Accenture, Google Cloud, Intel, IBM & Infosys form AI partnerships – PEX Vendor News

PEX Network’s weekly bulletin rounds up the latest industry vendor news including product releases/updates, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and leadership changes.

This week includes:

• Accenture partners with Google Cloud to enhance AI adoption, appoints new operations leader
• Intel and IBM collaborate to improve cost performance of AI innovation
• Celonis launches Celonis Studio Power Hour
• Datamatics partners with Microsoft to build custom process automation Copilots
• Infosys Foundation USA opens Tech Innovation Lab, joins Stanford HAI to accelerate AI research
• Capgemini to acquire Syniti to reinforce digital transformation capabilities
• Kissflow recognized in three Gartner Hype Cycle Reports
• Esker named certified PDP service provider by French government

Accenture partners with Google Cloud to enhance AI adoption, appoints new operations leader

Accenture and Google Cloud announced that they are increasing investments in services that support businesses through multiple stages of generative AI projects. This includes providing the expertise to determine optimal use cases, piloting projects for strategic innovation and deploying the engineering needed to scale technology and secure the enterprise, according to a press release. What’s more, Accenture and Google Cloud are deepening their cyber security work as clients adapt to new generative AI risks including securing model data, managing cyber attacks and delivering remediation services that minimize breach impact and enable faster recovery.

“Accenture and Google Cloud have already helped multiple Fortune 500 companies move from experimentation with generative AI to production,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “Through our expanded partnership today, we are rapidly accelerating generative AI adoption by providing customers with the technical expertise, engineering resources and AI-optimized tools they need to scale and succeed.”

Accenture also announced the appointment of Arundhati Chakraborty (above left) as new group chief executive of Accenture Operations as it seeks to reinvent operations using technology, data and AI. Chakraborty will be responsible for growing the company’s US $10 billion operations business and bringing greater innovation to Accenture’s clients, tapping vast opportunities created with generative AI and automation, the firm stated. “With incredibly deep expertise partnering with clients to drive large-scale transformations in their operations, Arundhati is uniquely positioned to lead this critical part of our business,” commented Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture.

Thought leader Doug Shannon discusses the impact of AI on intelligent automation

Intel and IBM collaborate to improve cost performance of AI innovation

IBM and Intel announced a new collaboration to deploy Intel Gaudi® 3 AI accelerators as a service on IBM Cloud. This offering, expected to be available in early 2025, aims to help scale enterprise AI more cost effectively and drive innovation underpinned with security and resiliency, according to a press release. The collaboration will also enable support for Gaudi 3 within IBM’s watsonx AI and data platform, available for both hybrid and on-premise environments, it added.

“Unlocking the full potential of AI requires an open and collaborative ecosystem that provides customers with choice and accessible solutions,” said Justin Hotard, EVP and general manager, Intel Data Center and AI. “By integrating Gaudi 3 AI Accelerators and Xeon CPUs with IBM Cloud, we are creating new AI capabilities and meeting the demand for affordable, secure and innovative AI computing solutions.”

Leveraging Intel’s Gaudi 3 accelerators on IBM Cloud will provide clients access to a flexible enterprise AI solution to optimize cost performance, added Alan Peacock, general manager of IBM Cloud. “We are unlocking potential new AI business opportunities, designed for clients to more cost effectively test, innovate and deploy AI inferencing solutions.”

AI will be the biggest biggest operational excellence and business transformation investment area over the next 12 months, according to the PEX Report 2024/25. Almost half (47 percent) of surveryed businesses are looking to increase spending on AI in the coming year, with 58 percent having already discussed potential AI projects. The areas where AI is being leveraged the most are in operations (35 percent), customer service and call centers (29 percent) and data processing and management (24 percent).

Celonis launches Celonis Studio Power Hour

Process mining and process intelligence vendor Celonis launched the Celonis Studio Power Hour – a webcast series created by analysts. It explores the latest product releases, insider tips and methodologies to enhance Celonis solutions, according to Frank Weise, global BPM specialist at Celonis.

“Our first session is a deep dive into the revamped Process Discovery Methodology led by our process mining experts,” he said. “Discover how to integrate best practices into the analyze phase, configure multi-object processes and accelerate your time-to-value with a powerful approach to validation and exploration.”

Celonis is a sponsor of All Access: BPM 2024, PEX Network’s flagship webinar series, taking place September 10 and 11. On day one of the event, Celonis experts will discuss next generation process management and unlocking business transformation with process intelligence.

Datamatics partners with Microsoft to build custom process automation Copilots

Digital operations, technology and experiences company Datamatics announced a new partnership with Microsoft to build its own Copilot solutions focusing on process automation to accelerate business transformation. Datamatics has launched a partner on-boarding Copilot available on the Microsoft Teams store which integrates Azure OpenAI with Datamatics’ intelligent automation platform, according to a press release.

“Microsoft Copilot and the generative AI space offer significant opportunities for businesses to automate and unlock their untapped potential,” said Rahul Kanodia, vice chairman and CEO of Datamatics. “Our collaboration with Microsoft is driven by a shared commitment to empower organizations worldwide. We will continue to introduce Copilot-based products and services to accelerate business transformation for our clients.”

Datamatics’ suite of generative AI-powered intelligent automation products and solutions with Microsoft Copilot have created new avenues of automation and go-to-market precedents, added Shashi Bhargava, EVP and head of intelligent automation at Datamatics. “The partner on-boarding application is just one testament to its capability to fulfill business requirements and customizations to suit changing business scenarios.”

Ramnath Natarajan, Johnson Controls, explores running an intelligent automation center of excellence 

Infosys Foundation USA opens Tech Innovation Lab, joins Stanford HAI to accelerate AI research

Infosys Foundation USA, a non-profit organization, announced the launch of the Tech Innovation Lab in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lab will serve as a space for deep learning and exploration through the Infosys Springboard next-generation digital learning platforms, offering over 11,000 free courses, according to a press release. Learners have access to a range of content including free courses in generative AI and emerging technologies as well as a vast library of educational tools for teaching computer science, it added.

“Infosys Foundation USA is thrilled to announce this first ever Tech Innovation Lab as part of our commitment to bring inclusive digital skills to all,” said Kate Maloney, executive director of Infosys Foundation USA. “This is a unique space that introduces cutting-edge technology demonstrations to showcase the Infosys Springboard digital learning platforms.”

Infosys also revealed a collaboration with the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (Stanford HAI) to help accelerate AI research initiatives. Infosys is becoming a member of Stanford HAI’s Corporate Affiliate Program and will engage with Stanford HAI faculty/researchers on topics such as:

• Responsible AI and helping enterprises navigate the complex technical, policy and governance challenges.
• Enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of business process value chain through usage of AI and machine learning.
• Optimizing AI models for cost and scale efficiency through a narrow transformer-based approach which allows AI models to be developed with minimal data.

“We are excited to welcome Infosys to the Stanford HAI Corporate Affiliate Program,” commented James Landay, Stanford HAI co-director. “At HAI, we focus on building and deploying human-centered artificial intelligence that benefits humanity. Together, we hope to push the boundaries of AI research and develop solutions that are ethical, trustworthy and impactful.”

Capgemini to acquire Syniti to reinforce digital transformation capabilities

Capgemini signed an agreement to acquire global enterprise data management software and services provider Syniti. The acquisition will augment Capgemini’s data-led solutions for clients, in particular large scale SAP transformations, such as the move to SAP S/4HANA, according to a press release.

“Syniti and Capgemini share the philosophy that digital transformation will always require data transformation to drive critical business benefits,” commented Aiman Ezzat, CEO of the Capgemini Group. “Syniti is a leader in its field and a trusted global partner for major SAP data migrations. Its global team will reinforce Capgemini’s data-driven digital core business transformation services.”

The transaction is due to close in the coming months subject to regulatory approval and other customary conditions.

Nao Anthony, Commonwealth Bank, and Tariq Munir, PepsiCo, discuss the complexities and challenges of digital transformation

Kissflow recognized in three Gartner Hype Cycle Reports

Low-code/no-code platform provider Kissflow has been recognized as a sample vendor for no-code platforms technology in three Gartner Hype Cycle™ 2024 Reports. These are Hype Cycle for the Future of Work, Hype Cycle for Digital Workplace Applications and Hype Cycle for the Future of Enterprise Applications. Gartner Hype Cycles provide a graphic reflecting the maturity/adoption of technologies/applications and how they can solve business problems and exploit new opportunities.

“We are proud to be recognized as a sample vendor in the no-code platform technology in multiple Gartner Hype Cycle Reports,” said Dinesh Varadharajan, chief product officer (CPO) of Kissflow. “Kissflow empowers citizen developers and IT developers to automate middle office processes and build applications by leveraging its innovative no-code and low-code platform.”

Esker named certified PDP service provider by French government

Process automation vendor Esker was officially registered by France’s General Directorate of Public Finance (DGFiP) as a partner dematerialization platform (PDP) for electronic invoicing. Upcoming regulations represent a major milestone for more than four million companies doing business in France which must be able to receive e-invoices from their suppliers starting September 1, 2026. This is creating new opportunities for service providers to help their customers send, receive and report compliant invoices, according to Esker.

In June, the firm successfully submitted its application for the PDP registration, as well as the application to participate in the pilot phase. Esker has demonstrated successful interoperability with other market players such as SOVOS and is ISO 27001 certified and compliant with SSAE 18 and ISAE 3402 Type 2 standards. “We recommend following a structured, multi-phase game plan to prepare for compliance and facilitate a smooth transition to B2B-e-invoicing,” said Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO at Esker. “In order to provide a continuous and up-to-date user experience during the implementation phase of these regulations, Esker, in close collaboration with our partner network, is committed to supporting our customers every step of the way.”

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