IBM Prepares Small Business Tools

IBM is set to announce the release of several new tools aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) work with IBM’s middleware tools more efficiently.

The new tools are meant to support and extend IBM’s popular Solution Builder Express line of utilities. They focus on areas such as business intelligence, legislative compliance, and data delivery.

For example, the Industry Process Accelerator for Business Intelligence tool can enable users to simplify the development of data marts through use of a wizard-driven interface. “This simplifies the approach to building business intelligence [applications],” said IBM’s John Medicke, chief architect for the small business software group at the company.

Other tools include Framework for Application Data and Sources which is aimed at building faster and more robust data and software simulation platforms, VitalFile for Simplified Document Retention which allows companies who are leveraging IBM’s NAS and File solutions to offer their clients simple document retention technology and VitalFile Real-Time Workstation Backup which works with customers’ existing backup solutions to make scalable workstation backup a reality.

The new tools will continue to extend IBM’s niche and industry-specific SME product segments and should prove valuable for customers who have had to develop workarounds or non-IBM solutions.