IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have joined forces to expand the availability of IBM’s software offerings on the AWS Marketplace. This collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of hybrid cloud and AI among enterprises globally. The expanded offerings now reach customers in 92 countries, up from just five previously.
The partnership between IBM and AWS reflects a growing trend of companies taking a hybrid approach to generative AI and integrating it with their cloud strategies. Nick Otto, Head of Global Strategic Partnerships at IBM, highlighted the convergence of hybrid cloud and AI, stating that it has been exciting to witness over the past year.
With the expansion on the AWS Marketplace, customers can now access and deploy 44 IBM software products, including Watson x.data, Watson x.ai, and the upcoming Watson x.governance. This move simplifies the purchasing process for customers, as they can use their existing AWS committed spend to procure these solutions. Otto also mentioned that there will be further integration between IBM’s data AI capabilities and AWS native capabilities in future announcements.
This collaboration benefits not only customers but also AWS and IBM. Matt Yanchyshyn, GM at AWS Marketplace, believes that IBM’s expanded presence on the marketplace will increase selection and choice for customers. Furthermore, joint customers can take advantage of AWS Marketplace’s SaaS-specific features that make it easier to discover, purchase, deploy, and manage SaaS solutions optimized for AWS.
The shift toward SaaS solutions for digital transformation is gaining momentum. McKinsey estimates that the potential value at stake from cloud adoption for Forbes Global 2000 companies is $3 trillion by 2030. For IBM, this expanded presence on the AWS Marketplace could significantly boost its cloud software business. A 2022 Forrester study found that ISVs transacting through AWS Marketplace experience higher win rates, faster sales cycles, and bigger deal sizes.
In addition to software offerings, IBM’s consulting services also benefit from the collaboration. Dedicated AWS experts help clients modernize applications, optimize hybrid cloud deployments, and leverage AI capabilities. Otto highlighted the exponential growth rate of IBM consultants certified in AWS over the past three years.
As enterprises increasingly adopt hybrid cloud strategies and seek to harness the power of AI, partnerships like IBM and AWS’s become crucial in delivering integrated solutions. By expanding their software offerings on the AWS Marketplace, IBM and AWS position themselves at the forefront of this transformative trend, empowering customers to unlock new levels of innovation and competitive advantage.