IBM launches business analytics system

IBM on Tuesday unveiled a business analytics system--a bundle of preconfigured and optimized hardware and software--designed to cut deployment time.

The system is designed to complement and enhance IBM's existing business analytics service. The system will also have optional business intelligence and data mining software. The IBM Business Analytics System will be available Sep. 29.

Big Blue's goal is to move analytics from reacting to events to predicting them. The bundle, dubbed IBM Smart Analytics System, includes hardware, software, storage and services. The system promises to put diverse data points into a visualization system.

In April, IBM rolled out a services unit focused on business analytics. For the latest system, IBM counts the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Sterling Savings Bank and retail chain Dillard's.

In an interview, Bernie Spang, director of product strategy and marketing information management, made the following points:

• The goal of the system is deliver a system designed, built and engineered for business analytics in days not months.
• The main selling point of the system is that customers can save on the labor that would be required to optimize a similar system. "There's a time to value and cost reduction in taking advantage of a system designed for an analytics workload," said Spang.
• Set-up and installation services are part of the package.
• The system isn't tailored to any one vertical.
• Pricing will be revealed closer to the September availability date.

This article was first published as a blog post on ZDNet.com.