Atos links arms with IBM in AI and IoT partnership
French systems integrator says global alliance with Big Blue will focus on the enterprise market
French IT consulting and services giant Atos has launched a new strategic partnership with IBM, which it says will help enterprise companies across verticals optimise their business processes using AI.
Atos says this "industry-led" approach will see both companies develop joint offerings built on Atos' vertical-focused solutions and service delivery capabilities, powered by IBM AI and Red Hat Open Shift technologies.
"As a result of the alliance, clients can expect to have access to industry-specific automation solutions using AI and hybrid cloud technologies to enable digital acceleration and increase productivity and reduce costs" the €11.58bn French SI said in a joint statement.
"Atos and IBM will work together to address business challenges to serve the Manufacturing, Energy and Utilities, Oil and Gas, Retail and Transportation sectors."
The expected areas of focus will include:
- Asset Lifecycle Management Solutions
IBM Maximo - IBM's enterprise asset management software tool - will be used to address risk with new solutions. Benefits for clients will "real-time operations visibility and KPI(s) to ensure business continuity".
- Asset Monitoring and Maintenance, Repair, and Operations Optimisation Solutions
IBM Maximo will be used to "increase asset optimisation and reduce capital expenses", Big Blue claims. Benefits for clients will include decreased unplanned downtimes and increased asset lifetimes
- Packaging, Transportation and Logistics Optimisation Solutions
Atos says a focus on product packaging, transportation and logistics will also reduce expenses.
- And SMART Waste/Energy Monitoring and Optimisation Solutions.
IBM says this will leverage IBM Watson and Red Hat OpenShift to help make energy consumption more efficient.
Both companies say they plan to primarily target manufacturing, energy & utilities, oil & gas, retail, and the transportation verticals.
Commenting on the news, Tech Market View analyst Georgina O'Toole said the move is a canny one as it expects COVID-19 will ramp up interest in business transformation technologies moving forwards.
"Atos' partnerships are important to the company as it seeks to accelerate the proportion of its business attributable to the ‘new' or ‘digital'," she said.
"This feels like good timing - now, as ever, it all comes down to execution."