International Business Machines Corporation announced that Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank has turned to IBM Systems and Software to streamline business processes across its IT infrastructure and enable broader client reach through new online and mobile banking services. As part of SHB's business strategy "Competition by Differentiation", making the best use of investment opportunities, IBM provided SHB with a solution composed of IBM Power Systems servers, IBM System Storage and IBM Tivoli software. The solution helped SHB streamline its IT infrastructure management, consolidate data flows and provided the bank with a single view of clients and data. By automating several pieces of the financial process the bank was able to launch its "S-Double Account, " together with some new online and mobile-based services, such as loan application, appointment booking, and bill payment.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced that it has been appointed as the Technology and Innovation Partner in the Thames Water AMP6 Alliance. According to a release, IBM together with Thames Water will create strategies by analyzing big data and social media with the aim of improving operations and customer interaction while preparing the water company for future transformation. As part of the alliance IBM will help shape the water company's business plan which supports essential improvements to aging water and sewer networks across London and the Thames Valley. Based on collaboration, innovation and sustainability, Thames Water noted, it aims to integrate its supply chain with business planning to improve outcomes pre set for the next regulatory period (AMP6) between 2015-2020. Additionally, the alliance will focus on boosting safety, reducing total expenditure and environmental impact alongside lowering energy and chemical costs. As the Technology and Innovation Partner, IBM will introduce Big Data analytical capabilities to provide deep insight into existing business and service data. The analysis will provide valuable information to help identify innovation opportunities to transform the management of assets, interaction with customers and suppliers and how key risks to the business are proactively managed. Other key areas being targeted include smart metering, treatment processes, the application of nanotechnology for energy production and environmental pollution prevention. IBM noted it will also create opportunities for Thames Water to deliver long-term value and maximize experience for customers. These activities include analyzing a range of social media channels including blogs, online forums and Twitter to create real-time public opinion snapshots, identifying trends and usage behavior while understanding how consumers feel toward the brand. This valuable analysis can be used to identify new ways of transforming the Thames Water front office to continue improving customer communication and service levels.

Waterfund LLC and IBM announced that they have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Water and Environment of the Republic of Uganda that makes the country the first in Africa to become a member of the pioneering Water Cost Index (WCI). Waterfund, with IBM acting as calculation agent, will work with the Ministry of Water and Environment to calculate the cost of producing water in Uganda. This work will reflect estimated water production costs measured in US dollars per cubic metre and be published as part of the Rickards Real Cost Water Index(TM), to be updated monthly. As governments are increasingly forced to turn to the private sector to fund the construction and maintenance of complex water networks, the index will provide Uganda with a benchmark for helping measure critical projects on a like-for-like basis. This makes it a vital tool for attracting funding for the water infrastructure projects critical to national development. The Rickards Real Cost Water Index(TM) will highlight the energy costs, interest rate risk, and capital expenditures required to build and maintain large-scale water treatment and delivery networks in Uganda. The fiscal yera 2012/2013 budget for the Ministry of Water and Environment to invest in the water sector is UGX 301.9 billion (USD 153 million), with plans to supply 77% of rural dwellers and 100% of urban dwellers with clean water by 2015. To achieve this aim, however, it will require Uganda to commit at least USD 300 million per year of new investment to the water sector until 2020.