With a simplified go-to-market strategy, a rich partner program and a comprehensive data center product portfolio, Sumir Bhatia, President, Lenovo Asia Pacific, Data Center Group, Lenovo, is of the opinion that Lenovo is all set to be a data centre power house. In an interview with SME Channels he discusses the DCG’s new data centre vision that will stand the company in good stead in capitalizing on data center market disruption.
Since its acquisition of IBM’s x86 business in 2014, Lenovo has come a long way when it comes to data centre solutions. The company is focusing on harnessing the potential of new technologies such as high performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. The company’s data centre portfolio spans over a wide range of solutions which includes storage, servers, converged and hyper-converged, hyper scale, networking, software and services.
Last year Lenovo revamped its data center portfolio with the launch of the ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile brands as well as a set of server, storage, networking and software defined systems designed to support cloud, software-defined environments, artificial intelligence, and analytics & decision support applications. While the ThinkSystem is a standalone server and unified portfolio of servers, storage and networking solutions, ThinkAgile is focused on software-defined data centers. The company’s ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile portfolio of solutions are engineered to help customers reduce complexity and tackle their most challenging workloads.
[quote font=”tahoma” font_size=”13″ font_style=”italic” color=”#262626″ bgcolor=”#f2f2f2″]
“As the only major data centre brand with no legacy to protect, Lenovo is uniquely positioned to help business partners meet diverse needs in the enterprise market, through best-of-breed data centre solutions.”
Sumir Bhatia
President, Lenovo Asia Pacific
Data Center Group
Lenovo
[/quote]
“This is the most comprehensive data centre portfolio launch in Lenovo history, featuring the new ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile brands. The new portfolio features 14 server platforms, seven storage offerings, and five network switches. It is the most comprehensive launch to address the data centre market,” says Sumir Bhatia, President, Lenovo Asia Pacific, Data Center Group, Lenovo.
Lenovo has scored an impressive collection of performance benchmarks on its ThinkSystem line of servers. In November last year the company has doubled its x86 world record benchmark count with 46 new benchmarks based on the Intel Xeon Scalable Processor. With 88 total world record benchmarks, Lenovo continues driving their lead in data center performance.
In 2017 Lenovo completed the delivery and implementation of the world’s largest, Intel-based Supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). The system is powered by more than 3,400 nodes of Lenovo’s next-generation servers, featuring Intel Xeon scalable processors, interconnected with more than 60 kilometres of high-speed, Intel Omni-Path Technology 100 Gb/s network cabling.
Proven Global HPC Leader
Since its debut on the Top500 list in 2014 Lenovo has become the fastest growing TOP500 vendor in the world. Lenovo is #2 in global TOP500 positions with 92 entries. Lenovo is #1 in supercomputing in China, the largest and fastest growing region for supercomputing in the world, claiming 50% more entries than the nearest competitor.
“We are the fastest growing super computer provider in the world and will make rapid strides in future” says Sumir.
The number of benchmarks Lenovo achieved is much higher than those of its nearest competition. This is testament to overall lead the company has achieved in data center performance.
Lenovo has launched a Data Centre Partner Program which is specific to the Data Centre Group. Talking about the global Lenovo Data Centre Partner Programme Sumir says that the program reflects Lenovo’s solid commitment and dedication to the channel partners in the region. As the only major data centre brand with no legacy to protect, Lenovo is uniquely positioned to help business partners meet diverse needs in the enterprise market, through best-of-breed data centre solutions and open eco-system of partnerships with leading IT providers. We are 100% dedicated to our ‘channel first’ strategy.
The programme provides Lenovo business partners with exclusive access to top quality support and attractive incentives – designed to help them grow their businesses, and to reward their commitment to Lenovo’s solutions. Channel partners are rewarded with generous economic incentives, training, and dedicated resources regardless of their partner tiers.
Partners can also look forward to clear and simple pathways through the programme, with various tiers awarded through the meeting of revenue thresholds, and by maintaining certified expertise on Lenovo’s solutions. Partner tiers include Silver, Gold, and the exclusive Platinum tier, which extends additional privileges such as certification vouchers, invitations to advisory councils and direct access to Lenovo’s knowledge base.
India is an important market for Lenovo DCG. When it comes to adoption of data center solutions, India is the fastest. ThinkAgile will be playing a large role in the Asia Pacific region, as organizations are focused on data centre consolidation and implementing hyper- converged solutions, as well as software-defined networking and HPC. “These are some of the key areas where we have started to implement really well,” says Sumir. In 2017, the data center market in India was valued at $2.2 billion, and is expected to touch $4.5 billion mark by 2018. Main drivers for this huge increase are growth in data and digital intelligent devices, digitalization and also the government’s digital India campaign.
Finally…
Lenovo’ is committed to disrupting the legacy status quo. Thanks to its proven expertise in x86 server reliability and equipped with a comprehensive data center product portfolio, the company is one a mission mode to become the market leader in datacentre solutions. It is investing in the delivery of disruptive IT solutions to shape next-generation data centres.
