Most businesses have better things to do than mess around with technology. While it’s true that data and technology are transforming every aspect of business, the average company simply doesn’t have the people or the expertise to upgrade their infrastructure to the latest and greatest. That’s when it’s time to reach out to a partner for help. IBM has positioned itself to be a partner of choice for the digital revolution, according to Kevin McIntyre, WW client success leader, Analytics Cloud Sales, at IBM.

McIntyre and Nik Green, director of Business Intelligence and Data Management at Delhaize America, spoke to Dave Vellante (@dvellante) and George Gilbert (@ggilbert41), cohosts of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, during the BigDataNYC 2016 conference in New York about how a business works with a technology partner.

Experimenting with Big Data

The conversation started with a look at how Delhaize America came to realize it needed a technology partner. Green explained that it wanted to do some experimentation with Big Data, but as a supermarket business, it didn’t have the skills or resources to do so. Searching for a partner who did, it found IBM. which then provided Delhaize America with the resources to get off the ground.

There was much for the supermarket retailer to learn. Green mentioned the company has very strong local retailers, and the information gained confirmed what those retailers already knew. More importantly, IBM helped Delhaize America understand how it could work with internal and external data to innovate within its company.

Tactical technology

McIntyre then continued the point from the IBM side. He stated the project wasn’t just a success in one area. IBM has worked with Delhaize America to create new systems of engagement that change how customers interact with the supermarket’s brand. He described its approach as being very tactical about solving problems.

“We’re putting together that executable plan from where they are today to where they want to be in the future,” McIntyre said.

Green stated: “One of the things we do with IBM is talk business problems.” When Delhaize America goes at a problem from a business perspective, that might involve some tech, but they want an end-to-end solution, Green pointed out that with IBM, the company can focus on the problem and remove the technology side from the equation. It’s changed the dynamic of how they go to market, he said.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of BigDataNYC 2016.

Photo by SiliconANGLE