Recap: 2023 Infra/Structure Summit

The infra/STRUCTURE summit, hosted annually by Structure Research, serves as a crucial platform illuminating the integral facets of cloud, data centers, and edge technology – the pillars sustaining the internet. This year’s theme of ‘recalibration’ underscored the imperative shift toward collaboration and partnership within the infrastructure sector, steering away from the conventional supplier and vendor models.

Central to the summit’s discussions was the pervasive presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), permeating nearly every session and booth. This omnipresence of AI conversations underscores its profound impact on the infrastructure landscape. Interestingly, the escalating demand for AI and GPU workloads is redirecting focus toward non-hyperscale cloud services and agile, compact data centers. These adaptable infrastructure providers cater to specialized requirements, spanning edge computing, blockchain, AI-driven processes, high-performance bare-metal applications, and GPU-specific workloads. This trend challenges previous assumptions of consolidation stifling opportunities for smaller infrastructure providers, breathing renewed vigor into their market presence.

However, the challenges faced by smaller infrastructure providers are twofold, particularly concerning power. Emerging AI-centric applications, heavily reliant on GPU/APU hardware, demand a power footprint beyond the capacities of existing facilities, leading to retrofitting limitations constrained by power utility regulations. Interestingly, there’s a shift in the paradigm of new data center builds, with most being tailored to serve a single large entity. This deviation from the traditional multi-tenant model raises questions about the very essence behind constructing physical internet infrastructure.

The discussion took an unexpected turn during a panel session on ‘Next-Generation Mass-Market Cloud Services.’ Amidst the excitement about AI’s future and the evolution of MSPs and smaller infrastructure providers, a glaring issue surfaced – consolidation is significantly impacting the industry.

A staggering estimate reveals that a vast majority, around 83 percent, of the cloud infrastructure market is monopolized by three major companies. This trend, signaling a lack of diversity and choice, poses a considerable threat to the industry’s health.

The necessity for independent infrastructure and cloud providers became a key talking point. Legal, compliance, and even commercial perspectives advocate for local infrastructure inclusion in IT strategies. Competition is not just about innovation but becomes essential for price optimization, service enhancement, and, fundamentally, ensuring consumer choice. This conversation extended well beyond the scheduled duration, drawing active participation from the audience. Amongst these challenges lies a potential solution – fostering collaborations and partnerships instead of perpetuating a rigid supplier/vendor mindset.

In this landscape, Configure Price Quote (CPQ) platforms such as ours find relevance in enabling sales efforts within medium to large tech enterprises. AI, as a transformative force, is instrumental in helping organizations achieve multifaceted goals—from revenue and profit maximization to agility, elevated customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. Change is rampant; all kinds of new solutions and technologies are being launched, and organizations are trying to determine how to monetize best and capture the momentum from these initiatives. The market shift towards AI-driven technologies and the resurgence of smaller infrastructure providers open avenues for CPQ solutions to adapt and cater to diverse needs. While smaller providers face challenges, collectively, they have the potential to rival the scale of major public clouds while retaining their unique attributes, aligning with the essence of CPQ platforms: customization and adaptability.

Agility in today’s landscape hinges on the ability to swiftly and confidently introduce new product sets, seamlessly equipping sales teams for success. Prioritizing the pain points—enhanced revenue, eliminating unfavorable deals—positions us to address customer-centric needs authentically. Ultimately, customers seek value in revenue growth and favorable outcomes, underscoring the profound impact of solutions like servicePath™ CPQ+. As we discuss leveraging CPQ tools for launching new initiatives and embracing transformative technologies like AI, it’s crucial to emphasize their role in addressing these global demands while fostering an environment of innovation. This summit served as a powerful reminder of the importance of safeguarding and empowering diverse service provider communities. For companies like ours, it emphasizes the need to continue fostering solutions that enable flexibility, choice, and empowerment within the evolving infrastructure landscape.

As organizations navigate the surge of new solutions and technologies, the impact on sales, forecasting, and solution development looms large. servicePath™ CPQ+, a leading CPQ platform, plays a pivotal role in addressing global pricing and revenue agility challenges. This tool empowers organizations to seamlessly introduce and embrace changes, transforming them into exciting additions to their product portfolios. By ensuring solutions are appropriately quoted and priced, servicePath™ CPQ+ enables businesses to drive towards new revenue heights while upholding strong governance and fiscal compliance.

Utilizing AI as a transformative driver, organizations harness its capabilities to achieve revenue maximization, profit optimization, operational agility, heightened customer satisfaction, and competitive advantages. AI is not just a technological novelty but a cornerstone empowering businesses to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

As the digital terrain continues to shift, propelled by emerging technologies and market dynamics, the significance of AI-driven solutions like servicePath™ CPQ+ becomes increasingly pronounced.

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Embracing these tools becomes integral to steering enterprises towards success, translating the potential of AI into tangible advantages—enhanced sales strategies, dynamic product portfolios, and responsive solutions tailored to the evolving market demands.

Among the many insights gleaned from the infra/STRUCTURE summit, perhaps one of the most striking takeaways resonates in the monumental growth and omnipresence of AI. The discussions revolving around AI stood as a cornerstone, accentuating its unparalleled ascendancy within the technological landscape. An undeniable focal point of the summit, the prominence of AI conversations echoed across sessions and booths, reflecting its pivotal role in reshaping industries. According to Next Move Strategy Consulting the market for artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to show strong growth in the coming decade. Its value of nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars is expected to grow twentyfold by 2030, up to nearly two trillion U.S. dollars. Its exponential market growth underscores its indisputable importance. The pervasive integration of AI across sectors highlights its transformative prowess, steering industries towards optimization, innovation, and unprecedented efficiencies. As AI becomes increasingly integral to organizational strategies, its towering significance emerges as a defining force propelling the future trajectory of technology.

The infra/STRUCTURE summit served as an invaluable forum, amplifying the need for collaborative endeavors and innovation amidst industry shifts. It reinforced the pivotal role of AI, smaller infrastructure providers, and adaptable solutions in shaping the future of technology infrastructure. As the landscape evolves, the synergy between transformative technologies, agile infrastructure, and customer-centric solutions is poised to redefine the realm of possibilities.