Managing complexities of the data era

Vangelis Lagousakos, Senior Director & General Manager, Channel Sales, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (META), at Dell Technologies

Businesses are looking to reinforce resilience after a year in which the hybrid cloud has asserted itself as an absolute necessity. Taking stock of cloud management efficiencies will form a vital next step. There is no doubt that digital businesses have the agility and flexibility to pivot, come what may. But the truth is we are only at the dawn of the digital era. We are setting the foundations for a faster, more complex and distributed data environment. Looking ahead, it is vital that channel partners guide businesses as they look to evolve and reinforce digital capabilities.

As a service solutions promise ultimate simplification and agility, setting businesses up to master the oncoming data deluge. Breaking down data complexities is critical. Cloud, storage, and flexible IT infrastructure as a service solutions are a balm for customer’s data management needs. It’s up to channel experts to provide business leaders with trusted advice to understand the benefits of these solutions while considering their business needs. Timely sector knowledge tailors these benefits and turbocharges customer’s business goals.

Preparing for the zetabytte era

Gartner predicts that in 2022, data centre systems spending in the MENA will reach $4bn, and end-user expenditure on public cloud services in the MENA region will reach $5.7bn. Finding a means of simplifying data management is a palpable business need. With the boom in edge computing bringing IoT capabilities to life and ambitions towards more connected 5G futures, it is the businesses poised to handle sprawling data networks that will steal tomorrow’s success stories. Those that can efficiently process, recall, analyse, and transfer data will streamline digital operations while saving on costs and time. As complexity grows, this will become business essential.

The global shift from pandemic cautiousness to the oncoming post-pandemic boomtimes emphasizes the channel partner’s pitch. As businesses start to look ahead, reinforce agility and lead the way with the competitive edge, they need to re-focus on innovation – and the digital transformations that make them possible. This means businesses cannot afford to be bogged down in the day-to-day running of their data management or find themselves knee-deep in fresh and bewildering complexities. They need to not only be consistently on top of it, but ready for the next wave in the zettabyte era – and cloud, storage and flexible IT infrastructure as a service solutions can help.

Setting customers up for success

Using automation to reduce the time, effort, and complexity across an organisation is the goal when selecting a solution. Customers want to deploy the right data management tools with less risk and effort. Selecting the right solutions should result in speedier, fuller, and more consistent meeting of customer data needs. This in turn empowers workforces and boosts processes.

There are several as a service solutions that simplify how businesses consume data – so how do we ensure customers realise the full benefits?

• Selecting a data storage service that provides storage when and where organisations need it is one option, but the winning solution will feature transparent pricing for ease of use and no overage thus, providing efficiency and cost benefits to those looking to innovate better, for less.
• Meanwhile, selecting cloud servicesthat promise the industry’s fastest hybrid cloud deployment will help keep customers up to speed with demand for services and the pace of innovation. For optimal outcomes, hybrid and private cloud offerings will bring integrated compute, storage, networking and virtualisation resources for traditional and cloud-native applications.
• Custom as a service solution will bring that all important flexibility on consumption options and work across the industry’s broadest technology portfolio. For many, a pay-per-use experience, metered in a variety of ways, across all infrastructure will be a crucial selling point.
• Finally, to really boost simplicity and ensure customers are in the driving seat – while letting as-a-service solutions do the leg-work – they need solutions that give them the full view from the cockpit. This way they can easily scale services, understand billing options and offers, and additional services that may support their operations.

Turbocharging customers from the Edge

It is up to Channel experts to help customers to accelerate their investments in connected technologies, preparing them for modern networking, 5G and analytics. The next frontier is at the Edge. Now is the time to be laying the foundations for scalable, agile and simplified data management strategies that help them surf the next wave in the data era. This is palpable across the healthcare, manufacturing and smart city arenas. As the world looks to build back better, the real building blocks are behind the scenes, and they start with trusted conversations based on deep sector knowledge and technological expertise. Channel partners are at the forefront of the innovation, advocating and educating on these essential building blocks for brighter, more innovative futures.