IBM, SAP team up for social services market

SAP AG and IBM Corp. are joining forces to develop and market case management solutions for the global social services and social security market.

In an announcement today, IBM of Armonk, N.Y., and SAP of Walldorf, Germany, said they initially would target child welfare agencies. The goal is to use the companies' expertise to improve services and benefits delivery by providing integrated tools for data intake, screening, services and benefit eligibility.

"There's a great deal of transformation happening in the social services and social security industry as organizations search for ways to update aging legacy IT systems to focus on social outcomes, while minimizing operational costs," said Chris Gibbon, global social segment leader for IBM. "The goal of this relationship is to provide an integrated solution that delivers industry best practices encapsulated in design, consulting and implementation services."

The agreement brings together SAP's social services and social security offerings with IBM's integrated case management solution and deep industry consulting expertise.

Under the agreement, SAP and IBM will work together in business development, sales, sales support, consulting and other services.