Maan Al-Shakarchi, Regional Director – META at Extreme Networks, talks to Channel Post MEA and explains that besides Infinite Enterprise, the company will also highlight its new data center in the region and demonstrate ExtremeCloud IQ solution.
What does your company do and why is it important for you to be exhibiting at GITEX 2021?
Extreme Networks is an industry leader in the cloud networking space, a segment that’s only been on the rise over the last two years, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses around the globe rethinking their IT needs. We make connectivity simple and easy with effortless networking experiences.
Year over year, Extreme’s cloud growth has been explosive – we reported 111% growth in cloud year over year during our Q4 2021 earnings call, with 29% overall revenue growth and 36% year over year bookings growth during our fourth fiscal quarter. We are attending GITEX highlight how the drivers of this incredible growth – namely our next-generation networking, and our Wi-Fi and security solutions, including our “game-changing” Wi-Fi 6E and SaaS offerings – help organizations gain more visibility, control and scale. We were the first networking vendor to launch a regional data centre in the gulf, helping our customers to embrace cutting edge technology and helping them with their digital transformation strategies.
What products or solutions will you be exhibiting throughout the weeklong technology show?
Will demonstrate our latest AI and machine learning powered cloud networking solutions that enable Middle East organisations to effectively address the evolving business requirements for infinitely distributed connectivity, scalable cloud infrastructure, and the delivery of best-in-class consumer-centric experiences. In specific, our technology focus at GITEX centres around our ExtremeCloud IQ solution, which we deliver to Middle East customers with ultra-low latency and high performance via our regional data centre. ExtremeCloud IQ is a machine learning and AI- driven cloud management solution, built on a 4th generation cloud platform. Integrated with our end-to-end enterprise networking technology, it assists in collecting data to build, secure, and maintain agile and distributed work environments.
What channel specific initiatives will you be outlining during GITEX?
Westcon, our diamond tier value added distributor and authorised training partner, will be present at our stand, and we will also support the participation of key channel partners – Omnix and EIS. Omnix is a regional reseller covering the entire META Region. This end-to-end solution provider is also an Extreme managed services partner. EIS is a leading UAE-based systems integrator offering specialised design, deployment, and end-to-end management services for our entire portfolio of networking solutions. Our partnership with these channel players at GITEX aligns with our channel-driven go to market strategy in the Middle East wherein the majority of our business is transacted through partners.
As enterprises grapple with the ever-growing complexity of their distributed networks, there is a tremendous opportunity for the channel to deliver the connectivity that positive impacts business outcomes. At Extreme, we offer our partners compelling incentives around cloud, software, and services – enabling them to increase their relevance in a digital-first and cloud-first world. Therefore, in addition to engaging with end-customers, our intention is to use GITEX as a platform to identify and partner with innovative channel organisations.
What does your company hope to achieve at the end of the show?
Our main objective is to create awareness around Extreme Networks’vision for the Infinite Enterprise – a paradigm that has arisen from the fact that today, the way people interact, connect and work has become highly distributed, further extending the edge of the network. Our customers are tasked and expected to create a superior experience within this Infinite Enterprise, and we are helping them do that by making it easy to create the highest levels of connectivity and business continuity – wherever they are in the world.
Extreme’s vision for the Infinite Enterprise is built on three tenets:
- Infinitely distributed connectivity enables companies to connect anybody, anywhere to any other person or application with high quality enterprise grade connectivity that is always present, always available and is secure and manageable.
- Scalable cloud delivers the ability to orchestrate, observe, troubleshoot and find data and insights in the network. The cloud brings cost effective scale, growing as the organization grows.
- Consumer-centric experience means delivering a best-in-class experience to people that consume network services. This can include knowledge workers but also teachers, students, patients, factory workers and others.
We will use GITEX as an opportunity to highlight our investment into establishing our regional data center in Bahrain. This elevates Extreme Networks to the coveted position of being the first and only network provider to offer a native cloud management platform located and running within the region. Having our services hosted closer than ever to our Middle East customers translates to ultra-low latency, high performance, and thereby the best user experience.
The growth and commitment of our MEA Partner Communities has been immense over the last year. At GITEX, we will showcase to partners how we plan to enhance our channel program with loyalty-based activities that provide more rewards for community partners that participate or join the community.
Where can we find you at GITEX?
We invite end-users, channel organisations, our technology alliance partners and other attendees to visit us through the 5 days of GITEX at our stand E25, located in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre.
