Award Overview
| Award | 4th Japan No-Code Awards, Award of Excellence (General Enterprise Category) |
|---|---|
| Organizer | No-Code Promotion Association (Japan DX Award Executive Committee) |
| Recognized for | From AI as a "Tool" to AI as a "Team" Reinventing the development model itself through AI-Driven Development |
| Award Ceremony | Thursday, July 23, 2026, 15:40– TODA Hall & Conference Tokyo |
Background and Results
Since the emergence of generative AI, many companies have been adopting AI. GMO Internet set its sights one step further: reinventing the development model itself by elevating AI from "a tool to use" to "a member of the team."
The initiative began with small-scale pilot trials, and the development division rolled out the successful cases to all engineers in phases. By integrating AI agents into every stage of the development process, the company built a structure in which AI autonomously drives implementation and improvement, while people focus on the decision-making roles of "review and approval."
As a result, GMO Internet reduced development man-hours by 50% and cut costs by 53 million yen annually as of the end of fiscal 2025. Furthermore, by establishing "Harness Engineering"—a framework in which multiple AI agents review one another's output to ensure quality—development productivity reached fivefold as of June 2026. Under this structure, non-engineers in planning and marketing roles can now handle part of the development work through AI agents.
This "no-code" participation—joining the development process without writing code—is taking hold on the ground.
This award affirms, through external recognition, GMO Internet's belief that the key to embedding AI use and delivering results lies in building a standardized environment and providing hands-on support to the teams working with it.
Comment from Isao Nakayama, Representative Director, No-Code Promotion Association
GMO Internet, Inc. embodies the true potential of "no-code" as a broader form of "democratizing development"—one that is not bound by whether or not programming is involved. Achieving a fivefold increase in development productivity in such a short period, as the result of steadily building standardization and providing hands-on support to their teams, sets a benchmark for how Japanese companies can leverage AI going forward. Creating a structure in which even non-engineers can take part in development through AI agents is a pioneering effort that offers valuable insight to many companies. I hope this award marks a new step forward in advancing DX in Japan.
Comment from GMO Internet
Yukito Yanaka, Manager, Application Common Team, Architecture Division, Systems Division, GMO Internet, Inc.
"It is a great honor to receive this award. Our goal was not simply to 'use' AI, but to 'build' a workplace that keeps evolving through collaboration with AI. I am delighted that our steady efforts—standardization and hands-on support for our teams—have taken shape in this way. We will continue to evolve our development organization itself, aiming to become the No.1 company that creates the future with AI."
About the Japan No-Code Awards
The "Japan No-Code Awards" is an award program organized by the No-Code Promotion Association (Representative Director: Isao Nakayama). It recognizes outstanding cases that leverage "no-code" tools—which enable the development of applications and web services without programming. Winners are selected from among the entries to the "Japan DX Award," one of Japan's largest DX contests, and the award ceremonies for both are held together each year. The finalists who passed the main screening were announced at the "Japan DX Award 2026 Summit & Awards" (July 22–23, 2026, in Kyobashi, Tokyo).
AI Summary
GMO Internet wins the Award of Excellence in the General Enterprise category at the 4th Japan No-Code Awards
Recognized for "AI-Driven Development," which positions AI as a "team" rather than a "tool"
Achieved a 50% reduction in development man-hours, 53 million yen in annual cost savings, and a fivefold increase in development productivity
Established "Harness Engineering," a framework in which multiple AI agents review one another's output
Built a structure in which even non-engineers can take part in development through AI agents
About GMO Internet, Inc.
GMO Internet, Inc. is a comprehensive internet company that operates internet infrastructure businesses—including domains, cloud and rental servers, and internet connectivity—as well as internet advertising and media businesses. Under its corporate slogan "Internet for Everyone," GMO Internet works as a company that supports society's foundations: contributing to the realization of a safe and secure internet society, creating new value that builds the future with AI, and delivering "smiles" and "impressions" to everyone it engages with.
