KPMG expands alliance with Appian

Appian and KPMG LLP announced an expansion of their strategic alliance. Together, the companies are focused on making it easier to realize the business value of artificial intelligence (AI) by combining the KPMG Ignite portfolio of AI services with the speed, features, and intelligent automation (IA) capabilities of Appian’s low-code platform. KPMG and Appian will expand their relationship around AI-related applications, and Appian’s platform will be leveraged by KPMG Lighthouse to demonstrate application and operational delivery of new AI services.

AI technology holds immense promise for smarter decisions, faster action, and smoother business operations in scenarios ranging from frontline customer service to back-office risk management and regulatory compliance. Real-world deployment of AI solutions lags, however, because AI solutions tend to exist in separate silos that are disconnected from operational systems.

Appian and KPMG are working together to bridge this gap, enabling innovative applications of AI and machine learning - ranging from voice analytics, to prediction based on Big Data, to chatbots, and more - to be directly and effortlessly injected in real-time into the applications that run organizations’ most essential business processes. Currently, the results of AI are predominantly used as a way to analyze after the fact. Applying the results directly in active processes is key to making the right decision at the right time. Working together, Appian and KPMG will enable better decision-making and a higher level of automation, driving better business outcomes and reduced costs.

According to “The Forrester Wave™: Insights Service Providers, Q1 2017” report: “Decision makers are increasingly dissatisfied with the level of analytics in their companies. They realize data alone cannot solve business problems. The ability to provide cutting-edge analytics, deliver insights, and support implementation will dictate which providers lead the pack. Those that turn data into insights that prescribe specific actions to improve outcomes will deliver the most customer value.”

The expanded alliance will offer clients the benefit of KPMG Ignite, which includes methods, tools, and approaches that focus on improving the consistency, efficiency, and speed of AI-enabled decisions and actions. These are backed by data science resources with experience in building and training AI data models. Appian solves the application development side of the equation through low-code development, including no-code integration to cloud cognitive and machine learning services from other platform providers.

“Appian not only provides the digital layer to connect operational systems, it also helps integrate multiple classes of intelligent automation technology with human operations to optimize and expand the business value of our IA solutions,” said Bill Cline, Intelligent Automation U.S. Advisory Leader at KPMG LLP. “Appian is an ideal platform to help operationalize advanced AI solutions in a fraction of the time, and we can deliver exceptional client value with this new aspect of our relationship.”

Marc Wilson, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships and Industries at Appian, said, “KPMG is uniquely positioned to help us deliver the benefits of Appian for AI. It has both industry-leading data science and analytics expertise and as a long-time Appian partner, it has deep experience in getting the most out of our platform.”