IBM announced Tuesday its Project DataWorks, a Watson initiative that is cloud-based data and analytics platform to integrate all types of data and enable AI-powered decision-making. Project DataWorks is designed to make it simple for business leaders and data professionals to collect, organize, govern and secure data, so they can gain the insights needed to become a cognitive business.
Available on Bluemix, IBM’s Cloud platform, Project DataWorks can help to redefine how data professionals collaborate by tapping into a number of key innovations, such as Apache Spark,IBM Watson Analytics, and the IBM Data Science Experience.
The Watson DataWorks project offers capabilities including user-specific tools; a rich environment that provides collaboration among all rolesRapid ingestion of data of any type— faster than any other platform; and self-service access to trusted data, with governance throughoutAutomated deployment with cognitive-assisted machine learning and Apache Spark with choice of multiple third party technologies within an open ecosystem.
It is designed to help organizations automate the deployment of data assets and products using cognitive-based machine learning and Apache Spark;Ingest data faster than any other data platform, from 50 to hundreds of Gbps, and all endpoints: enterprise databases, Internet of Things, weather, and social media. It leverages an open ecosystem of more than 20 partners and technologies, such as Confluent, Continuum Analytics, Galvanize, Alation, NumFOCUS, RStudio and Skymind.
Additionally, Project DataWorks is underpinned by core cognitive capabilities, such as cognitive-based machine learning. This helps speed up the process from data discovery to model deployment, and helps users uncover new insights that were previously hidden to them.
“We are at an inflection point with data and analytics,” said Bob Picciano, senior vice president, IBM Analytics. “We know that clients spend up to 80 percent of their time on data preparation, no matter the task, even when they are preparing to take advantage of today’s advanced AI and machine learning approaches. Project DataWorks helps transform this challenge by tapping into cognitive capabilities to integrate all data sources on one common platform, enabling individuals to get the data ready for insight and action, faster than ever before.”
The platform was designed with the same proven approach used by The Weather Company, an IBM Business, to help users gain insights that impact everyday decision-making for both businesses and consumers. This includes a flexible data architecture, rapid ingestion of multiple data sources, and internet-scale data and analytics.
Dimagi, KollaCode LLC, nViso, Quetzal, RSG Media, Runkeeper, SeniorAdvisor.com and TabTor Math are already tapping into the benefits of Project DataWorks.
Businesses understand the competitive advantage of gaining insights from data. However, obtaining those insights can be increasingly complex, and most of this work is done by highly skilled data professionals who work in silos with disconnected tools and data services that may be difficult to manage, integrate, and govern. Also, because data is never static, businesses must continually iterate their data models and products—often manually—to benefit from relevant, up-to-date insights.
IBM will also enable business partners to certify their offerings within Project DataWorks, providing customers with greater choice to use the latest open source technologies and third-party offerings.
IBM also announced the DataFirst Method to help clients derive the full benefits of these innovations. The IBM DataFirst Method is a methodology that enables organizations to assess the skills and roadmap needed to transform into a cognitive business that is driven by insight and gains the most value from data.
With the amount of data that is produced doubling every two years, enterprises are struggling with how to continually increase the value they get from it. They need a clear roadmap that shows them how to progress in their use of data. Using the IBM DataFirst Method, IBM’s more than 2,000 global practitioners can utilize proven practices and methods to help clients transform their processes for data discovery, handling and analytics.
