IBM expands Watson Data Platform

New Upgrades Address Compliance Requirements

IBM has announced a significant expansion of its Watson Data Platform, designed to help data scientists and developers make the most of of data cataloging and data refining features. These updates aim to improve enterprises’ ability to analyze and leverage data in artificial intelligence, a field growing rapidly in the business world. Furthermore, improved data security policy capabilities, along with better data visibility, will help customers connect with and share data across both public and private cloud environments.

IDC research indicates that 75 percent of software developers will include AI functionality in their programs. Developers, however, often have limited experience with AI, and the increasing complexity of data, along with the difficulty of handling data that can reside across several platforms, will present challenges. Alongside these changes, enterprises are now placing an increased focus on security, which is becoming more complex to manage as well.

The Watson Design Platform resides in IBM’s Cloud, and the new tools will aid developers through its integrated analysis and management capabilities. Data scientists and businesses teams will also be able to leverage this data tailored to their roles within the company. The Watson-powered IBM Cloud also offers advanced capabilities in new fields taking on a larger role in the enterprise, including expanded AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics.

Michael Kaushansky, Chief Data Officer at global advertising and marketing consultancy Havas believes Watson offers them “a more holistic view of our clients’ campaign data, and design tailored approaches for each ad and marketing tactic.”

The Watson Data Platform by quickly connecting offline and online marketing data. For example, we recently kicked off a test for one of our automotive clients, aiming to connect customer data, advertising information in existing systems, and online engagement metrics to better target the right audiences at the right time.

Upgrades

The primary feature of Watson Data Platform’s upgrades is its data cataloging and data refining capabilities. Data in the cloud isn’t stored centrally like data on more traditional servers, and these new capabilities will help companies stay organized. Third-party support is included as well. Through Watson-powered machine learning, enterprises will be better able to process and prepare their data for use by AI.

Improved meta data capabilities come along with these data cataloging and data refining features. These capabilities help companies handle the critical role of data governance, helping to ensure data is only accessible where it’s authorized and needed. The update provides a solid foundation upon which companies can build.

The IBM Analytics Engine will also be more abstracted and easier to use, as the update makes it better at separating how data is stored from the information it provides. These upgrades will improve the speed with which data can be analyzed and delivered to apps. These added capabilities can help data scientists and developers work together, providing better capabilities for developing apps rapidly.

IBM is also upgrading its United Governance Platform to help companies control their data regardless of where it’s stored. Improved management and visibility over client data will ensure companies are able to handle increasing regulatory demands of customer data.