Data volumes are surging by the exabyte each day, and the time has come for more companies to start making sense of those complex clickstreams of big data, according to Teradata Corporation, the world’s leading analytic data solutions company focused on integrated data warehousing, big data analytics, and business applications. In new videos, Scott Gnau, president of Teradata Labs, and Mayank Bawa, vice president of development, Teradata Aster, explain the compelling business value of big data – and how companies can – starting immediately – plan and deploy a big data analytics environment to start creating richer, detailed insight.

Salesforce.com, the enterprise cloud computing (https://www.salesforce.com/cloudcomputing/) company, today unveiled the social enterprise, leveraging social, mobile and open cloud technologies to revolutionize companies’ relationships with their customers. Salesforce.com announced new innovations Chatter Now, Chatter Customer Groups, Chatter Approvals, Chatter Service and Data.com, which will accelerate social app adoption in the enterprise. Bringing mobile apps to the social enterprise, touch.salesforce.com will leverage HTML5 to deliver an optimized experience on touch devices for all Salesforce and native Force.com apps. And finally, Heroku for Java, Chatter Connect and Database.com will deliver the most open, flexible and social enterprise platform in the industry. Salesforce.com is helping companies transform themselves into social enterprises, all powered by salesforce.com’s trusted cloud platform.

MicroStrategy Incorporated, a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence (BI) software, today announced that Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, has built and deployed a new Mobile Reporting App for the iPad and iPhone, using MicroStrategy Mobile.

Information Builders, an independent leader in business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced the launch of its WebFOCUS Business Intelligence Portal. As part of the WebFOCUS 8 enhancements, the BI Portal provides users with a single point of entry to all WebFOCUS features, a common user interface, and the ability to build complete, modern websites with just a few clicks.

SAP AG and the not-for-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) are experiencing increasing demand for CDP Reporter Services. The services include solutions based on sustainability software from SAP, enabling companies to access both advanced analytics and industry data required to benchmark their energy and carbon footprints. Since its debut in 2010, the software has been adopted by more than 40 enterprise customers, including Cisco, DuPont, E.ON, Boeing and Hess. Companies are increasingly using analytics to assess and maximize the return on investment (ROI) from cost-saving greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction activities and income-generating business opportunities.

IBM today announced a definitive agreement to acquire i2 to accelerate its business analytics initiatives and help clients in the public and private sectors address crime, fraud and security threats. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IBM today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Algorithmics for $387 million, subject to price adjustments at closing. Algorithmics is a risk analytics firm with operations in Toronto, Canada. Algorithmics risk analytics software, content and advisory services are used by banking, investment and insurance businesses to help assess risk, address regulatory requirements and make more insightful business decisions. Algorithmics is a member of Fitch Group, which is majority owned by Fimalac, a holding company based in Paris, France.

IBM Accelerates Business Analytics into Financial Risk Management

IBM today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Algorithmics for $387 million, subject to price adjustments at closing. Algorithmics is a risk analytics firm with operations in Toronto, Canada. Algorithmics risk analytics software, content and advisory services are used by banking, investment and insurance businesses to help assess risk, address regulatory requirements and make more insightful business decisions. Algorithmics is a member of Fitch Group, which is majority owned by Fimalac, a holding company based in Paris, France.

This acquisition expands IBM's business analytics capabilities in the financial services industry by helping clients quantify, manage and optimize their risk exposure across a range of financial risk domains, including market, liquidity, credit, operational and insurance as well as economic and regulatory capital.

According to a recent IBM Institute of Business Value survey of 1,900 global CFOs, nearly half indicated that their finance organizations are not effective in the areas of strategy, information integration, risk and opportunity management. The roles of financial officers across all industries are evolving -- drawing them into more frequent boardroom conversations about forecasts, profitability and exposure to risks. The survey reveals the importance of integrating information has more than doubled, mirroring the exponential rise in information volume and velocity within businesses today. Financial officers are becoming more involved in mitigating corporate risk in all its many forms – whether strategic, operational, legal or environmental.

Across the financial industry, integrated risk management continues to be a challenge -- made even more pressing by regulations triggered in response to the global financial crisis. Financial practitioners are tasked with making split-second decisions by analyzing activity happening both within their corporations and from other market forces. With the combination of IBM and Algorithmics analytics, companies can measure and assess operational risk associated with lending processes, market and credit risk exposures. Having this type of transparency and granular insight of financial risk in advance can help organizations meet new regulatory requirements.

More than 350 clients, including 25 of the top 30 banks and more than two-thirds of the CRO Forum of leading insurers, use Algorithmics analytics software and advisory services. Clients include The Allianz Group, BlueCrest, HSBC, Nedbank, Nomura, Societe Generale, and Scotia Capital.

“Today's economic environment demands that financial institutions have more cash on hand, a better understanding of their financial standing and the ability to deliver more transparency to stakeholders,” said Rob Ashe, IBM General Manager, Business Analytics. “Combining Algorithmics expertise with IBM’s deep analytics portfolio will allow clients to take a more holistic approach to managing risk and responding to economic change across their enterprises.” 

IBM's agreement with Algorithmics reinforces that companies are looking to reduce independent silos to gain an enterprise-wide view of risks for strategic planning, operations and new growth opportunities.

“It is increasingly important to deliver integrated solutions that provide a deep understanding of risk and enable effective decision support at the same time as meeting rapidly evolving regulatory requirements. The need to have the right information at the right time is fundamental to developing and managing business strategies,” said Dr. Michael Zerbs, president and COO, Algorithmics. “Combining Algorithmics' thought leadership, technology, content and services with IBM's globally recognized analytics business will help a broader group of clients improve their business performance based on a deeper understanding of risk.”

Algorithmics risk analytics software and services combined with IBM's acquisition of OpenPages and recent investments in predictive analytics will provide clients with the broadest range of business analytics solutions.

Algorithmics' risk advisers will enhance IBM's Business Analytics and Optimization practice. The practice has nearly 8,000 consultants including almost 300 researchers and a network of analytics solution centers, backed by an overall investment of more than $14 billion in acquisitions since 2005. Algorithmics’ focus on credit, market and liquidity risk, as well as key customers in operational risk, will strengthen and expand IBM’s risk consulting services.

The acquisition is subject to applicable regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. With the closing of this acquisition, approximately 900 Algorithmics employees will join IBM's Software Group.

About Algorithmics

Algorithmics is the world's leading provider of risk solutions. Financial organizations from around the world use Algorithmics software, analytics and advisory services to help them make risk-aware business decisions, maximize shareholder value, and meet regulatory requirements. Supported by a global team of risk experts based in all major financial centers, Algorithmics offers proven, award-winning solutions for market, credit and operational risk, as well as collateral and capital management.

Algorithmics, incorporated in Delaware as Fitch Risk Management, Inc, is a member of Fitch Group, majority owned by Fimalac, a holding company based in Paris, France.

About Fitch Group

Fitch Group is a global provider of financial services, including credit ratings (Fitch Ratings), market analytics and services (Fitch Solutions) and enterprise risk management solutions (Algorithmics). Fitch Group operates in more than 50 countries, and is majority-owned by Fimalac, S.A., headquartered in Paris, France.

About Fimalac

Fimalac, a diversified holding company headquartered in Paris, France, is around 80 percent owned by its Founder, Chairman and CEO, Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière. Fimalac’s holdings include a majority stake in Fitch Group, a global provider of financial services, North Colonnade Ltd, a commercial real estate complex in the prestigious Canary Wharf district of London, England, and Fimalac Développement, a subsidiary that acquires stakes in competitive companies with strong growth potential.

For additional information, please visit www.fitchratings.com and www.fimalac.com

For more information, visit IBM Business Analytics and Optimization at www.ibm.com/analytics/algorithmics.html

In an effort to improve the development of database-centric Web 2.0 applications and reports, Oracle today announced the availability of Oracle Application Express Release 4.1.

Extending Oracle’s smart grid capabilities, Oracle Utilities Network Management System 1.11 offers new modeling and analysis features to improve distribution-grid management for electric utilities.

Microsoft Corp. today announced a new “Cloud CRM for Less” offer that helps customers of Oracle, Salesforce.com Inc. and SAP switch to the familiar, intelligent and connected experiences delivered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Building on the momentum of the global launch of Microsoft’s online CRM service in the first half of 2011, Microsoft is extending $150 (U.S.) cash per user seat (minimum of 50 seats per organization) to up to 500 user seats for each eligible customer. ¹ This offer provides an opportunity for dramatic cost savings and helps customers realize the benefits from using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work.