The adoption of social business technology is accelerating. This in turn drives the growth of big data, as well as the need for analytics in the enterprise.

In an effort to accelerate social business capabilities for workforce transformation, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) had announced its plans in August to acquire Kenexa – a provider of recruiting and talent management solutions.

IBM now states that it has completed the acquisition of Kenexa for $1.3 billion.

Specializing in cloud-based software and recruiting process outsourcing (RPO), Kenexa provides a unique combination of cloud-based technology and consulting services that integrate both people as well as processes.

It provides solutions that engage a smarter, more effective workforce across most critical business functions.

Alistair Rennie, general manager of social business, IBM (News - Alert), said in a statement, "The combination of Kenexa's world-class human capital management solutions and IBM's social business and analytics leadership uniquely positions IBM to help clients generate real returns from their social business investments, while helping them to be more competitive in their markets."

With the acquisition of Kenexa, IBM is now able to help clients embrace social business capabilities while gaining actionable insights from the enormous streams of information generated from social networks every day.

According to IBM, both companies’ combined strengths will empower organizations with unique capabilities that allow them to increase workforce efficiencies and gain insight from their business information.

Supporting more than 8,900 customers across a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail and consumer, Kenexa now complements IBM's social business and HR business services leadership.

Kenexa also adds to IBM's strategy of bringing relevant data and expertise to the hands of business leaders within every functional department, from sales and marketing, to product development and human resources.

Recently, Kenexa signed sizeable, multiyear contracts with several companies including Cargill – a provider of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.

Cargill has signed a three-year agreement to use Kenexa to implement, develop and oversee an employee engagement survey to its entire workforce of 140,000 employees around the world.

Approximately 2,800 Kenexa employees in 21 countries will now join IBM, which will continue to support Kenexa clients and enhance Kenexa technologies. The tech giant will allow these organizations to take advantage of the broader IBM portfolio.

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