First, I want to thank DCD for their ongoing efforts in the data center sector to gather and share knowledge about this industry that we are all so passionate about 🧡.

A couple of days ago, they released the annual market study on Data Center Operations and Management, one of the content pieces I always look forward to with anticipation. We, as solution providers, often talk about the unique solutions we offer and how great we are, but the exercise of listening to you—the ones who truly face the daily challenge of maintaining these critical environments 24/7—is both necessary and enriching.

By the way, if you haven’t downloaded this survey yet, here it is link, it's definitely worth it 😊

From the perspective of  Bjumper, where data center automation is in our DNA and is the essence of our brand (useful technology that frees you), we couldn't ignore this report and share some reflections—neither good nor bad, just our own.

For some time now, a vast majority of the market has considered automation essential for data center management. It is understood that a critical environment in constant change and the business implications of its downtime cannot be managed manually.

Automation is cost-effective, not only because it reduces costs but also because it minimizes risks to the business/service and, more than ever, enhances the competitiveness/service of any company or public organization with a digital base (I can't currently think of any major company or public administration not in this group).

However, the adoption of a new model in data center operations has been slow, at least in the regions covered by the study (Iberia and Latam). As for other regions, at Bjumper we cannot comment from personal experience, but since we are like a small family in this market, it's worth noting that, apart from the USA or some countries in Asia, I don't believe the results would be very different. However, this is subjective, so let's return to the objective.

Less than 20% of respondents consider their data center to be automated in management, and of the remaining 80%, only 4% are not interested in automating it   😰This means there is still a long way to go.

The point is that when asked if they plan to undertake any automation-related projects in the next 12-24 months, 78% say yes. However, when asked about the percentage of investment to be allocated to these projects… I have to show the image because it speaks for itself:

I understand and experience this graph in my daily life. Indeed, today, in the general investment plans of large companies (in Enterprise Data Centers), these areas are often viewed as cost centers, where many times they remain in the shadows. The saying "if it works, don't touch it" still applies, and it is assumed that your responsibility is to keep what you are given running 24/7.

For this reason, it is easier to secure investment for direct cost reduction, and the shortest path is often through energy efficiency, as evidenced by the responses to the question:

However, focusing solely on energy efficiency can lead us to implement changes in infrastructure or technologies that address specific points in data center management without considering the entire ecosystem. While it's easier to justify the return on investment when upgrading to more efficient energy or climate equipment, we are implementing a partial solution.

When respondents are asked about the obstacles to automation, the primary factor is, of course, investment. However, I note that 9% of respondents cite a lack of support from leadership as a barrier, and from our perspective, this is the biggest hurdle.

 How to make leaders and strategy owners understand that the operation of your Data Center is a critical competency for the company?.

Without their support, it will be impossible to make a real change, because it’s not just about receiving an investment amount today; it's about having a plan and ensuring that plan is part of management meetings. Companies that understand this make a difference in their sectors. Banks that grasp this are leaders in their markets, and retail companies that have trusted their data centers for years continue to grow year after year.

Recently, I was talking with a client who mentioned that the best way to explain the importance of the data center and its management is to quantify "what if ...". They start their presentation with this phrase before presenting an investment project and monetize the impact of a data center failure on the business. It’s a great exercise to perform individually.l.

 If we manage (which is not easy) to gain the support of leaders, the rest of the barriers will be minimized. The project will be viewed as strategic, and a plan will be developed that considers not only the technology but also the processes and people, ensuring that the entire ecosystem is involved. Remember, technology is just the vehicle, not the end goal.

 🤔 Let’s imagine that we already have the support of management, along with an investment plan that matches the challenge, where there is also a focus on training people and ensuring knowledge management processes. At that point, it will be time to review the different technologies, and yes, AI should indeed be part of them.

I must thank DCD for including a question about how you think AI will change the operation of data centers. Much is discussed about AI's impact on consumption and data center models, but there is little talk about what can be done in operations.

At this point, all responses are valid because with AI, we can already automate: change processes, detect weak points, comply with regulations, and ultimately reduce the manual workload of repetitive tasks with a high probability of error—after all, we are not machines! What we can offer our companies is much more than they could on their own; we will use AI to help us be more human..

I will continue working with Bjumper to give a voice to data centers within companies..

Remember to download the survey results—I'm sure we'll draw more conclusions together.Download

                                                                                               I♥️#Datacenter