IBM has unveiled an extensive array of cloud solutions designed for the C-suite to help executives accelerate innovation around customer experience to meet business objectives in concert with the company’s IT strategy.
Among the newest cloud business offerings is a Big Data and social analytics solution that chief marketing officers (CMOs) can use to get an emotional reading on how customers view their brand.
Cloud computing is quickly becoming essential to C-Suite executives. While technology decisions have been made historically by CIOs and IT department heads, the C-Suite is adopting cloud computing because they see its ability to transform their front office processes — marketing, procurement, supplier management, human resources and legal.
In fact, Gartner estimates that by 2017, CMOs will spend more on IT than CIOs.
“The cloud opportunity is helping C-Suite leaders reshape customer experience,” said Paul Papas, Global Leader Smarter Commerce, IBM Global Business Services.
“As part of IBM’s digital front office strategy, we see these 100 cloud applications as a way for business leaders to improve customer experience, reach new customers, generate new revenue streams and become more competitive in their industry.”
Today’s announcement adds to IBM’s growing portfolio of cloud capabilities for business, both born-on-the-cloud and born-in-the-enterprise.
Last week IBM announced its intention to acquire SoftLayer Technologies, Inc. and earlier this year IBM committed to cloud open standards.
IBM SmartCloud Solutions portfolio now includes more than 100 business functions delivered as a service to help professionals make better decisions, differentiate customer experience, go to market and grow their business.
These innovations are currently being developed and deployed in the IBM Customer Experience Lab, which is dedicated to helping CEOs and members of the C-Suite transform the customer experience delivered by the digital front office.
IBM’s cloud suites for the C-level executives enable: Chief Marketing Officers to analyze, understand, and engage customers in highly relevant, interactive dialogues across digital, social and traditional marketing channels with digital analytics and marketing automation capabilities from offerings such as IBM Marketing Center.