AmCham Bulgaria Exclusive English version of Phil Davis’ interview for Capital Weekly, March 1th, 2019.
What products and solutions is HPE mainly working on in the wake of the AI and IoT era for most businesses?
At HPE, we believe the enterprise of the future will be edge-centric, cloud-enabled and data-driven, so our strategy is centered on connecting these areas along with research and development to make us the perfect partner for digital transformation.
The “edge” is where the digital world meets the real world from smartphones to production lines and where lots of data gets created. Data is the biggest factor in the transformation of tech today. It facilitates the insights for progress and value, and it’s being created at rates like never before. 1.2 quintillion bytes of data are being created every day, with 75% of it at the edge. This is why we’re investing $4 billion in the Edge by 2022 to help people utilise data, realize its value, and fulfil its potential. The right edge strategy keeps employees engaged, connects our devices and buildings, propels smart vehicles and drones, and enables smart cities.
Some AI/IoT examples include:
HPE InfoSight,
- an industry-leading, cloud-based AI management tool, for HPE storage and servers.
With global learning and predictive analytics capabilities based on real-world operational data, HPE InfoSight drives down operating costs, closes disruptive performances gaps and frees IT staff to innovate
It constantly monitors infrastructure, identifying potential problems and providing insights to resolution
HPE Edgeline
- HPE Edgeline Converged Edge System solutions speed the deployment and simplify the management of edge applications, enabling customers to act on the vast amounts of data generated by machine, sensors and assets from edge to cloud
Enterprises can easily integrate a broad ecosystem of applications and operational technology devices for edge deployments – driving efficiency and innovation in industries like manufacturing, energy and telecommunications
HPE Apollo 6500 Gen10 System
- a high-performance computing system purpose-built for deep learning
delivers 3x faster deep learning model training than previous generations
IoT Innovation Lab in Geneva
- In January HPE opened a new IoT Innovation Lab in Geneva, Switzerland, to help customers capitalize on the vast amounts of data generated by devices, machines, assets and sensors at the edge
- One of four HPE IoT Innovation Labs globally, the lab will develop and test advanced IoT and edge-to-cloud solutions to drive business outcomes like operational efficiency, safety, revenue growth and long-term competitive advantage
- Offers a hand-on environment with real-world examples for customers and partner
How has the company redefined itself since the Hewlett-Packard split?
Following the separation in 2015, HP Inc continued to sell PCs and printers, while HPE’s portfolio covers enterprise products such as servers, data storage products, hybrid infrastructure, edge computing services, software and networking equipment.
First, today we are more focused company. All of our clients are in period of digital transformation. That means that they have to be fast and flexible. If they do not do that, their business is endangered. Each business model is changing today. Think about the banks – twenty years ago the question is how many branches you have. Ten years ago – it was how many cash terminals you have. Today the question is when it was the last time you went to any branch. Everything is in our smartphones. It is not only about banks, of course – all industries are changing. The bottom line here is either you disrupt or you will be disrupted. To remain at the same position is just not possible. So, we have decided if we want to be successful, we have to be fast and flexible. That led to mergers around our different companies too. Thus I think that we are better partner to our customers, because we are fast and flexible. If you take a look at our last quarter results, they are really strong and show that our strategy works.
At HPE we have a specific and unique strategy to advance the way we live and work, using innovation to shape better business and a better world. We champion the importance of education, technology skills and advanced science. Our vision for the digital sector follows a partnership model, developing local talents and competencies. Our solutions and innovations are being used to tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time.
These include:
- Using IoT and edge solutions to solve world hunger in partnership with the World Economic Forum and Purdue University
- Deploying a supercomputer for digital reconstruction and simulations of the mammalian brain to advance the understanding of the brain with École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Blue Brain Project
- Using AI to help Marinus Analytics fight human trafficking
How has your company changed in the last few years after the CSC and Micro Focus deals?
We stopped trying to do everything for everyone. We think that it is better to be a focused company The move has allowed HPE to become an industry leading provider of hybrid IT, built on the secure, next-generation, software-defined infrastructure that run customers’ data centers today and bridge them to multi-cloud environments.
HPE is focused on competing and succeeding in a rapidly changing market. Our strategy is based on three pillars:
Making hybrid IT simple through secure, software-defined offerings that enable customers to move data seamlessly across their traditional data centers and public and private cloud environments
Redefining IT outside the data center by powering the emerging intelligent edge that will run campus, branch and industrial IoT applications
Providing world-class services and flexible consumption models to help customers transform their IT environments through HPE Pointnext – our services business – and our Financial Services business.
Our Financial Services division is where we invest in the circular economy. There is a lot of equipment in the data centers which afterwards you can either recycle, or trash. What we are doing is to renovate it and reuse it again, although in a different application. This is important to us not only because this is sustainable/green, but also we can often pay our customers for their equipment which they don’t need anymore, and they reinvest this money to buy new equipment.
What enterprise software and services is HPE developing and how do you persuade your clients on the need for change?
With a rise in connected Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and AI-enabled applications –both of which are producing valuable business insights and accelerating innovation cycles– data needs to be processed and analysed at the Edge. At Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), when discussing this major shift of computing to the edge, we often talk about the ‘Intelligent Edge’. We use this term to highlight the greater levels of – and need for – computing capacity at the edge of the network. At HPE we are at the forefront of the fast-growing market for Intelligent Edge solutions. Increasingly businesses are looking for rich, connected experiences to generate significant business value for customers and clients, and the way to enable this is to invest in building out intelligence at the network edge. Bridging both the digital and physical worlds, the Intelligent Edge is the next big opportunity for businesses.
We persuade clients on the usefulness of the Intelligent Edge with three C’s
Connect: When devices, people, or things connect via networks, it facilitates data exchanges that promote new sources and quantities of data.
Compute: Systems can then compute this data, provide access to applications, and reveal deep insights concerning the connected things, devices, and the surrounding environment.
Control: These computed insights can then be used to take action, control the devices and things at the edge, or prompt other types of control actions associated with the business or enterprise to which the edge is connected.
Has the disruption caused by new technology trends like blockchain changed HPE? If yes, how?
Blockchain is changing the face of entire industries, but, by its very nature, it encourages ecosystems, and that’s why we are investing in blockchain technologies to power new innovations. For appropriate processes, it can offer tremendous benefits including reduced costs, increased revenues and new business value –and for this reason we are working with this technology trend to give enterprise customers business value and support their objectives.
At Mobile World Congress last week (February 2019, ed.), we recently launched a blockchain based platform with Continental for car manufacturers to share and sell vehicle data. Based on blockchain technology, the platform provides data sovereignty, security, transparency and efficiency to overcome the barriers of sharing vehicle data. However, at HPE we do still feel that a blockchain should be not seen as a single technology solution; instead it should be viewed as a new, comprehensive approach to providing services and value to businesses.
What are HPE’s plans for Bulgaria?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise has more than 20 years’ presence in Bulgaria – both as Hewlett-Packard and now as Hewlett Packard Enterprise following the separation in November 2015. We will continue to expand our operations in Sofia. Today the Sofia site of Hewlett Packard Enterprise continues to be a key location for the company’s global operations. With the deep technical expertise on innovative and market leading technologies with strong business knowledge, the Sofia site employs a variety of employee profiles on the technical, language, business and HR side and is well-positioned. HPE will also continue to share successful practices from our Bulgarian operation to other HPE locations as the teams are leading and developing a large number of innovative work practices. I am impressed by the innovative work that is happening here
About Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is a technology leader focused on developing intelligent solutions to allow customers capture, analyze and act upon data seamlessly from edge to cloud. HPE enables customers to accelerate business outcomes by driving new business models, creating new customer and employee experiences, and increasing operational efficiency.
HPE Bulgaria is one of the largest and continuously growing HPE sites providing flawless customer service, consultancy, supply chain operations, project management and business analysis.
Phil Davis, President Hybrid IT, Chief Sales Officer, HPE
The visit to Sofia was part of Phil Davis’ agenda to visit all major HPE sites globally. In this context Sofia, as one of the largest company locations, was a priority on the list. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know the site and spend time and talk with employees and people leaders.
The interview is published with the permission of HPE Bulgaria. Link from its publication in Bulgarian will be provided.