IBM on Wednesday unveiled Project DataWorks. The cloud-based platform is fueled with artificial intelligence capabilities from Watson, IBM’s supercomputer.

Tapping into Watson’s cognitive capabilities, DataWorks automates deployment of data on the IBM Cloud, with help from IBM Machine Learning and open source Apache Spark, the company said. Moreover, the integrated, self-service platform allows for collaboration among users on the IBM Cloud.

IBM executives asserted that DataWorks can incorporate information from multiple endpoints: enterprise databases, Internet of Things, streaming, weather and social media. 

[Also: Big Data: Healthcare must move beyond the hype]

Project DataWorks is available on Bluemix, IBM’s cloud platform. DataWorks boasts an open ecosystem of more than 20 partners and technologies, such as Confluent, Continuum Analytics, Galvanize, Alation, NumFOCUS, RStudio, Skymind, and more. 

“We are at an inflection point with data and analytics,” IBM senior vice president of analytics Bob Picciano said in a statement. “We know that clients spend up to 80 percent of their time on data preparation, no matter the task, even when they are preparing to take advantage of today’s advanced AI and machine learning approaches. Project DataWorks helps transform this challenge by tapping into cognitive capabilities to integrate data sources on one platform, enabling individuals to get the data ready for insight and action faster than ever before.”

IBM executives tout the platform’s flexible data architecture, rapid ingestion of multiple data sources, and Internet-scale data and analytics.

IBM also announced on Wednesday the DataFirst Method to help clients derive the full benefits of DataWorks. Big Blue described DataFirst as “a methodology that enables organizations to assess the skills and roadmap needed to transform into a cognitive business that is driven by insight and gains the most value from data.”

IBM executives said that with the amount of data that is produced doubling every two years, enterprises are struggling with how to continually increase the value they get from it, and that’s where the DataFirst Method can help.

  What to expect at the Big Data & Analytics Forum in Boston, Oct. 24-25. 

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