Where do you think IBMs software offerings, in the ITSM space, will be in 5 years time, considering the competition from other vendors and open source? As a Netcool specialist myself, my concerns are that IBM's market share is going to be significantly eroded without more bleeding edge offerings.

Hi Jason,

Having recently been through a few situations wherein IBM Netcool was under threat from other players, it has held its own and been supported and retained by the customers. This admittedly was in the large client base, such as telco, and are therefore more likely IMO to want to retain the piece of mind and assurance that comes with a solution supported by IBM. IBM Netcool is also quite competitive in price compared to its direct competitors it seems, and of course all open-source alternatives are operating with a different set of criteria and expectations.

I think the major growth and expectation will revolve around the journey into Infrastructure as Code and Containerisation and how IBM Netcool will support those models. My impressions so far is that it has a real competitive advantage, or at the very least is holding its own.


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Finbarr Hennessy
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2018 13:11
From: Jason Taylor
Subject: Where do you think IBMs software offerings will be in 5 years time?

Where do you think IBMs software offerings, in the ITSM space, will be in 5 years time, considering the competition from other vendors and open source? As a Netcool specialist myself, my concerns are that IBM's market share is going to be significantly eroded without more bleeding edge offerings.

Hi  Jason I think with any vendor they have to not rest on their laurels.  I have started to see some new development in the netcool space with agile service management, plus Agile life cycle management adding some new life into the solution. 
Also Netcool  is being containerized, which should help deployment, currently in a beta program with release stated in third quarter.
As for other ITSM tools withing IBM.  IBM just released its first APM fully cloud native product which will help the customer move from ITMv6 to a more modern solution.
One of the thoughts customers also need to be aware of it opensource may seem a cheap option, but they tend to have to have a lot of bespoke effort to get these working and tend to be for one specific purpose.  Plus when the SME leaves, the company is at risk re that bespoke solution and support there of.
I think its going to be an interesting next few years, as microservices being exposed will have affect on any ITSM ITOM solution.
just my thoughts and do not represent those of IBM.

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Chris Jordan
ITSM Technical Sales consultant
IBM

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Original Message:
Sent: 05-08-2018 13:11
From: Jason Taylor
Subject: Where do you think IBMs software offerings will be in 5 years time?

Where do you think IBMs software offerings, in the ITSM space, will be in 5 years time, considering the competition from other vendors and open source? As a Netcool specialist myself, my concerns are that IBM's market share is going to be significantly eroded without more bleeding edge offerings.