TA6: Competitive Anaylsis

How Does Watson Stack up Against the Competition?

There is a plethora of options for the businesses looking to gain advantages by using artificial intelligence (AI). Digital demands need to make in a swooping, all-encompassing change (Catlin, LaBerge, & Varney, 2018), luckily the decision and usage of AI in the business place fits this criterion. When deciding of this magnitude, committing these many resources to an implementation, it behooves the implementer to consider relevant alternatives to ascertain the system that is most beneficial to them. After all, AI is a system, one that is trying to replicate the most complex system in the known universe (BBC News, 2015). Below is a selection of alternatives for IVK’s use of Watson Analytics, chosen for as the most worthwhile and potent substitutes, suitable for raising your companies digital and technological IQ (Catlin, LaBerge, & Varney, 2018).

Salesforce Einstein

Salesforce Einstein is the first comprehensive AI for CRM. It’s an integrated set of AI technologies that makes the Customer Success Platform smarter and brings AI to trailblazers everywhere. What makes Einstein different from Watson is that it is the only comprehensive AI for CRM. It is data ready, model ready, and production ready, basically it means that all you must do is put data in and it’s ready to go for our organization. Another unique quality about Einstein is it available on mobile devices. There is various Cloud features that Einstein is available through such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, App Cloud, Analytics Cloud, and Community Cloud. Pricing is available by contacting an account executive but is not readily available for the public. Possibly one of the most significant value adds that Einstein will deliver is the automatic workflow with simple, user friendly components that any employee can use and understand within a company. The user-friendly application enables sales reps to use customer data to make selling decisions. Use of Einstein will enhance the capability to attract and retain new customers with long-term relationships. Einstein has their customer data and sales information being managed by an outside vendor. If Einstein were to have a problem with system such as getting hacked, the data could be compromised Cyber-attacks can result in many negative outcomes: “direct financial loss, exposed proprietary information, fines, legal payouts, court costs, damaged reputations, plummeting stock prices, and more” (Gallaugher, 2017). 
Here is a link to a video describing what Salesforce Einstein is all about: https://www.salesforce.com/products/einstein/overview/

Adobe Sensei

Adobe Sensei is an AI system that helps the user discover more opportunities and relevant experiences for the customer. It is a system that operates across Creative, Marketing, and Document Cloud.  Sensei is a system that will help the customer work smarter, harder, and faster. Sensei is able to understand images and illustrations and help prevent repetitive tasks for the customer. Like any other AI system, Sensei is able to understand large amounts of deep content. Sensei can dive into image content and make adjustments such as cropping, color quality, and masking. The Sensei system is also able to learn from experiences and help you deliver products on time relative to a specific customer. It can remember customer specifications and needs to help you deliver a product that the customer is used to. Adobe Sensei can offer value in areas of Document Cloud. Sensei uses Document Cloud to transform paper into editable images and allows you to clean up fonts and signatures. Adobe offers a form field application that analyzes the document to allow people to fill and sign documents on their mobile or desktop device (Adobe Sensei, 2017). Adobe Sensei has been integrated across many Adobe platforms like Adobe Target. A financial services company can use Adobe Target and Sensei’s self-learning models to offer mortgages, loans, credit cards, and other financial services based on that customers account status and other terms (Lindsay, 2017).

Microsoft Azure

Azure is Microsoft’s foray into the world of artificial intelligence. With a proven worth and customer base, ranging from MetLife to Bank of America, Azure’s bona fides are cemented (Microsoft, "Microsoft Azure - Your vision. Your cloud."). Microsoft itself is already a company capable of providing multiple services, and this artificial intelligence is naught but another offering in its portfolio. This artificial intelligence will be able to interface with many of the applications already being used in IVK. Azure offers data analytics in a secure and stable environment, operating with their threat detection programs and compliance with cyber security standards, and with an up-time of a little under 100% (Microsoft, "Microsoft Azure - Your vision. Your cloud."). An added benefit is the speed and development options, each department can have a bespoke application developed for their individual needs, that will be secure, communicative with one another, and provide a complementary benefit for the whole company.

For more information, check out the below URL for informative videos: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/videos/home/

References

BBC News. (2015, September 12). What is artificial intelligence? Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-34224406/what-is-artificial-intelligence

John Gallaugher. (2017). Information Systems: A Manager’s Guide to Harnessing Technology. Boston, MA: FlatWorld

PWC. (n.d.). Cloud and Emerging Technology Risk and Controls Building confidence and trust amidst increasing technology risks. Retrieved from https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/risk-assurance/digital-risk-solutions/emerging-technology.html

Salesforce. (n.d.). Salesforce Einstein is the #1 Business Intelligence Software. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://www.salesforce.com/products/einstein/overview/

            Adobe Sensei. (2017). Adobe Sensei puts artificial intelligence at the center of amazing customer experiences. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://www.adobe.com/sensei.html

            Lindsay, K. (2017, July 27). Adobe Unveils New Sensei Capabilities in Adobe Target to Power Personalization. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://theblog.adobe.com/adobe-unveils-new-sensei-capabilities-adobe-target-power-personalization/

Campbell, F. (2018, February 15). Microsoft's Cognitive Services Highlight AI Data Issues. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/fredcampbell/2018/02/15/microsofts-cognitive-services-highlight-ai-data-issues/#64620ad55cbf

Microsoft. (n.d.). Microsoft Azure - Your vision. Your cloud. Retrieved from https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/

Worstall, T. (2013, February 24). Ridiculous: Microsoft's Azure Fails Over Unrenewed Security Certificate. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/02/23/ridiculous-microsofts-azure-fails-over-unrenewed-security-certificate/#7886158c901f

Catlin, T., LaBerge, L., & Varney, S. (2018, October). Digital strategy: The four fights you have to win. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/digital-strategy-the-four-fights-you-have-to-win?cid=other-eml-alt-mkq-mck-oth-1811&hlkid=a84385c97db24a198a975f7cbdb7a394&hctky=10583833&hdpid=c5ec74a5-27f6-4b29-86b4-c236590e8ae0