Introduction: International Business Machines (IBM) is a multinational corporation founded in the United States. As of this year this corporation is ranked 24th on the Fortune 500 list, reporting $93 billion in revenues in 2014. For 23 straight years IBM has been granted the most patents out of any other companies in the world (they were granted 7,355 alone in 2015). Needless to say this is an extremely large company. After much conversation we have decided to tackle this first blog by focusing on the main consumer segments of IBM. Currently, IBM’s services are conducted mainly business to business.Therefor the marketing approach is not as cut and dry. Each segment below can not be simply sized because many of the services IBM provides overlap each other. For example, a large service IBM provides is the use of Cloud data storage. Healthcare, government and banking segments may all use this resource through IBM itself. Its marketing approach is based a lot on its name for all of its products. The company itself is well known throughout the world. Since this is mainly a business to business company it will market itself differently than one bought by everyday consumers. We tried to address each question in the description of each segment.
Info retrieved from: http://fortune.com/fortune500/ibm-24/,
http://www.networkworld.com/article/3021831/data-center/us-patent-numbers-decline-ibm-retains-top-spot-in-ifi-ranking.html
Healthcare: IBM and its technology services have contributed to the healthcare industry. Through the use of their technology, caregivers are able to communicate more rapidly with each other from complete opposite sides of the planet. Collaboration is important within this industry; it is important that we communicate ideas and methods rapidly so the best practices are available where they are needed. Innovation is key to advancements. IBM has been providing the tools necessary for industries to reach and even surpass their goals. Healthcare has benefited with increased access to different technologies, specifically software, enabling caregivers to efficiently use their time by increasing the amount of patients seen in a day and preventing mistakes from human default.The instant access to a plethora amount of past and present data provided by IBM's networks and servers have enabled personnel in the research segment of healthcare to share, compare and work on different ideas and methods.
Info retrieved from: http://www-935.ibm.com/industries/healthcare/?lnk=msoIS-heal-usen
Government: IBM’s technology is also used within the government for National Security. It provides extra support in defense logistics making sure our military is better prepared and ready for all obstacles that they may face. The government also uses the same technology to enforce border control by collecting data with the intention to prevent national security threats and increase efficiency at the border. Not only are IBM technologies aiding with the protection of nation's borders, but we can also see a notable presence within our public safety. Police and public safety officials are continually looking for a way to prevent crimes across the nation or better prepare for them when prevention is impossible. With the technology that is provided by IBM we can see the use of analytics to solve and even prevent crimes. Technology has the power to collect files and documents then compare it to all other data in order to help solve crimes.
Info retrieved from: http://www-935.ibm.com/industries/government/index.html
Banking: Advanced analytics is the core to IBM’s banking department. The first goal of IBM wants to help banks to accomplish is make customers the number one priority. This is done by using IBM’s supercomputing abilities to analyze each customer on how they spend their time, money and how they conduct themselves on social media. Second, IBM provides data to help predict trends to decrease risk in these high leveraged enterprises. A huge loss to banks is through fraud and crime. Big data analytics can follow trends and try to catch issues before they these bank lose revenue. Finally, using the same big data analytics they can predict market trends. Every transaction that goes through a bank can be monitored and analyzed for future use to help predict the market of the future.
http://www.ibm.com/analytics/us/en/industry/banking/index.html
Insurance: Insurance companies deal with massive amounts of paperwork, forms, contracts, and legal processes. It would be very difficult for the largest insurance companies in the world to do this all for themselves. IBM uses Enterprise Content Management(ECM) to help these companies manage their data. ECM is the process of gathering, organizing, and delivering data for companies in need. Basically IBM makes this process much more efficient for companies to locate and use documents when in need.
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/ecm/solutions/insurance.html
Retail: IBM is responsible for helping retail companies organize and establish communication networks within their organizations. From a top management video-conference to in store box checkers, retail companies rely heavily on technology for a variety of purposes. IBM provides the solutions for the huge logistical nightmare it can be to run a retail chain. IBM products and services are an integral part of thousands of retail businesses small and large.With a global reach IBM products and services are found worldwide. Every retail chain wants to be faster, better connected and better prepared for the future. These goals of better connectivity and a sustainable future drive retail companies to employ IBM products and services. The benefits desired from IBM products differ from organization to organization but can be generalized into groups like internal communications, online sales platforms, enterprise efficiency and customer analytics. Retail companies need these products and services to run their businesses so the products must be dependable and the services but be accurate. I see this as a major growth sector for IBM.
Info received from:
Non profit: IBM's nonprofit offerings include a range of services, software and technology including project management, social media, leadership and collaboration and strategic assessment. As well as data backup, resiliency and hacker vulnerability services, along with donation of key software tools such as LotusLive and Lotus Foundations.
Education: IBM’s technology has been used in a variety of ways specifically within the segment of education. Students and instructors alike are able to access data more efficiently as well as creating a more personal experience. This technology is able to connect people all over the world making it more convenient. Education has grown increasingly more important over the years. With IBM’s technology, one’s experience while earning an education is most definitely helpful. Education precisely has used some sort of a computer from the beginning. IBM has been known as the father or creator of the computer to many. This is one way they have implemented their technology or products into the world.
Info retrieved from: http://www-935.ibm.com/industries/education/
Solid start. This is a huge, complex market and you've explained the segments well. It's important to get a sense for the size and relative importance of these segments too. Also important is the selling process and purchase decisions in each segment...how do they differ and why does that matter?
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