IBM beefs up analytics capabilities with new acquisition

IBM has announced it’s to acquire Initiate Systems, a provider of data integrity software for information sharing among healthcare and government organisations. The company is based in Chicago, and becomes the 30th acquisition made by IBM to advance its capabilities in information and analytics. Neither party has disclosed the deal’s financial details.

Initiate's software helps healthcare clients work more intelligently and efficiently with timely access to patient and clinical data. It also enables governments to share information across multiple agencies to better serve citizens.

"With the addition of Initiate's softwareand its industry expertise, IBM will offer clients a comprehensive solution for delivering the information they need to improve the well-being of patients at a lower cost," said Arvind Krishna, general manager, Information Management, IBM. "Similarly, our government clients will now have even more capabilities for gathering and making use of information to serve citizens in a timely and efficient manner."

Initiate's healthcare clients include payers and providers as well as retailers selling prescription drugs. Among these clients are Alberta Ministry of Health and Wellness, BMI Healthcare (UK), Calgary Health Region, CVS/Caremark, Humana, Ochsner Health System, the State of North Dakota's Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre.

The company’s technology is also widely used to help government agencies of all sizes use information to boost efficiency. In combination with IBM InfoSphere software, Initiate software will expand capabilities for information governance and help agencies gain a single view of relevant information to better serve citizens.

"Our clients will be the ones who benefit most from this acquisition," said Bill Conroy, president and chief executive officer, Initiate Systems. "They will continue to get the software and expertise they depend on, plus the incalculable advantage they will gain through IBM's global reach and its capabilities in enterprise software, hardware and services."

Consistent with the company's strategy, IBM will continue to support and enhance Initiate's technologies while helping clients take advantage of the broader IBM portfolio. Customers will benefit from additional information management capabilities including: clinical analytics, information discovery and transformation and data warehousing and business intelligence.

IBM's acquisition of Initiate extends the company's business analytics strategy, including the range of offerings available through IBM's recently-announced Business Analytics and Optimization Consulting organisation which includes a team of 4,000 consultants, a network of analytics solution centres, and is backed by an overall investment of more than $10 billion in organic growth and acquisitions.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. IBM intends to integrate the Initiate organization with its Information Management business after the closing.