IBM Corp. has completed its acquisition of analytics software provider Varicent Software Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Varicent’s software automates and analyzes data across sales, finance, human resources and IT departments to uncover trends and improve sales performance and operations.

The Toronto company’s approximately 200 workers will join IBM’s software group.

“Varicent advances IBM’s efforts to deliver analytics directly into the hands of front line employees, helping them uncover new ways to remain competitive and stay ahead of increasing demand,” Les Rechan, IBM’s general manager of business analytics, said Wednesday in a statement.

IBM said that the buyout is part of its long-term strategy to broaden its business analytics and software and services capabilities. The company announced the deal last month.

Shares of IBM, which is based in Armonk, N.Y., fell $1.13 to $195.69 in morning trading Wednesday. They are near the high end of their 52-week range of $157.13 to $210.69.

Source:http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9UUEQP81.htm

Integrated e-commerce software in the cloud that spans marketing, selling and fulfillment

IBM has debuted a new enterprise e-Commerce software version, Commerce on Cloud designed for data sharing and marketing and supply chain processes in the cloud.

Commerce on Cloud, is an integrated platform for offering, selling, transacting and fulfilling orders in the cloud, the company noted.

IBM stated the new offering enables chief marketing officers (CMOs) and e-commerce executives establish and maintain an on-line storefront, and automate and synchronise supply and demand engines in a bid to improve the flow of business-to-consumer transactions.

IBM Industry Solutions general manager Craig Hayman said accelerating commerce on the Cloud is a dramatic step forward in enabling companies to transform their business operations.

“Companies of all sizes can now deliver a better client experience by providing personalized marketing, selling the way customers want to buy, and delivering products through a supply chain that’s prepared for the unpredictable,” Hayman added.

IBM announced it has also has upgraded its other on-cloud collaboration networks for collaboration and digital information sharing across demand and supply processes.

The company has added new pricing and trade promotion collaboration capabilities for DemandTec that will enable a network of more than 15,000 members such as ConAgra Foods and PETCO to share information, for retailer-consumer packaged goods collaboration and execution.

A new certified Digital Data Exchange Partner program, retailers and third party digital marketing providers can relay on behavioral data to analyse specific processes and manage their marketing, promotions and customer behavioral analytics.

Source:http://ecommerce.cbronline.com/news/ibm-rolls-out-new-enterprise-e-commerce-software-version-230512

SOFTWARE has saved short-term insurer Santam $2,4m in fraudulent claims, according to the technology’s supplier IBM.

IBM said yesterday its business analytics software had enhanced Santam’s fraud detection capabilities and had also enabled faster payouts for legitimate claims. In developing markets including SA, about R3bn is siphoned off by criminals every year, according to IBM.

Industry experts said that last year fraudulent claims in SA had totalled more than R100m, and this amount only includes claims identified as fraudulent.

Short-term insurers have dealt with policyholders who continue to beat the system by making false reports of car thefts to claim insurance. Business owners have been known to burn down their premises to claim insurance benefits.

Anesh Govender, the head of finance, reporting and salvage at Santam, said IBM’s solution “has delivered a full return on investment and also helped uncover a motor insurance fraud syndicate in less than 30 days after the system went live”.

According to IBM, Santam’s claims division developed a new operating model for processing claims, depending on varying risk levels.

“IBM’s predictive analytics software has enabled Santam to automatically assess if there is any fraud risk associated with incoming claims and allows the insurer to distribute claims to the appropriate processing channel for immediate settlement or further investigation, which optimises operational efficiency.”

Rich Holada, vice-president of predictive analytics at IBM, said Santam “provides an excellent example of how insurers can put analytics into action in order to reduce risk, while improving the customer experience by settling claims faster”.

Source:http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=171479