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IBM launches analytics appliance to help retailers track trends

January 25, 2012

IBM has created a new analytics appliance that analyzes up to petabytes of big data, including consumer sales data and online shopping trends, to help retailers gain actionable insight on buying patterns.

The new appliance, according to a company press release, helps retailers deliver Smarter Commerce by using analytics to better understand buying patterns across multiple channels, and build stronger, more profitable customer relationships. Clients can now run complex, real-time analytics in a matter of seconds to improve the customer experience, shift marketing campaigns on the fly and boost sales.

In today's digitally transformed marketplace, consumers are increasingly empowered with information on products and services and ways to make competitive purchases on the fly, creating a hyper competitive marketplace for retailers. According to IBM, 70 percent of a customer's first interaction with a product or service takes place online, placing more importance on the digital consumer experience.

IBM estimates that this new market will grow to a $20 billion opportunity in software alone by 2012, driven by the demands of rapidly shifting customer buying patterns in the era of mobile and social networks. The new appliance is a part of IBM's Smarter Commerce initiative as it can help retailers deepen relationships with consumers and create a sense of brand intimacy.

Bass Pro Shops using the appliance

Bass Pro Shops adopted IBM's new appliance to gain insight on their customers' needs and provide better products and shopping experiences across all their channels, consisting of retail stores, boat dealerships, Internet and catalog sales, wholesale and hospitality, including restaurants and world class destination resorts, according to Leslie Weber, CIO at Bass Pro Shops.

"IBM analytics allowed us to quickly get information across our multiple channels and lines of business in one place to deliver meaningful analytics that drive top line and bottom line results," Weber said. "We can now create and deliver more targeted promotions, circulars and catalogs to create a better customer shopping experience."

Read more about consumer behavior.