Solution overview

Many organizations and endeavors require efficient operational supervision and coordination. All have in common the need for the right information to be brought together so that the right people can make fast, accurate decisions and track the effect of those decisions. IBM® Intelligent Operations Center is a software solution that is designed to facilitate effective supervision and coordination of operations.

Authorities face common challenges in their core systems and in making improvements to systems that are interconnected. Authorities that are forward-looking want to use the improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of smarter core systems. They adopt new ways of thinking about and using these systems. The application of advanced information technology can help authorities better understand, predict, and intelligently respond to patterns of behavior and events.

For example, IBM defines an intelligent city in terms of the improvements in quality of life and economic well-being that are achieved through applying information technologies (IT) to plan, design, build, and operate the city infrastructure. An intelligent city is not primarily about "the latest technology." It is about finding ways to use technology to make the most effective use of the existing resources, to improve the life of the citizens of the city.

IBM Intelligent Operations Center uses the power of the real-world data that is generated by computer systems by performing the following tasks:

  • Collecting and managing the right data
  • Integrating and analyzing that data
  • Facilitating easy and timely access to information
  • Presenting related information in a coherent way

The benefits of this solution are to:

  • Adjust systems to achieve results that are based on the insights that are gained
  • Optimize planned and unplanned operations by using a holistic reporting and monitoring approach
  • Build convergence of domains in an organization by facilitating communication and collaboration
  • Improve quality of service and reduce expense by coordinating events

An operation can be divided into individual domains, which generally match with the organization structure and the expertise of the people involved. In a city, the expertise is held in departments, for example, in transportation, water, and public safety.

As the complexity of operations in a domain increases, a more customized solution is required. IBM Intelligent Operations Center has a number of different integration points where customization can take place. These integration points and the infrastructure that is included give IBM Business Partners, service providers, and customers the flexibility to build a broad and powerful solution.