New Research from Outsell Highlights IBM’s Challenge to Find Clear Uses for Watson

BURLINGAME, Calif. - May 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Outsell, Inc (http://www.outsellinc.com/)., the world’s only research and advisory firm focused on media, information, and technology, today announced publication of a new CEO Topic report, IBM Watson – A Hammer in Search of Nails (http://www.outsellinc.com/store/products/1309). The report shows that, one year after Watson’s commercial launch, it has made progress in attracting potential clients and partners. But IBM still needs to demonstrate that it is the right solution for specific customer challenges in different vertical industries beyond its early successes in health – now a separate business unit.

IBM Watson, the cognitive computing system that famously won the TV game show Jeopardy! in 2011, is a flagship initiative of Chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty’s drive to reinvent the company for a new era of computing and revive its flagging fortunes. It’s also sensitive for many content businesses, demonstrating analytics capabilities most cannot hope to develop for themselves and offering a potential but unproven route to market for their content.

“IBM needs to find some clear nail-shaped problems to hit with its big Watson hammer,” said Simon Alterman, Outsell VP & Lead Analyst and author of the report. “Information companies need to realise that this is where convergence is leading and decide whether, when, and how to engage with Watson. They can’t just dismiss it.”

The report also says that:

·        IBM needs to modify its approach to content partnerships if it wants to persuade more specialist information providers to work with Watson.

·        If they do decide to work with Watson, content providers should treat licensing negotiations in the same hard-headed way they do with other distribution channels.

·        Information businesses may not be able to compete with the power of IBM analytics but they do have deep knowledge of and long-term relationships with users.

·        Information businesses and others can experiment with cognitive computing via the Watson developer ecosystem to learn more about the potential of what IBM calls a new era in computing.

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For more information about this report, please contact Srini Gomatam at info@outsellinc.com, or call
+1 650-342-6060.

About Outsell, Inc.

Outsell, Inc. (http://www.outsellinc.com/) is the only research and advisory firm focused solely on media, information, and technology. We use a time-tested, quality-proven, top-secret blend of data, brains, community, and pizzazz to produce extraordinary value for our clients. Elite information industry executives from all over the world look to Outsell for trusted advice, bold insights, and confidential access to exclusive intelligence and decision support. Outsell has your back. You’ll stay more focused, save time, grow revenue in a fast-changing digital environment, and sleep better at night. Guaranteed.