As we have moved to virtual briefings, I have increasingly been excerpting short video segments (with permission ) as part of my Analyst Cam series.
This time it is Hari Candadai, SVP, Strategic Alliances and Analyst Relations at Origina, Inc which provides third party support for IBM and HCL IT infrastructure products like DB2, Informix, MQ, Tivoli and Rational. It is a sprawling product family even after IBM divested several of its collaboration, commerce, digital experience, AppScan, & BigFix solutions to HCL in 2019.
The conversation with Hari and IBM’s recent announcement it is selling some of its Watson Health assets to a PE firm made me reminisce about the storied technology vendor. As a young PwC auditor I remember the PC introduction in 1981 (IBM was an audit client). Like many in our industry my early years in computing were on the 4381, the 390, S/38 and AS/400s. I remember “what if” conversations about how our industry may have evolved if IBM had not been forced to unbundle its systems software. And how that move later allowed IBM to evolve beyond hardware in the 90s. I recall conversations with several colleagues at Gartner whose own evolution in its early years heavily depended on tracking IBM. We would often discuss scenarios if IBM would ever get serious about application software. At Deal Architect, I have helped several clients evaluate IBM outsourcing services.
I have seen the center of gravity at IBM evolve from hardware to software to services over my career. Watson’s bumpy trajectory over the last decade can be tracked back to that transition. Along the way, IBM has significantly morphed its talent base. Firms like Origina have become a safe haven for many IBM software experts. They are offering that talent as a shared service
I have been a broken record about third party support – you can read posts on this blog going back to the last decade. Indeed in some circles, I am still called “Vinnie Maintenance”. I have long said just because you buy a new car you should not required to buy service at the dealer. If anything Consumer Reports has shown independent garages often offer better value and service. And especially if you are talking about a long used Dodge or Ford product. Most of IBM software products similarly go back decades.
Hari does a nice job in a little over 20 minutes describing the cost savings, service quality improvements, the product expertise they offer, the ability to upgrade at your speed – “take back control” as he says
