Singapore, the sunny tropical island nestled in Southeast Asia, served as the captivating host to key customers of Blue Connections IT during a recent five-day journey from Monday, May 29 to Friday, June 2, 2023. Key customers embarked on a study tour of the vibrant city-state, exploring the wonders of Singapore and delving into the innovative realm of HPE Aruba Networking and its network monitoring and management solutions.

The main highlight of the study tour was the visit to the HPE Aruba Networking Customer Innovation Center (CIC). Participants actively engaged with industry experts, uncovering the importance of a unified infrastructure with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven operations seamlessly integrated with robust network security measures. With a range of captivating sessions and insightful discussions, the study tour proved to be an enlightening experience for all.

The HPE Aruba Networking CIC tour began with a warm welcome and a glimpse into Aruba’s strategic initiatives. Throughout the study tour, attendees gained valuable insights from Aruba’s retail predictions on technology trends, challenges, and opportunities as well as the evolution of shopper experiences. Experts shed light on the zero trust approach to edge-to-cloud security, emphasising the importance of integrated network security to maintain payment card industry (PCI) compliance.

Further discussions throughout the study tour focused on the following:

  • Intelligent inventory management: with the surge in automation and predictive technologies, businesses can now track their inventory more efficiently using smart robots. These innovative solutions help optimise inventory management and streamline operations.

  • Future of disparate and diversified delivery options: the retail industry is witnessing a shift towards diverse delivery options, such as dark stores, pop-up stores, and micro-fulfillment centres. As retailers adopt a hybrid approach to delivering goods to consumers, it’s crucial to have secure, reliable, and cost-effective connectivity to support these evolving delivery models.

  • Next-generation data centres for distributed workloads: as organisations seek to host applications and workloads where they can be most effective, next-generation data centres are becoming essential. These data centres are designed to accommodate distributed workloads and require a new approach to delivering network services, including robust security measures.

  • Network-as-a-Service (NaaS): NaaS is a transformative solution that lets retailers respond to market demands and leverage the latest technologies. It offers the option to outsource day-to-day network hardware and management tools, empowering businesses to focus on their core operations while benefiting from scalable and flexible network services and billing model.

While exploring the world of HPE Aruba Networking was the primary focus of the study tour, the group also had the opportunity to experience Singapore’s vibrant attractions and enjoy exciting sightseeing adventures. The tour included visits to iconic locations such as the Singapore Zoo for its enchanting Night Safari, followed by a wonderful evening aboard a traditional bumboat along the scenic Singapore River, featuring spectacular views of the city’s skyline.

Singapore’s rich culinary scene was showcased through dinners at renowned establishments like Red House Seafood, Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant, and Paradox Singapore. To add a touch of local flavour, the group also embarked on a unique experience—a visit to the Singaporean Market—where attendees shopped alongside a local chef and later prepared a traditional Singaporean meal under the chef’s guidance.

The HPE Aruba Networking study tour in Singapore gave all participants a comprehensive understanding of the transformative role of technology in the retail sector, while immersing group members in Singapore’s vibrant culture and attractions. The knowledge gained and the experiences shared will undoubtedly contribute to the participant’s ability to deliver cutting-edge network solutions.

POST AUTHOR:

ERICA SMITH

Head of Marketing & Vendor Alliance, Blue Connections IT