IMS Health has acquired Incential Software, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company based in Raleigh, N.C., to advance its sales performance management capabilities for life sciences organizations worldwide. Incential delivers cloud-based technology and services that integrate incentive compensation, data management and business intelligence applications for effective, results-driven sales operations.

 IMS Health said the acquisition will extend its ability to help clients transform their commercial models to meet shifting marketplace demands, with solutions that streamline and accelerate incentive compensation reporting and management for improved ROI.

IMS Health will bring together its healthcare information, analytics, managed services and technology with Incential's suite of life sciences-optimized software solutions. The combination provides information and services to support critical aspects of sales force strategy, planning and implementation. IMS Health's incentive compensation offerings, which include integrated payer, provider and anonymous patient-level metrics, drive a holistic approach to rewarding sales teams.

"Every life sciences company, across every commercial operation, is looking to tap the power of data-driven, technology-enabled solutions to make their sales compensation plans more efficient, effective and aligned," said Lisa Kerber, vice president and general manager, commercial effectiveness services, IMS Health. "Through this acquisition, we're bringing together a comprehensive set of evidence-based capabilities and services to transform the way our clients plan and execute their commercial programs."

 Incential's solutions will become part of IMS One, the company's commercial platform that combines IMS Health and third-party data for sales, marketing and performance management activities. Flexible and scalable, IMS One's cloud-based information and services lower costs and speed implementation.