IBM has entered into a partnership with Twitter that will see the companies deliver what they claim is an entirely new class of analytic data that was previously inaccessible to businesses.
Effectively Twitter is aligning its social media platform with IBM’s enterprise cloud which is used by businesses in 170 countries to provide businesses with analytical insights into customers, markets and trends in real-time to make informed business decisions.
“Twitter provides a powerful new lens through which to look at the world – as both a platform for hundreds of millions of consumers and business professionals, and as a synthesiser of trends,” said Ginni Rometty, IBM, chairman, president and CEO.
“This partnership, drawing on IBM’s leading cloud-based analytics platform, will help clients enrich business decisions with an entirely new class of data. This is the latest example of how IBM is reimagining work.”
Enabling business transformation through social media
The collaboration will take three forms: integration of Twitter data with IBM analytics in the cloud; new data-intensive capabilities for the enterprise; and specialised enterprise consulting and collaboration between the two companies.
The deal with Twitter is the next step in an IBM effort to embrace the new computing landscape, as can be seen in the massive enterprise mobility deal that Big Blue struck with Apple recently that will see IBM sell iPhones and iPads.
The scale of the challenge IBM faces is enormous. Last week Rometty expressed disappointment as IBM reported a 4pc drop in sales to US$22.4bn and a substantial fall in net income from US$4bn last year to only US$18m in the third quarter.
“When it comes to enterprise transformation, IBM is an undisputed global leader in enabling companies to take advantage of emerging technologies and platforms,” said Dick Costolo, Twitter CEO.
“This important partnership with IBM will change the way business decisions are made – from identifying emerging market opportunities to better engaging clients, partners and employees.”
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