SAN FRANCISCO: IBM’s efforts to bolster its cloud offerings could get a boost from new developer tools it is unveiling on February 4. The tools are aimed at helping IBM stake out more of a claim to an area key to its growth: the network of computers known as the cloud, where its customers are increasingly stashing more of their data and computing work. In doing so, they often sidestep more expensive IBM technology, meaning IBM needs to bolster its own cloud offerings to compete. The new tools help developers work faster, build more functions into existing software applications and create predictive analytics apps. They form part of IBM’s Bluemix service, designed for building Web and mobile apps. “IBM has a tremendous asset,” Derek Schoettle, general manager for IBM’s analytics platform and cloud data services, said of its customer base.