IBM Leads in Independent Analyst Firm's Consulting and Systems Integrator Rankings for 4th Consecutive Year

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced that it has been ranked as the world's leading consulting and systems integration provider for the 4th consecutive year, according to Gartner Dataquest. In its November 2006 report, "Dataquest Insight: Final Top 10 Worldwide and Regional CSI Providers' Market Share, 2005," Gartner reports that IBM enjoys a 7.7% market share with more than $18 billion in revenue, more than $8 billion clear of its nearest rival.

"IBM has been able to consolidate its position as the market leader in consulting and systems integration by helping clients improve operations and innovate products, services and business models, in a way that delivers business results," said Peggy Vaughan, Global Consulting Services Leader, IBM Global Business Services. "This requires an intimate understanding of our clients' business operations, massive investments in vital growth markets like Service Oriented Architecture, and the ability to structure our global SOA development and delivery and other initiatives in a way that maximizes business results and client satisfaction. This discipline is key to a healthy range of ongoing relationships in this market."

In addition to its #1 ranking worldwide for 2005, IBM also placed in the top three in each major geographic region measured by Gartner, placing first in both the Americas and Europe/Middle-East/Africa, and third in Asia.

To compile these rankings, Gartner measures consulting, development and integration IT services using data from the Gartner Consulting and Solution Implementation Services Market Share Database, that was developed with high-level secondary research and modeling, in addition to primary research, including input from participating vendors.

In recent months, IBM has announced new consulting and systems integration engagements with a range of companies worldwide, including Southern Company, AEM Distribuzione Torino, the Northwest Ohio Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), Statoil, and the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

In addition, IBM has invested in new capabilities to strengthen its position in consulting and systems integration. For example, IBM has launched a Global Business Solution Center to embed consulting and process methodology into repeatable consulting services solutions; IBM recently opened two new SOA solution centers in Asia to facilitate the more consistent and rapid development of industry-specific SOA solutions; and IBM has trained more than 90,000 professionals on SOA methodologies over the last 12 months.