Wal-Mart Invests in Bangalore Data Analytics

I spent some time in Bangalore, gave a talk to a future looking group there, and found some exciting things going on.

In Computer Weekly:
Retail giant Wal-Mart is investing heavily in its IT development centre in Bangalore, turning the city into its most important centre outside the US   ... US retail giant Wal-Mart is planning to invest heavily in data and analytics technology and services at its Bangalore-based development centre. ... " 

Lowes Innovation Lab uses VR

Increasing use of VR in innovation.   The capabilities have yet to be mainstreamed.

 " ... Lowe’s Innovation Labs (LIL), the innovation hub of Lowe’s Companies Inc has announced its expanding its network into Bangalore, India by launching a startup accelerator program focused on developing technologies including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), 3D scanning and printing, and robotics.

LIL-Bangalore will be creating an intensive 16-week accelerator program for the startups, after which they will have the opportunity to partner with LIL to deploy their technology in the US. ... " 

IBM Sets up Indian Analytics Center

In my early days in the enterprise we worked directly with IBM to use their optimization software and resources to solve tough analytics problems. Over the years this changed to other sources of expertise augmenting our own. Now they are building huge centers of expertise in this area. Visited Bangalore a few years ago and was impressed with data mining/analytics resources via the Universities there.

IBM has set up a center in Bangalore that will focus on offering high-end expertise to the business analytics market worldwide.

The center, called the Business Analytics Center of Competency, will have over 200 consultants in the area of business analytics who will interact with customers worldwide, said Simon Thomas, service line leader at IBM India for the global delivery of business analytics and optimization services.

IBM's global business services operation in India is already doing work in the area of business analytics and optimization with about 2,000 staff. But most of the work done so far consisted of developing applications, and delivering services and support to customers ... '