IBM has bought itself a data relationship discovery software line, picking up the assets of privately-held Exeros Inc whose products are designed to audit data quality and business rules across different systems.
Exeros’ technology automatically uncovers hidden relationships between databases, helping users make sense of disparate data sources much faster than otherwise possible, IBM explained.
The company said tools like Exeros Discovery and Exeros Validator would provide it with new capabilities for its recently announced business analytics optimisation consulting practice.
The businesses are saying nothing about how much was paid for the assets.
Over the next several months, IBM intends to integrate Exeros within its information management software portfolio.
In the past Exeros had cut reseller and OEM deals with the likes of Business Objects, Princeton Softech and Siperian, the supplier of master data management software.
The ERwin Data Modeler toolset sold by CA Inc also draws on Exeros technology, using its data profiler tool to provide a single view into multiple data sources and systems.
That system is used for data mapping and automated data relationship discovery, and will scrutinise data held in legacy systems to establish how best it can be structured for efficient use in applications, data marts and data warehouses.
In April IBM said it would be setting up a new consulting organisation for business analytics and business optimisation, marking the first launch of a new service line by IBM Global Business Services since it was formed in 2002.
The service draws on IBM sizeable information management portfolio, including technologies from the acquisitions of Cognos and iLog.