SK Holdings C&C, an information technology services firm, said it plans to accelerate its push to transform into a data service company that provides tailored IT services by utilizing up-to-date artificial intelligence and big data technologies.

“The emergence of new technology is accelerating digital transformation and disruption across a wide range of industries,” said Lee Ho-soo, chief technology officer of SK Holdings C&C, at a press meeting in Seoul on Wednesday.

He noted that digital transformation and disruptive technologies are forcing conventional businesses to change their business models. Global digital industrial company General Electric and automotive firm Ford, two household names, for example, are now tapping new segments -- software and unmanned vehicles, respectively.

“By providing top-tier ICT solutions combined with AI, big data and cloud technologies, SK Holdings C&C hopes to enhance its partners’ competitiveness and increase their profit,” he added.

The company said it has set a sales target of 2.5 trillion won ($2.1 billion) for the new businesses by 2020.

Joining hands with U.S. tech firm IBM, the IT solutions business unit of SK Group has been preparing to offer services -- such as banking, telecommunications, logistics and health care -- running on artificial intelligence Watson.

Aiming to take the lead in the still-fledgling domestic market for AI, big data and cloud computing, the company has opened a research and development center, which recently rolled out the firm’ cloud service Cloud Z and AI service Aibril.

SK Holdings C&C CEO Park Jung-ho has handpicked top experts in the relevant sectors.

CTO Lee, who joined SK C&C in December, participated in developing the Watson AI program at Big Blue from 1985 to 2005, and used to work for tech giant Samsung Electronics’ software center from 2005 to 2008. He headed Samsung’s media solutions center from 2008 to 2014.

Chang Moon-seok of SK Holdings C&C’s cloud business and Shin Hyun-seok of the firm’s Could Z business have worked for cloud and virtualization software firm VMware and cloud computing business Amazon Web Services, respectively.

SK Holdings C&C will deploy the Watson AI program for call centers, cancer diagnosis solutions, and shopping solutions at first, and expand the business into various segments, including robotics, education, and smart homes.

Developing automatic systems for manufacturing factories is another core business of SK Group’s holding company.

The Korean firm has been leading a project to transform the printer production lines of electronics firm Foxconn in Chongqing, China, equipping them with automated assembly systems.

It said it would partner up with Korean and Chinese manufacturers in semiconductor, display and car markets to install smart systems at their production lines.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heradlcorp.com)