 78 locations in 22 countries around the world, including Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Please see the website (https://www.macnica.co.jp) for details.