HPE Tech Jam 2026: Six Strategic Takeaways Reshaping Enterprise IT
The recent HPE Tech Jam made one thing abundantly clear: the pace of change in enterprise technology has reached a new gear. AI is shifting from experimentation to industrialisation, virtualisation strategies are being rewritten, storage architectures are being re evaluated, and supply chain pressures are forcing organisations to rethink procurement.
Across every discussion, a single theme emerged - the platform decisions made today will define competitiveness for the next decade.
Continue reading to learn more about six important takeaways we believe every organisation should be paying attention to, during the year ahead.
ONE - HPE for AI: From Pilot to Production at Enterprise Scale
AI has moved beyond the hype cycle. With world record inference results on models such as Llama 3.1, DLRM and Whisper, enterprises are no longer dabbling - they are deploying. Yet the real challenge isn’t the model; it’s everything around it: power, cooling, density, data gravity and cost.
HPE’s answer is a comprehensive AI platform spanning compute, storage, networking and cooling. Systems such as HPE ProLiant Gen12 servers, the high density XD range, and NVIDIA GB200/GB300 NVL platforms provide the raw performance, while Cray EX and Slingshot bring HPC grade interconnects to AI workloads. On the storage side, innovations like switchless Alletra MP configurations and purpose built AI storage deliver the throughput and efficiency required for training and inference at scale.
The message was unmistakable: AI is no longer a GPU problem - it’s a platform problem. And the organisations that solve the platform challenge will be the ones that operationalise AI successfully.
TWO - The Great VM Reset: How HPE VM Essentials Responds to the VMware Pricing Shock
Few topics dominated the event quite like the Great VM Reset. Broadcom’s pricing changes have forced many organisations to reassess virtualisation strategies that have remained largely unchanged for two decades. Some customers are facing cost increases of 50–75%, prompting a shift from “default VMware” to a more intentional, multi platform approach.
This is where HPE VM Essentials comes in. Built around the HVM hypervisor and integrated directly into HPE’s Private Cloud stack, it offers a controlled, predictable alternative. Migration tooling allows organisations to move from ESXi to HVM in batches, complete with validation checks and a roadmap that includes NFS support and cross cluster mobility.
What differentiates VM Essentials is the ecosystem around it. Native integration with Zerto for disaster recovery, Commvault for data protection, and HPE Kubernetes Service for container workloads creates a cohesive operational model. In a market now comparing vSphere, Nutanix AHV, and Hyper V, VM Essentials positions itself not just as a cheaper option, but as a control strategy for organisations seeking autonomy and stability.
THREE - HPE Morpheus: From Hypervisor to Hybrid Platform
While VM Essentials provides the runtime, HPE Morpheus provides the operating model. This distinction matters. As organisations adopt hybrid architectures, the challenge is no longer simply running virtual machines - it’s governing, automating and delivering services across multiple environments.
Morpheus excels here. It offers a unified experience across clouds, complete with cost visibility, self service catalogues, RBAC, policy driven automation and deep API extensibility. It also manages Kubernetes lifecycles and cross cluster operations, enabling platform teams to deliver consistent services regardless of where workloads run.
The shift is cultural as much as technical. Morpheus helps organisations move from siloed infrastructure teams to a platform as a service mindset, where the focus is on delivering outcomes rather than managing components.
FOUR - SimpliVity Reconsidered: A Strategic HCI Alternative
HPE SimpliVity has long been associated with remote and branch office deployments, but that reputation no longer reflects reality. With the integration of VM Essentials, improved data efficiency, built in backup and 2 node high availability, SimpliVity has re emerged as a compelling HCI platform for both edge and core environments.
Its simplicity is its strength. In a market where organisations are comparing vSAN, Storage Spaces Direct, and Nutanix, SimpliVity stands out for its operational ease, socket based licensing and integrated data protection. It’s particularly attractive as a landing zone for migrations or as a standardised platform for distributed enterprises.
SimpliVity is no longer niche - it’s a strategic choice for organisations prioritising simplicity, efficiency and control.
FIVE - Alletra: Modern Storage Foundations for Mission Critical Platforms
Storage is undergoing a quiet revolution, and HPE Alletra is at the forefront. The latest innovations include a 4 node switchless architecture that delivers up to 2.2PB in just 6U, alongside a 47% reduction in energy consumption. These improvements aren’t just incremental - they reshape the economics of data centre design.
Cyber resilience is now a core requirement, and Alletra’s ransomware protection features, including immutable snapshots and entropy based anomaly detection, reflect this shift. The platform also supports direct attach configurations, mission critical workloads and disaggregated HCI models, making it a foundational component for modern hybrid cloud environments.
Storage is no longer simply about performance; it’s about density, efficiency and security - and Alletra delivers on all three.
SIX - Navigating Enterprise SSD Constraints: NAND Undersupply Through 2026
The final takeaway was a pragmatic one: the industry is heading into a period of NAND supply constraints expected to last through 2026. With NVMe and PCIe storage now the default for modern platforms, demand is outpacing supply, and reduced investment in fabrication plants is compounding the issue.
Organisations are already seeing extended lead times, volatile pricing and shorter validity windows. In some cases, supply constraints are even dictating platform choices. The recommended response is to build flexibility into architecture, adopt NVMe first designs, consider disaggregated models and place forward orders where possible.
Stabilisation is expected in late 2026, but until then, procurement strategy becomes inseparable from architecture strategy.
Thank you for reading this blog. With over 20 years of experience supplying HPE technology, COOLPSIRiT's expert team is here to help guide you through features, functions, and options available.
If you would like to learn more and understand how to ensure reliable recovery, then contact our team today by emailing hello@coolspirit.co.uk or call 01246 454222.