RESTON, Va., April 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appian (NASDAQ:APPN) and KPMG LLP today announce 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, a Center of Excellence for Data & Analytics, to demonstrate application and operational delivery of innovative 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.”

KPMG is an insight services leader. 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 highly skilled data science resources with experience in building and training AI data models. Appian solves the application development side of the equation through powerful low-code development, including no-code integration to cloud cognitive and machine learning services from leading platform providers. Appian makes it easy to orchestrate people, AI services, and a robotic process automation (RPA) powered workforce to improve the most essential business processes.

“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.”

About Appian
Appian provides a leading low-code software development platform that enables organizations to rapidly develop powerful and unique applications. The applications created on Appian’s platform help companies drive digital transformation and competitive differentiation. For more information, visit www.appian.com.

About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the independent U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International’s independent member firms have 197,000 professionals working in 154 countries. Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding Appian’s relationship with KPMG, the development and use of artificial intelligence-related applications on the Appian platform, and the potential benefits to Appian customers of such applications. The words “anticipate,” believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Appian has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that Appian believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. Those forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks related to Appian’s ability to provide a platform that is useful to its customers, including through offering new or enhanced solutions, risks related to the success of Appian’s strategic relationships with third parties, and the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of Appian’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2018, and subsequent reports that Appian has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, Appian operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for Appian’s management to predict all risks, nor can Appian assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Appian may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, Appian cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. Appian is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

For Information Contact:
Nicole Greggs, Director of Media Relations, Appian
+1 703-260-7868
nicole.greggs@appian.com

Kristen Morgan, Director of Communications, KPMG LLP
+ 410-949-2668
kmorgan@kpmg.com

Source: Appian Corporation