TGIF! Pacesetters place big bet on "analytics" - Register for the Watson Beta!!!

I love being able to snap a picture of a check with my smart phone and magically deposit the money into my bank account. No more sitting in a long line of cars to deposit a check or worrying about misplacing that tiny piece of paper! Big data and analytics has made this service possible for financial institutions, large and small, to make available to their customers.

Last week, during our Business Tech Trends webcast, Don Hopper of Fiserv, a provider of information management and electronic commerce systems, shared two reasons why big data and analytics is fuel for his clients:

  1. Small and midsize financial institutions can now leverage insights that traditionally were only available to large financial institutions. Analyzing the data allows them to increase revenue and build stronger customer relationships.
  2. Financial institutions can now more effectively manage mobile and digital channels, like remote deposit services, while analyzing how to increase its adoption.

Hear more from Don, as well as others, in our replay of the Business Tech Trends webcast.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity for you to be part of the Watson Analytics Beta. This solution enables your business to put predictive capability into the hands of your business leaders like CMO, CHRO, and CSO.
You are invited to sign up for the Watson Analytics Beta Program. The time is now!

What kind of ideas for solutions do you have? What insights do you have to share? The 2014 Business Tech Trends study captured a tremendous amount of data. There are more insights than we could include in the Business Tech Trends study. And we're making it available to you!

Here's an opportunity for you to join us for our Bluemix JAM, download the data from the Business Tech Trends report, create your own Bluemix app with the data, and then share your cool insights with us!


Two great opportunities: Big Data and Analytics whitepaper and webcast

Here's an opportunity to hear from IDC analysts in a webcast as they share insight from the whitepaper they authored, "The Big Opportunity for IBM Business Partners in Big Data and Analytics."

https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=811716&sessionid=1&key=F6900898D2A03342B852882FA8B0BF81&sourcepage=register

And, just as a teaser, here's a sneak preview about the IDC findings:

  • Projected revenue of over $32 billion by 2017
  • Focus on Line of Business Decision Makers for sales
  • Big Data and Analytics as a profitable "fast turn" business - potential of sales cycles lasting fewer than 90 days

The IDC whitepaper (requires IBM ID and password) includes the story of three IBM Business Partners (YaData, Aginity, and eCapital Advisors) as they approach the Big Data and Analytics market with their solutions.

This is such an important opportunity, that we've dedicated a webcast for this whitepaper. I can't stress enough how important it is that you attend the webcast to learn more about the market opportunities with Big Data and Analytics.

I hope you'll join me for the webcast. It will be an hour well spent!


Buildings become smarter with Big Data, Analytics, and Cloud!

Happy Monday and welcome to our Coffee Break!

Today, we are going to see how buildings become smarter with big data, analytics, and cloud.  These "smarts" are important to help companies to optimize their office space.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImykW8nBNkg&feature=youtu.be]

 

 


What happens when Watson goes in the kitchen? A culinary riot...

What can Watson bring in terms of creativity to the culinary world? Austrian chocolate burritos for one thing, according to James Briscione from the Culinary Institute of America. He says how from one seed ingredient, Watson can work on the pairings based on the characteristics and deliver surprising dishes, even for chefs.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwWxIHVNE5M?rel=0]

Create an App for Cloud and Mobile at PULSE!

With the world's mobile worker population expected to reach 1.3 BILLION by 2015, we need some expert app developers to keep up!

With this in mind, I want to share with you some interesting facts and statistics you should know as you consider the value of attending an event like Pulse for your cloud business.

pulse2014-facebook-9bpulse2014-facebook-7b

Our App Throwdown event at Pulse is not just a competition. It's core intention is to get you in the game! The tiles above are not just describing what's going to happen in the industry, it's potentially describing your cloud business.

The App Throwdown will take place on Monday, February 24th. The winner will be on main stage on Wednesday, February 26th, in front of over 8,000 re-sellers, clients, and IBM sellers – giving you the opportunity to reach a new and broad audience!

This is your chance to show off your cloud solution and shine! Register now  https://greenhouse.lotus.com/forms/anon/org/app/d1672a73-80de-473e-8fcf-473f25927516/launch/index.html?form=F_Form1

and get in the game!


Think Cloud is just an IT obsession? Think again!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1-Tan5TzgA&feature=youtu.be]


We have a winner - IBM's 2014 Global Entrepreneur of the YEAR! Coriell Life Sciences

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zt9QkiTT1k&feature=youtu.be]


Mint, Bric

I learned a new term today -- MINT!

We have been doing strategy around BRIC for so long.  BRIC stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China.   These were the countries that were to drive the growth in the market.  I have been to all 4 of these countries and saw the growth engines turning but never the full potential that was projected.

But now there is a new term -- MINT -- Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey. Have you heard of this one?  Sure I have been to Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey and loved the.  Turkey is very exciting.  The tea is very good and the business growing.

But the stability is a question.  Turkey and Nigeria have politics that are in turmoil.   Indonensia is facing troubles too with investors.   So I'd love to hear your thoughts on MINT.

hurricane sandy 232


I am AquaWoman!

Crazy title I know.   But did you know since I had my accident in Brazil, I have swam everyday consistently for 3 months in my quest for total recovery.   And have earned my new nickname --- Aquawoman!

aquaman

Given that I go to the same pool daily ( except for the 2 weeks at Christmas where I went to another location and pool!), I have learned the names of the lifeguards, their shifts, who swims when and what injury they have sustained, where kids are heading to college and the list goes on.  Given the lifeguards had to help me into and out of the pool for a while, I gave them each a small present of my appreciation at Christmas.    I have developed a new small family of swimmers!!!

I thought about how amazing this was!  And it was all SOCIAL! I learned a lot of lessons in that pool for my Social World!

  1. Consistency earns Trust.    In Social or any relationship, you can not come in and out.  You must remain consistent in your interactions.  Plan time to interact and develop relationships.
  2. It is P2P - People 2 People.  People are not robots.  And they are not just all business.    They have lives and their lives extend far beyond their business side.   Get to know things that matter to them -- their families, hopes, dreams, and injuries!  This helps you to know them as a full person.
  3. Reward those that help you.   Yes, the small token I gave each lifeguard (22 in total!) was a way I could express how appreciative I was of their help.  Everyday I thanked them.   And they responded in kind. I get so much help and great attitudes every time I  come in.   The same is true in Social.  Re tweet others, interview them and spotlight them.  Thank them for their help and assistance!

As I have said many times, Social is not magic.  It is simply something people have been doing throughout the ages --- forming relationships!

You don't have to be as smart as Watson just have the social skills!!!!


Fluid at NRF! Check out their Watson Retail Solution!

At NRF, Ginni Rometty discussed the use of cognitive for Retailers.   On the Main Event, she talked about an application that our IBM Partner Fluid has built to take advantage of this use of cognitive in the retail space. I had the great pleasure of meeting with them on Monday!

Fluid, which builds online shopping experiences for retail businesses to drive customer engagement and conversion, is developing the Fluid Expert Personal Shopper(sm) powered by IBM Watson. The app calls upon Watson's ability to understand the nuances of human language and uncover answers from Big Data. Consumers who use Fluid's app will interact with rich media and dialogue with Watson, as their newfound “cognitive, expert personal shopper.” The Fluid app incorporates the information users share and questions they ask to help them make smart, satisfying purchases by putting a knowledgeable sales associate in the hands of consumers, on demand!

On stage, she mentioned David Jones leveraging this new paradigm!

See how cognitive can assist Retail in this use of data in a cognitive way!