Tencent Technology News December 7th, Cisco Systems has just announced that it will spend $750 million to acquire the British software company IMImobile to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) software used to help companies manage customer relationships. Z2z
, a US network equipment manufacturer, will acquire shares of IMImobile at a price of 595 pence (approximately US$8) per share. Cisco said in a statement that the cash acquisition, including debt, is expected to be completed in the first quarter.
Cisco’s hardware is seen as the backbone of the Internet, but the company’s chief executive Chuck Robbins (Chuck Robbins) is seeking to reshape the company as a network software and service provider. He is responding to the transformation of the entire industry. The functions traditionally provided by internal hardware have been more transferred to outsourcing services provided by remote data centers.
Cisco is seeking to further advance automation to improve the way customers contact end users so that they can promote products and provide services more effectively. The company also hopes to add these features to its existing customer relationship management products.
With IMImobile, Cisco also sees an opportunity to use AI software to automate the promotion process in a more effective way than it is currently. For example, it will help customers import their products into their favorite ways, such as via SMS, social media or voice calls. Another example is to provide company representatives with more relevant information about the customers they are dealing with to ensure they tailor the interaction the way the customer wants.
Cisco’s senior vice president Jeetu Patel (Jeetu Patel) said in the press release: “Good customer relationships are built on continuous and pleasant interactions, and every touch point of every channel is provided by the company. And opportunities for intuitive experience.”
As technology companies seek to strengthen their AI capabilities, more and more similar transactions will emerge. A week ago, ServiceNow said it would acquire Canadian start-up Element AI, which marked the fourth time the software manufacturer has acquired AI-related businesses this year. (Tencent Technology Review/Golden Deer)
