Highlights from Oracle CloudWorld 2024: AI, IBM Partnership, and Acquisitions

Oracle CloudWorld 2024: The Latest Updates and Exciting News from Oracle and IBM

Last week, Oracle CloudWorld 2024 took over Las Vegas, showcasing the latest updates regarding Oracle’s software and ecosystem at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center. The flagship event for Oracle is always a must-watch for tech enthusiasts, but this year’s event had an added twist with exciting news regarding the Oracle-IBM partnership.

The big news coming out of Oracle CloudWorld 2024 is centered around AI, but with a focus on implementation and upskilling at the end-user level. According to new research from IBM’s Institute for Business Value, the average cost of compute spend is expected to increase by 89% between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, 42% of executives report concerns about inadequate expertise hindering progress with generative AI, or GenAI.

In response to these challenges, IBM Consulting is launching an expanded network of consultants to support Oracle clients. These consultants are certified across core Oracle technologies such as OCI Generative AI, OCI AI Services, and OCI Data Science, as well as skilled in IBM’s watsonx AI and data platform. The goal is to help clients extend high-value GenAI use cases and optimize their return-on-investment and implementation costs.

IBM’s consultants will assist clients in choosing and deploying the right AI models for their unique requirements, including enterprise-grade models like IBM Granite. By leveraging IBM’s watsonx and technologies from its open ecosystem of business partners, consultants will guide clients in critical decisions around technology architecture, GenAI, software licensing, data and analytics architecture, and security risks to enhance automation of their workflows.

“Generative AI continues to be the topic of conversation in the news and the boardroom,” said Anindya Chaudhuri, senior partner at IBM Consulting UKI. “With pressures from external stakeholders to innovate and various economic and geopolitical pressures impacting business, organizations must balance the value generative AI can create against the investment it demands and the risks it introduces.”

To help clients in their Oracle ERP transformation journeys, consultancies are embedding generative AI into IBM’s Oracle transformation programs. This approach aims to unlock value early, improve user experience, and enhance productivity, ultimately transforming the way organizations approach ERP transformation.

In addition to the AI-focused updates, IBM also announced its intent to acquire Accelalpha, a global Oracle Cloud Applications consultancy. This acquisition will bolster IBM’s supply chain management capabilities and accelerate its capabilities in supply chain, logistics, finance, EPM, and CX-CPQ skills, helping clients with their Oracle cloud application adoption.

Accelalpha, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, brings expertise in distribution, industrial, and financial sectors across Oracle advisory, implementation, and managed services. As an Oracle Cloud Excellence Certified Implementer, Accelalpha is known for its Oracle logistics practice and was the first Oracle partner to implement Oracle Fusion Financials.

Upon the completion of the acquisition, the Accelalpha team of consultants will join IBM, helping clients further modernize with Oracle Cloud Applications. This move will enable IBM to better assist clients in deploying and managing Oracle solutions, including generative AI and cloud technology, for competitive advantage.

With these exciting updates and developments from Oracle CloudWorld 2024, it’s clear that the future of AI and technology is bright. Stay tuned for more innovations and partnerships between Oracle and IBM as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the tech world.