Apptio unveils brand new AI and sustainability features

Apptio, an IBM company, has announced a range of new features and updates across its technology business management (TBM) and FinOps solutions portfolio.

The updates are designed to address challenges faced by enterprises in the FinOps and TBM domains, particularly regarding self-service support during implementation and the need for automated technology planning and costing practices.

Eugene Khvostov, Chief Product Officer at Apptio, stated, "Apptio is committed to empowering businesses to better manage technology investments and operations. We aim to make FinOps and TBM accessible to everyone within an organisation, driving clear alignment to business outcomes.

"The portfolio additions we're announcing today are designed to create an ecosystem that promotes transparency, efficiency, sustainability, and proactive decision-making."

The enhanced offerings include a Beta version of an AI assistant, carbon emission reporting, and FinOps Open Cost & Usage Specification (FOCUS) support in Cloudability. This reflects a broader commitment to optimise the use of Information Technology (IT) investments.

The Apptio AI Assistant, powered by the IBM watsonx AI platform, is set to deliver 24/7 support for IBM Cloudability and, by early 2025, for IBM Apptio. It provides immediate responses to "how-to" questions, product guides, and help with documentation.

The IBM Apptio Essentials suite is also being expanded with new solutions for automating budget and forecasting processes and for billing management, which are expected to be available by the end of 2024. These tools aim to support organisations in making more informed strategic decisions regarding IT investments.

Moreover, IBM Targetprocess, now available on Microsoft Azure Marketplace, offers expanded capabilities for advanced reporting and integration with agile and waterfall frameworks. This aims to improve resource allocation and alignment with strategic goals.

In addressing diversifying cloud costs, IBM Cloudability's new features include enhanced third-party vendor support and FOCUS support, enabling organisations to integrate specialist cloud vendor data to gain comprehensive insights into cloud expenditures.

To respond to environmental concerns, Apptio, in collaboration with IBM Research, has introduced new sustainability metrics within IBM Cloudability. The metrics, which include estimated carbon emissions and power consumption, are designed to help FinOps teams consider environmental impacts alongside financial costs.

The launch of CostGuard, currently in Private Beta, offers proactive cost management by providing cost estimates directly within developer workflows. This feature supports Engineers to comply with internal policies before deploying infrastructure.

Recognising the need for a unified platform, Apptio has also integrated Turbonomic with Apptio Costing. This integration provides comprehensive insights into hybrid IT environments to make informed decisions to optimise IT infrastructure investments.