I have recently returned from the AVEVA X-Change User Conference held in the Champagne Sports Resort, South Africa, and what a return to “normal business” it has been!
First things first, it has been an absolute pleasure to connect in person with my team, customers, partners, and attendees in the traditional way. This was my first event back since COVID-19 and while virtual meetings have proven a vital and capable substitute, there is nothing as good as face-to-face meetings. Not to mention the opportunity to host the drinks reception on the first night and sponsor the Gala dinner on the second, being able to shake hands and converse with the other exhibitors is a true return to how business should be done.
Once the stand was set up, and the hall packed, it was easy to see that this return to in-person events was a welcome one for everyone. There was a palpable buzz felt throughout and the high attendance certainly reflected that. On the Stratus Technologies stand we had our Always-On Edge Computing platform the ztC Edge 250i. Attendees could interact and see how our platform would impact their specific sectors through the live Stratus experience, which can still be accessed virtually here. Also on our stand was the revolutionary Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Micro Data Centre with ftServer. Anyone reading this will know how limiting and one-sided virtual demos are, so it was great to be in an environment where I can answer specific questions and tailor information to a chosen sector. If you would like to learn more about the EcoStruxure MDC and how it puts the power of the traditional data center into the hands of OT professionals, see my series here.
Joining me throughout the event was a global dream team of some of Stratus’ best and brightest. Richard Sharod – Vice President EMEA Sales & Services, Albertus Weber – System Architect, and Silvia Boblea – EMEA Marketing, all made the journey to help showcase our product and services, and to support our partners. One such partner I want to highlight, who happened to be our stand neighbor, is PCS Global. A new addition to the Stratus Technologies partner ecosystem, PCS Global are expert systems integrators who always strive to exceed customer expectations with their customized engineering solutions. Their approach to reducing cost of ownership, consistent efficiency, and most importantly reducing unplanned downtime, creates a synergy between our two companies that was evident at the X-Change User Conference. Between our stands we created a live working solution that attendees could interact with and visitors were able to have their questions answered by both expert teams. Working so closely with PCS Global at this event has been a fantastic start to our hopefully long and fruitful relationship.
Another one of our partners that recently joined the Stratus family, Control Software Solutions (CSS), might not have had an exhibiter stand themselves, but it did not prevent them from bringing over all their customers that attended the event for some fruitful discussions on how our two companies combined can provide their customers with a complete turnkey, Always On, edge solution. A big thanks to the CSS team for supporting and showcasing the Stratus and CSS partnership.
To round off the event, I then took to the stage as part of the packed speaker agenda. I spoke about digital transformation (DX) and how important IIoT and Edge Computing architectures are to enabling a successful digitalization. As more companies look to advance their DX journey, they also seek to decrease overall complexity, reduce the difficult-to-navigate CAPEX/OPEX costs, and lower operational risks. With our simple, protected, and autonomous Edge Computing platforms, engineers are designing operationally simple architectures that remain Always On. Again, giving this presentation in person was another example of why live events are so important, I was able to discuss the complex implementation of a project with a KWV representative live on stage. Interacting with such a recognizable South African beverage brand and answering their specific questions is something that would have been much harder at a virtual event.
Getting back to in-person events has been a great experience, it’s not just the amazing team spirit of the Stratus employees, but the opportunity to connect with partners and customers (while giving out amazing prizes) that I haven’t seen since before the pandemic. There will never be a substitute to doing business in this way and interacting directly with customers. Now that the X-Change User conference is over there is no time to rest, the team is in Dubai for the Schneider Electric Innovation Summit. Following the X-Change User conference it was off to Dubai for the Schneider Electric Innovation Summit where I was also joined by Greg Hookings, Director of Business Development – EMEA. Stay tuned for more details on that event and some key takeaways from Greg’s presentation Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing, what’s right for your business?
About Stratus Technologies
For leaders digitally transforming their operations in order to drive predictable, peak performance with minimal risk, Stratus ensures the continuous availability of business-critical applications by delivering zero-touch Edge Computing platforms that are simple to deploy and maintain, protected from interruptions and threats, and autonomous. For 40 years, we have provided reliable and redundant zero-touch computing, enabling global Fortune 500 companies and small-to-medium sized businesses to securely and remotely turn data into actionable intelligence at the Edge, cloud and data center – driving uptime and efficiency.
For more information, please visit www.stratus.com or follow on Twitter @StratusAlwaysOn and LinkedIn @StratusTechnologies.
Media Contact
Cadence Innovation Marketing
Tom Spencer
80 Coleman Street,
London EC2R 5BJ
Tel: 0207 043 8847
Email: tom@thecadenceteam.com
