IBM has developed a definitive agreement to acquire WDG Automation, a Brazilian software provider of robotic process automation (RPA) to expand its AI-infused automation capabilities across business processes and IT operations, IBM reported on Wednesday.
"With today's announcement, IBM is taking that a step further and helping clients accelerate automation to more parts of the organization, not just to routine, but more complex tasks so employees can focus on higher value work," said Denis Kennelly, general manager of Cloud Integration, IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software.
IBM will embed WDG Automation's RPA capabilities into its AI-infused automation capabilities to enable users to access intelligent automation through software robots. The acquisition will extend IBM services' and enhance enterprise workflows by delivering automation pervasively across client organizations.
The WDG Automation technology is designed for business users to create automations using a desktop recorder without the need of IT. These software robots can run on-demand by the end user or by an automated scheduler.
WDG Automation will enable IBM to quickly identify opportunities for automation and help ensure consistent and accurate data will be integrated into the company’s tools and business functions, including customer service, IT, finance, human resources and supply chain.
Under the terms of the acquisition, IBM will integrate more than 600 pre-built RPA functions from WDG Automation into Cloud Pak for Automation to help businesses turn insights from AI into automated actions.
In addition to business operations, IBM will integrate WDG Automation RPA into its capabilities for automating IT operations, specifically Watson AIOps and Cloud Pak for Multicloud Management to enable CIOs to self-detect, diagnose and respond to IT anomalies in real time.
The WDG Automation technology will join the IBM Cloud Integration organization and be available through IBM Cloud Pak for Automation on-premises, and in public or private cloud environments. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in Q3 2020.
"Automation is crucial in the digital era, as businesses need to perform several repetitive or routine tasks, so that employees are able to focus on innovation. I'm incredibly proud of the role WDG Automation has played in the RPA market with a unified and integrated platform to help companies in Brazil increase their productivity," said Robson Felix, founder and CEO, WDG Automation.
