Mediaboss Marketing

ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today IBM (NYSE: IBM) is introducing new cloud and mobile-enabled social business software and service capabilities which will allow line of business executives to quickly move their business processes into the cloud to drive better decision making and increase productivity.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

For example, using new mobile file synch capabilities, line of business leaders in sales can update a customer presentation on their iPad in real-time, incorporating feedback from a meeting that just ended. The executive can then synch the newest version into the cloud to ensure the entire team has access to the latest document. At the same time, customer service leaders can launch audio and video based desktop and mobile conferences to review the latest training materials with their global team in order to improve service to customers.

Social networking has had a profound effect on business and when combined with cloud delivery models and new mobile device capabilities it can radically transform an organization. By bringing social and mobile devices into the cloud, businesses have the opportunity to empower employees to work more effectively, collaboratively and securely from any location in order to create larger more effective global workforces.

"The one-two social and cloud combination has not only delivered an increase in productivity with our own workforce, but our clients are also reaping the benefits," said Pamela Webb, SVP, Business Services, SafeGuard World International, which provides globally managed payroll services. "The ability to actively engage and have real-time visibility to project progress in a secure environment really gives our clients confidence in both the implementation process and our organization."

Highlights of the new advanced social, mobile, mail and meetings capabilities available in the IBM SmartCloud for Social Business include:

"Successful workforces today are fueled by powerful social technologies that give employees access to vital information and the insights of colleagues while on the go," said Alistair Rennie, general manager, social business, IBM. "We are giving businesses the opportunity to forever change how employees work through new powerful features that allow them easily to remain connected and productive from anywhere."

IBM is also announcing the availability of IBM SmartCloud for Social Business on SoftLayer's industry leading Infrastructure in a new Amsterdam data center, along with four new on-boarding services that help customers quickly move to the cloud. For example, IBM is offering a new cloud-based hybrid server deployment option for companies that allows them to bridge on-premises and cloud with a single administration console while also accelerating their transition from weeks and months into hours with no hardware investment.

Today more than 9,000 cloud clients, including Sika AG and SafeGuard World International, and 75 percent of the Fortune 100 are transforming their business operations with IBM enterprise social software and the momentum continues to grow as companies turn to IBM SmartCloud.

Sika AG, a specialty chemicals company based in Switzerland, needed to share information faster among its employees across more than 80 countries as well as with its suppliers and customers. With IBM SmartCloud for Social Business, Sika can give 11,500 users across all lines of business operations an easy way to share ideas, improve productivity, fuel business innovation and more effectively reach customers and suppliers to boost sales, all while substantially lowering IT costs.

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IBM Extends Cloud and Mobile Reach with New Social Business Offerings That Empower Global Workforces