Viewlocity eyes expansion via IBM deal

US developer Viewlocity has joined IBM’s ISV Advantage program as part of a bid to ramp up opportunities for its SMB supply chain applications across Australia.

Fadi Geha, Asia-Pacific managing director at Viewlocity, said partnering a large, broadly focused company like IBM was crucial in upping the ISV’s presence in Australia.

“It’s pretty important to partner with organisations like IBM for our system integration capability,” Geha said. “We see quite a few opportunities -- there are some in the pipeline for the next month or so all linked to this effort.”

Viewlocity started working with IBM several months back but has only just formalised the agreement. The developer expected a certain amount of expansion as a result of engaging with IBM’s group of businesses and partners, Geha said.

The ISV has begun work with IBM on “e-business on demand solutions” that let SMBs streamline their supply chain operations with business partners such as outsourcers.

Viewlocity’s Control Tower Platform would be enabled for IBM WebSphere internet infrastructure software running over Linux, the companies said in a statement.

The aim is to build product that helps companies reduce inventory and resources without any loss to customer service.

Scott Kardash, global business partner director at IBM Australia, said SMBs in particular had unique supply chain needs.

“They often require addressing on largely inflexible budgets. IBM sees Viewlocity as a key player in delivering tailored solutions around these requirements,” Kardash said.

Geha said Viewlocity product targeted supply chains across the “extended enterprise”.

“A lot of companies in the 1980s and 1990s had solutions that worked with one organisation. That worked fine when companies used to do the manufacturing, distribution, transport and everything themselves,” he said.

Today, many companies outsourced parts of their businesses but were left in a quandary about how to retain sufficient ownership of the customer. Viewlocity supply chain offerings helped businesses monitor all their outsourced and in-house divisions, Geha said.

“Old ERP systems relied on them having [full] control,” Geha said.

IBM’s ISV Advantage program is aimed at giving developers specific technical and marketing support to help them target SMB needs. Resources can be found online at IBM’s PartnerWorld for Developers.