IBM Opens Analytics Base in London

IBM has launched a London Analytics Solution Centre, based in its Southbank office, to provide advanced analytics expertise to its UK-based clients.

The centre will draw on IBM expertise from its Business Analytics and Optimisation global consulting organization, as well as from technologists at its software development laboratory - IBM Hursley in Hampshire, UK.

Clients will also have access to technologies integrated into IBM after the acquisitions of Cognos, iLog and SPSS, to capture detailed data about customer attitudes, opinions and preferences.

The centre's initial mission will be to focus on the UK financial services sector, to help clients develop systems that provide improved visibility and tracking, while driving information management to support improved client satisfaction and cost efficiencies.

Over time, the centre will expand to help clients in energy and utilities companies, public sector organisations and pharmaceuticals firms.

The centre will be the focal point for a UK & Ireland Analytics team, which will initially be home to a total of 400 consultants, software specialists and mathematicians.

'Today's business leaders need to move beyond intuition to insight, from gut feel to facts - it is now possible to see key patterns in vast amounts of data, to extract critical insights and move to a new level of intelligence,' stated Brendon Riley, CEO, IBM UK and Ireland. 'London was chosen due to its status as a global financial centre and world-class skills base.'

Web site: www.ibm.com .