IBM launches Software and Consulting services

The new business will be focused on helping companies adapt to rising customer demands in today's digital marketplace.

The Smarter Commerce consulting practice extends IBM's activities in business analytics and optimisation. The new offerings will be backed by global sales and marketing resources.

IBM sees a US$70 billion opportunity in the Smarter Commerce market, driven by demand from clients that must bring new levels of automation to marketing, customer engagement and sales.

Among the new offering will be new cloud analytics software that enables companies to monitor their brands presence in real-time through social media channels.

An "IBM University" will provide training sellers and partners to build the job skills required for the Smarter Commerce marketplace.

"It's a buyer's world now," said Craig Hayman, General Manager, IBM Industry Solutions. "Businesses require a tighter and highly responsive network of suppliers and partners to ensure they deliver the right product or service at the right price, time and place. The key to business success in this unfolding environment is predicting trends and automating market responses in advance to eliminate the gaps between buy and sell, supply and demand."