The report examines the capabilities of IBM in Digital Transformation. It provides a comprehensive review of the products, services, and capabilities of IBM across 11 technology areas and dozens of functions, to determine the core strength of IBM for meeting enterprises’ needs. The 11 technology families in which the vendor’s capabilities are assessed are IoT, Hyperconnectivity, Human Machine Interface, Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Ledger, Data Sharing, Product Lifecycle Management, Robotic Process Automation, Edge Computing, Autonomous Robotic Systems, and 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing. While these may not encompass every possible technology that organisations may need in order to pursue a Digital Transformation, they certainly represent the most disruptive, and therefore the ones of which enterprises should be most aware.
The report includes rating across each of the technology areas and functional capabilities (specialised hardware, general hardware, software products, integrated solutions, application development, systems integration and project management, specialist services, and field & operational services) using Transforma Insights’ four-level universal rating system for vendors in Digital Transformation. Internet of Things, for instance, spans hardware, software, application development, implementation, field services, and specialist services. For each of the 92 combinations of function and technology, IBM is rated for whether its capabilities are ‘Emerging’, ‘Significant’, ‘Market Leading’, or ‘None’. This rating is based on both the credibility of the solution and the position of the offering in the market (e.g., market share).
IBM’s key strength lies in Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing, Data Sharing, and Distributed Ledger. It has limited/no capabilities in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing and in Product Lifecycle Management. IBM had significant capabilities in IoT until last year, but it has now shifted its focus away from IoT by shutting down its Watson IoT Platform service. Its main functional strength lies in supporting software and consulting engagements and it has very limited capabilities in hardware (except in AI and Edge Computing hardware).
IBM has secured a rating of 41% in Digital Transformation capabilities, compared to that theoretical maximum (a theoretical organisation that is ‘Market Leading’ in every aspect of providing Digital Transformation across all technologies).
