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IBM acquires cloud analytics provider

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CIOL Bureau
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ARMONK, USA: IBM announced that it would acquire Emptoris Inc., a provider of cloud and on-premise analytics software supply chain operations. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

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"IBM is continuing to deliver innovative solutions to help organizations put the customer at the center of their business operations," said Craig Hayman, General Manager of Industry Solutions at IBM. "Procurement is being asked to show how it can deliver value to the organization.  Adding Emptoris strengthens the comprehensive capabilities we deliver and enables IBM to meet the specific needs of chief procurement officers."

With more than 350 customers in 75 countries, Emptoris is based in Burlington, Mass. with offices in the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, India, Brazil and China.

Emptoris' global clients span multiple industries including consumer products, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, chemical/oil/gas, utilities, construction and industrial manufacturing.

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The acquisition is the latest addition to IBM's Smarter Commerce initiative, launched in March 2011, which is aimed at helping companies respond to shifting customer buying patterns. 

Emptoris brings to IBM Smarter Commerce a set of new, flexible and integrated solutions that orchestrate and manage the sourcing and procurement of goods and materials as part of supply chain management. Supply chain intelligence using these solutions enables better inventory management and can create large savings opportunities, claims the company in a release.

IBM has estimated that the Smarter Commerce initiative is a $20 billion market opportunity in software alone.

"Emptoris leadership in the 'buy' or supply chain capabilities of Smarter Commerce enables customers to better source, optimize and control enterprise spending," said Patrick Quirk, CEO, Emptoris. "Procurement officers need to manage the full engagement, integrating suppliers with key internal systems and have the capability and visibility to manage compliance and mitigate supply risk.  That is the value we bring to the procurement organization."

Founded in 1999, Emptoris has over 725 employees around the world. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2012.

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