News

IBM's New Project DataWorks Provides AI-Powered Decision-Making

• By David Ramel
• September 27, 2016

IBM is applying the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of its Watson technology to a new cloud-based data and analytics platform called Project DataWorks.

Running in the company's Bluemix hybrid cloud development platform, Project DataWorks integrates data of all types into one system so companies can quickly make decisions based on business insights gleaned from analytics projects powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). IBM said its new initiative frees up developers and data scientists from the mundane and time-consuming task of finding relevant data and preparing it for analysis.

"We are at an inflection point in the Big Data era," said exec Bob Picciano. "We know that users spend up to 80 percent of their time on data preparation, no matter the task, even when they are applying the most sophisticated AI. Project DataWorks helps transform this challenge by bringing together all data sources on one common platform, enabling users to get the data ready for insight and action, faster than ever before."

The platform can leverage data innovations such as Apache Spark, IBM Watson Analytics and IBM Data Science Experience to help data professionals collaborate on analytics projects. The company said it can help organizations:

• Automate the deployment of data assets and products using cognitive-assisted machine learning and Apache Spark.
• Ingest data faster than any other data platform, from 50 to hundreds of Gbps, and all endpoints: enterprise databases, Internet of Things, weather and social media.
• Leverage an open ecosystem of more than 20 partners and technologies, such as Continuum Analytics, Galvanize, Alation, NumFOCUS and RStudio.

The company also announced new methodology called the IBM DataFirst Method to help organizations derive benefits from its new platform and other innovations through means such as skills assessment and roadmaps.

"With the amount of data that is produced doubling every two years, enterprises are struggling with how to continually increase the value they get from it," IBM said. "They need a clear roadmap that shows them how to progress in their use of data. Using the IBM DataFirst Method, IBM's more than 2,000 global practitioners can utilize proven practices and methods to help clients transform their processes for data discovery, handling and analytics."