Works Human Intelligence Boosts Cloud Skills and Developer Efficiency with AWS

Tokyo-based Works Human Intelligence (WHI) provides an integrated HR system “COMPANY®” in Japan. “COMPANY®” covers a wide range of business areas related to human capital management, such as personnel management, payroll calculation, attendance management, and talent management, and is used by approximately 1,200 corporate groups in Japan.

In 2019, WHI began providing “COMPANY®” as a cloud service. The SaaS version allowed customers to get access to cutting-edge services that are more cost-effective. For the cloud infrastructure behind the SaaS solution, WHI chose Amazon Web Services (AWS) in terms of reliability and performance.

When WHI began using AWS, WHI encouraged its developers to learn about AWS to deliver on their projects. They also wanted to achieve a strong level of proficiency and gain more skills to develop their careers by achieving AWS Certifications. WHI, which has a longstanding commitment to employee development, sought to provide AWS training opportunities to its employees. Comments Hagita, Product Division DX Promotion Manager,  “We knew from experience that training was a great way to enhance employee engagement and retention.”

To help its employees develop their AWS capabilities, WHI introduced AWS Skill Builder, an online learning center provided by AWS Training and Certification.  “We chose AWS Skill Builder so our personnel could gain hands-on experience of using AWS services in risk-free, live environments,” says Hagita.

The AWS Skill Builder Team subscription, featuring over 600 self-paced digital courses and training resources, made it possible for WHI to customize learning plans for their employees.
It also provided unlimited access to more than 150 AWS Builder Labs, which gave participants live AWS sandbox environments to practice their skills, enhanced exam prep courses, and an administrator dashboard. “The subscription model was a cost-effective way for us to offer our employees access to a substantial number of digital courses and learning plans,” adds Hagita.

Additionally, WHI personnel have participated in AWS Jam challenges and attended partner-partner-led gamified learning AWS GameDay events. As part of these monthly activities, teams compete in solving timed development challenges, with each team vying for points to gain the top spot on a leaderboard. For WHI, the exercise helps strengthen bonds across the product division. “The events are a great opportunity for our developers and engineers to work closely with colleagues, fostering collaboration and increasing employee satisfaction,” says Ami Kojima and Yuto Matsubara, operating members of Skill Builder at the 2023 Japan AWS Jr.Champions.     

Currently, three people at WHI have been awarded in the AWS Top Engineer Partner Program in Japan. Since the subscription began, one in three engineers have leveraged AWS Skill Builder, and the company expects that to increase to one in two over the next 12 months. Of the current participants, three have been awarded by the AWS Top Engineer Partner Program in Japan for the quality of their work. Adds Yuya Tanji, Developer Relations in Product Division, “Everyone who participates in AWS Skill Builder wants to continue learning. We’re seeing a great spirit of friendly competition among staff looking to improve their skills.”

By moving to an AWS-based SaaS model and adopting AWS Skill Builder, WHI has improved the cloud operations  efficiency across its product division by 6.7 times. “We’re gaining maximum value from our move to the cloud as a result of AWS Skill Builder boosting the capabilities of our engineers and developers,” says Hagita.

In addition to the division increasing performance, customers are gaining better returns from their WHI investments. WHI consistently rolls out software updates every three months. Thanks to the newfound efficiencies across the division, WHI can seamlessly incorporate value-adding improvements into the updates and upgrades.

The SaaS offering also means customers see cost savings from no longer having to maintain their own on-premises environments. As a result, around 30 percent have already switched from the on-premises to the cloud-based offering. This number has been accelerating as more features and robust functionality are released due to AWS internal expertise.

Among its peers in Japan, WHI was one of the early adopters of the AWS Skill Builder Team subscription. As Hagita and Tanji note, AWS Skill Builder plays a vital role in boosting motivation, and contributing to talent retention and recruitment efforts. “This commitment not only benefits their individual career development but also represents a cornerstone for the ongoing success of WHI," says Hagita.