In-brief: IBM unveiled IoT focused consulting services to encourage use of its Watson IoT platform. The company is targeting industries including automotive, insurance, retail and electronics.
A note over at eWeek that IBM this week unveiled a new Watson IoT (Internet of Things) Consulting Solution. The full IBM announcement can be found here.
The new consulting services will make a network of some 1,500 experts available at centers around the globe to help IBM customers develop Internet of Things products that use its Watson IoT platform, IBM said. Among them: data scientists. design and security experts.
IBM is targeting industries such as automotive, electronics, industrial products, insurance, retail, telecommunications and transportation, the company said.
The Watson IoT platform comprises a range of features, including software development kits (SDKs) that link it to IBM’s Bluemix cloud platform, IBM’s blockchain platform, data from the company’s Weather Company division and more. Recently, the company has added augmented reality, cognitive capabilities and natural language processing features to Watson, IoT.
For example: Watson IoT clients can apply that platform’s cognitive computing capabilities, including machine learning and natural language to tap into massive amounts of unstructured data — such as videos and sounds –- to gain insights and augment decision making.
“We wanted to create an easy way for clients to consume IoT services in an integrated way,” Jesus Mantas, GM for IBM Business Consulting told eWEEK. “So instead of organizations needing to buy a platform, hire consultants, put it all together and then build a business, we’re putting it all together inside of an IBM stack.”
Behind the scenes, the Armonk, New York company has forged partnerships with multiple hardware providers including silicon vendors for chipsets used in IoT devices. “We have provided integrations so all of that hardware can work with our platform,” Greenstein told eWEEK.
One example is Ricoh, digital printer and copier firm. That company is working with IBM’s IoT consultants to “redesign their engagement model and help …clients embrace intelligent workplace solutions designed to improve office collaboration and innovation,” IBM noted in a statement.
Source: IBM Debuts Watson Internet of Things Services Practice
