In a bold move to redefine consulting through AI, IBM has announced a significant expansion to its AI-driven platform, IBM Consulting Advantage. With this expansion, the company introduces cutting-edge innovations powered by its newly released Granite 3.0 large language models. The platform aims to transform the consulting landscape by improving the efficiency of IBM’s 160,000 consultants, while also boosting client ROI on AI investments.
What is IBM Consulting Advantage?
IBM Consulting Advantage is the company’s first-of-its-kind AI-powered delivery platform that integrates IBM’s expertise with the technology of strategic partners. Designed to accelerate consulting outcomes, it helps IBM consultants deliver solutions at scale while optimizing time to value for clients. The expansion is centered on making AI integral to consulting practices, allowing businesses to tap into AI capabilities seamlessly across various sectors.
With Granite 3.0 now serving as the default language model for the platform, IBM has upped the ante on performance. According to the company, Granite 3.0 matches or surpasses similarly sized models on numerous academic and industry benchmarks. The model shines in transparency and safety, ensuring that AI can be trusted in critical use cases.
Empowering Consultants with AI-Driven Solutions
At its core, the enhanced platform allows IBM’s global consulting network to incorporate Granite models across diverse client use cases. Whether it’s customer service or IT modernization, consultants can easily deploy AI to boost client results. By leveraging Granite’s capabilities, IBM is better positioned to deliver improved efficiency and effectiveness in every project, ultimately reducing costs while increasing value for clients.
David Cushman, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research, noted, “IBM is applying AI to make its consultants faster and more efficient while also delivering better results for clients at lower cost.” He emphasized that the integration of human expertise with AI-powered software is changing the consulting industry.
With IBM Consulting Advantage, clients gain access to domain-specific AI agents, applications, and methods that reflect years of best practices. This approach, according to Cushman, puts IBM at the cutting edge of the consulting sector, blending human expertise with AI to supercharge business transformations.
Domain-Specific Advancements: Cloud Transformation & Business Operations
IBM’s expansion also includes domain-specific capabilities that target key business operations. The two standout offerings are IBM Consulting Advantage for Cloud Transformation and IBM Consulting Advantage for Business Operations.
- IBM Consulting Advantage for Cloud Transformation and Cloud Management:
- These new additions focus on enabling clients to define and implement cloud strategies that align with their business objectives.
- IBM’s consultants use AI-powered tools to guide cloud transformations, minimize risks, and accelerate project timelines.
- These services are critical in areas like mainframe modernization, product engineering, and migrations from legacy platforms.
- IBM Consulting Advantage for Business Operations:
- In a world where enterprises are looking to reimagine their operations with AI, this platform helps clients transform areas such as HR, finance, and procurement.
- With AI-powered agents and methods, IBM consultants are already working with select clients to simplify workflows and connect siloed processes.
- For example, a global retail client reduced invoice entry cycle time by 60% using these enhanced capabilities.
IBM’s goal is to onboard 50 clients to these domain-specific offerings by the end of 2024, providing a framework for businesses to streamline operations, boost employee skills, and improve user experiences through AI.
AI-Powered Agents and Seamless Interfaces
IBM Consulting Advantage agents are designed to be easily accessible through IBM watsonx, IBM’s proprietary AI and data platform. The platform features a conversational interface that allows consultants to toggle between IBM Granite and third-party generative AI models. This flexibility ensures consultants can compare outputs and select the most suitable model for each task, ensuring a tailored approach to client needs.
These AI agents also help consultants by automating tasks, enabling them to focus on high-impact decision-making. From routine data analysis to automating business processes, the agents offer real-time insights that speed up project timelines and improve outcomes for clients.
The Future of Consulting: People Plus Software
IBM envisions a future where consulting is powered by a symbiotic relationship between human expertise and AI. IBM Consulting Advantage is built to be a comprehensive workbench for the future, equipped with advanced generative AI models like Granite 3.0. The platform combines cutting-edge technology from IBM and strategic partners, creating a powerful tool that enhances consultant performance and delivers exceptional client outcomes.
The platform is designed with trust and open innovation at its core, aligning with IBM’s principles of strong governance. As AI becomes more integral to business functions, IBM is positioning itself as a leader in the consulting industry, where people and AI collaborate to drive transformational results.
Statements from IBM indicate that the company will continue to evolve its AI-powered solutions in consulting. While this expansion marks a significant leap forward, IBM’s long-term vision is to further integrate AI and human expertise across every facet of the consulting ecosystem.
