IBM adds software analytics firm to Big Blue offerings

IBM Corp. has expanded its analytics software offerings with the acquisition of Varicent Software Inc., a Canadian provider of analytics software that automates and analyzes data across sales, finance, human resources and IT departments.

Financial terms of the deal, completed May 23, were not disclosed in the announcement.

The acquisition enhances IBM's Smarter Analytics capabilities across line of business operations, the announcement said.

It also supports the company's long-term growth strategy to expand its business analytics and optimization software and services capabilities, an area of IBM's business that is expected to reach $16 billion in revenue by 2015.

IBM will continue to support Varicent clients while allowing them to take advantage of the broader IBM portfolio.

Varicent software, combined with IBM's prior acquisitions in business analytics including Algorithmics, Clarity Systems, OpenPages and Cognos, and recent investments in predictive analytics such as SPSS, will provide clients with a broad range of business analytics solutions. These acquisitions are part of IBM's larger focus on analytics, which spans hardware, software, services and research, the announcement said.

With the closing of this acquisition, approximately 200 Varicent employees join IBM's Software Group.

Varicent , of Toronto, Ont., has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

IBM Corp., of Armonk, N.Y., ranks No. 21 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.