IBM buying BPM vendor Lombardi

IBM on Wednesday said it has signed a deal to buy Lombardi, an Austin, Texas, BPM (business process management) vendor. Terms were not disclosed.

BPM software helps companies develop, implement and manage business processes, such as the steps involved in hiring help or buying supplies.

IBM's WebSphere product portfolio already includes a wide range of BPM software, as Lombardi itself once pointed out in a competitive white paper that portrayed its technology as easier to use and deploy.

There is "a great fit" in IBM's portfolio for Lombardi's Teamworks and Blueprint software products, which already support WebSphere, Lombardi CEO Rod Favaron said in a blog postWednesday.

"We also have many joint customers and partners so we understand the types of expanded product and service offerings that are needed to drive enterprise level success with BPM," he added.

The pending acquisition is one of more than 90 IBM has made since 2003.

Executives from both companies are expected to discuss the deal further in a conference call later Wednesday.

(More to follow.)

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