IBM Expands IoT Investment by Billions

IBM has announced that it will invest $3 billion and hire 2,000 workers to staff its new IoT Business Unit. This reinforces the computing powerhouse’s dedication to powering connectivity and playing a major role in the development of mainstream IoT applications. 

According to a recent IoT Strategies Service report by Strategy Analytics, to date, IBM has invested more than $10 billion to spearhead its interrelated IoT, analytics and cloud initiatives. The SA report provides a detailed overview of IBM’s multi-pronged approach to advancing its IoT initiatives. There are four foundational elements to the strategy: devices and networks, platforms, applications and solutions, and industry-specific transformations.

“IBM is using its considerable resources to accelerate IoT deployments across a wide variety of verticals,” said Laura DiDio, Director, IoT Enterprise Research and Consulting, SA. “Big Blue is also ensuring close collaboration among its many business groups: Analytics; Systems and Technology (STG); the Watson Business Unit and its Cloud and Services groups to ease the transition.”

The Strategy Analytics Report also details IBM's IoT-related R and D investments, its partnerships and how it is leveraging its 13 Global Research Centers and the world’s largest patent portfolio to spearhead IoT deployments.

“IBM’s IoT initiatives underscore the business and technology value enterprises can derive from IoT and Analytics: cost savings; new service development; increased competitiveness and improved efficiency of their business processes,” said Andrew Brown, Executive Director, IoT and Mobility, SA.