Ventana Research Analyst Perspectives

Blockchain's Presence at IBM THINK 2019

Posted by Robert Kugel on Feb 25, 2019 6:00:00 AM

IBM’s THINK conference, just held this February in San Francisco, is IBM's annual user conference. THINK is designed to showcase upcoming product updates and releases from IBM, along with provide best practices on a wide range of topics. While many technologies were on display, there is one topic in particular I wanted to cover this year: Blockchain.

Blockchain has substantial potential in commerce, financial services and tax, from use cases  like Identity management to trade documentation and more. There’s been a great deal of experimenting over the last few years, but most have yet to go anywhere beyond just experiments. Many have been skeptical as a result, but IBM sees a large opportunity in blockchain. IBM has been heavily involved in developing foundational technologies and offering early developer products, such as a Blockchain Platform and Hyperledger Fabric. For my look into moving blockchain beyond an experiment, and a breakdown of blockchain at IBM's THINK conference, watch my hot take video.

HubSpot Video

Topics: Office of Finance, IBM, Financial Performance Management, FPM, Digital Technology, blockchain

Robert Kugel

Written by Robert Kugel

Rob heads up the CFO and business research focusing on the intersection of information technology with the finance organization and business. The financial performance management (FPM) research agenda includes the application of IT to financial process optimization and collaborative systems; control systems and analytics; and advanced budgeting and planning. Prior to joining Ventana Research he was an equity research analyst at several firms including First Albany Corporation, Morgan Stanley, and Drexel Burnham, and a consultant with McKinsey and Company. Rob was an Institutional Investor All-American Team member and on the Wall Street Journal All-Star list. Rob has experience in aerospace and defense, banking, manufacturing and retail and consumer services. Rob earned his BA in Economics/Finance at Hampshire College, an MBA in Finance/Accounting at Columbia University, and is a CFA charter holder.