IBM introduces intranet services
Published: 28 Mar 2002 14:33 GMT
IBM introduced a new unit of its Global Services business on Thursday, aimed at helping companies set up Web portals that let their employees, customers and suppliers find information and perform tasks, such as files expense reports or check order status.
IBM said the new division, called the e-Workplace Practice, will take corporate intranets and portals to the next level by expanding the kinds of application and information available through them and consolidating the many intranets some companies maintain into one mega-intranet.
Analysts said, however, that IBM is behind the curve in introducing the service. Intranets and portals have been commercially available for years, and rival consulting companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers have already established large divisions around them, they said.
"They're a little bit late to the game in that this kind of thing has been rolled out to a number of large companies already," said Paul Hamerman, an analyst at Giga Information Group.
Yet the market for Web portals is still growing, giving IBM opportunity to snag business in that arena, Hamerman added.
The new unit, staffed with 2,000 IBM Global Services consultants, can provide services for clients using whatever portal software they like, but IBM also plans to promote its own line Web portal software, such as it WebSphere application server and portal products as well as software from it Lotus and Tivoli divisions. The company also has partnerships with PeopleSoft, Cisco and Alcatel to provide components of it deems essential portal capabilities.
IBM said the unit will specialise in consolidating numerous intranets into one site that lets employees perform self-service tasks, such as file expense reports, sign up for benefits, manage their retirement plans, and conduct online meetings. IBM said the group will also incorporate online training, employee directories, and instant messaging into portals. It can also make the portals available through wireless, mobile devices, such as cell phones and personal digital assistants.
IBM Global Services is one of IBM's fastest growing divisions, bringing in $35bn of IBM's $85.9bn in sales last year.
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