PRESS RELEASE: With this acquisition IBM is growing its asset optimisation business, helping clients reduce and optimise MRO inventories, and predict when critical parts and equipment might fail so proactive actions can be taken to avoid unplanned downtime. 

According to Aberdeen Group, 50% of annual unscheduled asset downtime can be attributed to the lack of spare parts and stock-outs. This unscheduled downtime can be reduced by monitoring and analysing data from across a business and using the insights to better prepare by ensuring the right spare parts and material are available when needed.

Through the acquisition of Oniqua, IBM is now adding new capabilities to its asset optimisation business that provide one data source around all company assets to ensure 24/7 operational efficiency.

Oniqua, combined with other IBM solutions such as Maximo and Tririga, will provide consistency and data accessibility across the business with a central source of trusted information.

As a result, IBM said, asset-intensive businesses will not only be able to monitor and manage their assets for predictive and proactive maintenance, but also have the assurance that all critical parts are available when they are needed, minimising operational downtime.

"Clients are moving from legacy, on-premise offerings to new cloud-based predictive analytics and prescriptive maintenance offerings. But without instant access to the right data, they are still susceptible to critical equipment breakdowns that can cripple their businesses," said Jay Bellissimo, general manager, cognitive process transformation, IBM Global Business Services.

As part of the acquisition, IBM Services will acquire a team of professionals with key skills in MRO inventory optimisation, data engineering, data science, and predictive and prescriptive analytics.