IBM has acquired Emptoris, a provider of cloud and on-premise analytics software. The deal, the financial terms of which weren’t disclosed, will result in extra firepower for IBM’s Smarter Commerce division.
Massachusetts-based Emptoris counts more than 350 customers in 75 countries.
IBM’s Smarter Commerce initiative is aimed at helping companies respond to shifting customer buying patterns.
Emptoris brings to IBM Smarter Commerce a set of new, flexible and integrated solutions that orchestrate and manage the sourcing and procurement of goods and materials as part of supply chain management.
Supply chain intelligence using these solutions enables better inventory management and can create large savings opportunities.
Smart Commerce is a US$20bn market opportunity for IBM
IBM has estimated that the Smarter Commerce initiative is a US$20bn market opportunity in software alone.
Emptoris’ spend management solutions complement the existing B2B integration and supply chain management capabilities IBM acquired through the purchase of Sterling Commerce in 2010.
“Emptoris leadership in the ‘buy’ or supply chain capabilities of Smarter Commerce enables customers to better source, optimise and control enterprise spending,” said Patrick Quirk, CEO, Emptoris.
“Procurement officers need to manage the full engagement, integrating suppliers with key internal systems and have the capability and visibility to manage compliance and mitigate supply risk,” Quirk said.
IBM has been quite acquisitive in recent months and one of its recent acquisitions has been Irish software company Cúram, which will enable IBM to deliver social programmes for smarter cities.
