HPE discontinues sales of Qumulo, Scality and WEKA software
In a significant shift within the tech industry, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced its decision to stop selling Qumulo, Scality, and WEKA software. This move marks a strategic realignment for HPE as it aims to refine its storage portfolio and emphasize its proprietary innovations.
The implications of this announcement ripple through the storage sector, affecting partners, competitors, and customers alike. Understanding the context and ramifications of this decision is essential as the market evolves.
Details of the Announcement
HPE has officially communicated to its internal teams and channel partners that the sales of the software products from Qumulo, Scality, and WEKA will come to a halt. Key dates to note include:
- Sales quoting will cease on: January 1, 2026.
- Last orders will be accepted until: March 3, 2026.
This decision follows HPE's ongoing efforts to promote its own storage solutions, particularly the Alletra Storage MP line, which has seen a notable increase in sales over recent quarters. The focus is now shifting toward HPE's proprietary technologies, including the VAST Data filesystem and its own offerings in object storage.
Strategic Focus on Proprietary Innovations
According to HPE, this change is part of a broader strategy to simplify its storage offerings and concentrate on innovations developed in-house. The company stated:
“This change reflects our commitment to providing customers with differentiated solutions that drive positive outcomes.”
By refining its storage portfolio, HPE intends to tackle customer challenges more effectively, leveraging solutions that yield the highest impact.
Key components of HPE's storage and data services platforms include:
- Alletra Storage MP B10000 and X10000
- Private Cloud Business Edition
- StoreOnce
- Zerto
- GreenLake
These products are positioned to offer greater innovation and long-term value, allowing HPE to align its resources more closely with customer needs.
Impact on Partner Ecosystem
The decision to stop selling Qumulo, Scality, and WEKA does not end HPE's partnerships with these companies. Instead, it transitions to a model where HPE's channel partners can still offer these solutions in conjunction with HPE server SKUs. Scality’s spokesperson highlighted this transition:
“This transition creates an opportunity for Scality to drive business with HPE, enabling greater flexibility and stronger partner engagement.”
This shift allows both HPE and its partners to explore new avenues for collaboration while ensuring that customers still have access to a broad range of validated technologies that seamlessly integrate with HPE infrastructure.
Responses from Affected Companies
Representatives from Qumulo, Scality, and WEKA have responded to HPE's announcement, emphasizing their commitment to their respective markets:
- Scality’s growth has been robust, fueled by the success of its ARTESCA product line. The company has broadened its distribution network, now collaborating with major players like Dell, Cisco, and Lenovo.
- WEKA has clarified that their relationship with HPE remains intact, albeit with a new transactional structure that focuses on channel collaboration, particularly in high-performance computing environments.
- Qumulo has yet to comment officially but is expected to adapt its strategies to maintain market relevance in light of these changes.
Market Implications and Future Outlook
This move by HPE is poised to have a profound impact on the competitive landscape. While it may not spell disaster for Qumulo, Scality, or WEKA, it undoubtedly raises questions about their future revenue streams and strategies in the face of HPE's strengthened focus on its proprietary offerings.
As these companies recalibrate their approaches, they will likely prioritize their own competitive advantages, which may include:
- Enhancing their product features to meet evolving customer needs.
- Forming new partnerships to replace lost distribution channels.
- Developing marketing strategies that highlight their unique capabilities against HPE's offerings.
Conclusion
While the cessation of HPE's sales of Qumulo, Scality, and WEKA software represents a significant shift, it also opens up new opportunities for both HPE and its partners. The evolution in the market dynamics may lead to innovative solutions and partnerships that could further advance the capabilities available to customers. As the landscape continues to change, stakeholders will need to stay vigilant and adaptable to ensure they are positioned for success in the future.
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