New Edge Cloud Orchestrator transforms business operations at the Edge

Edge Cloud Orchestrator unifies the management of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and the Edge Compute Stack. This convergence promises to bridge the divide between edge networking and edge computing.

In a bold move that is anticipated to reshape the landscape of business operations, VMware, Inc has unveiled its ground-breaking solution; the Edge Cloud Orchestrator. This innovative tool marks a significant step forward in enabling enterprises and service providers to seamlessly deploy, manage, and enhance the security of edge-native applications and infrastructure at an unprecedented scale. In an era where digital transformation has become paramount, organisations look to the edge as the frontier of innovation. 

The traditional, soiled approach to edge deployments, characterized by custom hardware and software integrations, is now yielding to the dawn of the software-defined edge. This new paradigm, claimed to be intelligently programmed and scalable, is positioning itself as the harbinger of the future. The announcement was made at VMware Explore 2023 Las Vegas, where the company introduced a suite of capabilities, solutions, and services that are set to accelerate digital transformation at the edge. Among the highlights are:

•  Edge Orchestration Capabilities: The company has introduced a new era of orchestration, enabling the management of diverse edge services at a scale that was once deemed unattainable.
• Retail Edge Industry Solution: With an eye on transforming customer engagement, loss prevention, and point-of-sale experiences, VMware has unveiled a tailored solution for the retail sector.
• Edge Managed Connectivity Service: Bridging the gap between wireless service providers and enterprise demands, this upcoming service will facilitate delivering private 4G/5G services to enterprises, promising enhanced connectivity.

Sanjay Uppal, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Service Provider and Edge at VMware, highlighted the crucial role of automation and orchestration in meeting the burgeoning demand for edge computing across various industries. Uppal noted, "The VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator is a powerful new tool that extends our proven network automation and orchestration capabilities to help organisations more securely and cost-effectively install, configure, operate, and maintain their edge deployments."

Empowering Enterprises with the Edge Cloud Orchestrator

As the digital landscape evolves, businesses are re-imagining how they deliver value to their customers. The challenge, however, lies in navigating the complexities inherent in people, processes, and technology. Factors such as reliable connectivity, on-site IT expertise, and scalable deployment across diverse sites present significant hurdles.

To address these challenges head-on, VMware has unveiled the Edge Cloud Orchestrator. This pioneering solution unifies the management of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and the Edge Compute Stack. This convergence promises to bridge the divide between edge networking and edge computing. The enhanced orchestrator empowers customers to plan, deploy, visualise, and manage their edge environments seamlessly, fostering the development of edge-native applications geared towards tangible business outcomes. Central to this solution is the concept of the software-defined edge.

This distributed digital infrastructure spans multiple locations and is closely aligned with data-producing and data-consuming endpoints. This approach empowers organisations to connect elements securely and reliably to the broader enterprise network, paving the way for the next phase of digital transformation.

Unleashing the Potential of Edge Compute with Edge Compute Stack

The announcement also unveiled Edge Compute Stack, claimed to be a game-changing offering built on Project Keswick. This advancement addresses edge computing use cases across various domains, including manufacturing, retail, energy, and healthcare. 

According to IDC, the mainstream adoption of edge computing is in full swing, with worldwide spending projected to exceed $208 billion in 2023. VMware Edge Compute Stack brings new orchestration capabilities, providing a lifeline for edge administrators to simplify the life-cycle management of virtual machine (VM) and container-based applications and infrastructure. This technology introduces pull-based configuration, zero-touch provisioning, and embraces GitOps principles for desired state management.  The scalability of deployment and operational capabilities underpins the automation of security updates across edge infrastructure, making it a natural fit for environments lacking a stable inbound network connection.

Revolutionizing Retail Operations with Retail Edge

The retail industry is set to benefit from Retail Edge, a ground-breaking solution that merges the agility, enhanced management, and robust security features of Edge Compute Stack. This software-defined platform empowers retailers to achieve critical business outcomes effortlessly across their store network. By streamlining in-store infrastructure, facilitating remote deployment of applications, and accelerating the integration of AI applications, Retail Edge is set to transform the retail landscape.

Through partnerships with industry leaders such as Chooch.ai, Deep North, SAI Group, and Stratodesk, VMware Retail Edge offers a consolidated platform to bolster customer engagement, enhance loss prevention, and facilitate point-of-sale transformation, setting a new standard for retail innovation and optimization.

Embarking on a New Era of Connectivity with Private Mobile Network

In another milestone, VMware announced the upcoming availability of Private Mobile Network, a managed connectivity service designed to expedite edge digital transformation. This service, set to launch in the current quarter, is a collaborative effort between VMware and wireless service providers to simplify the intricacies of private mobile networks. This service ensures rapid deployment, effortless management, and streamlined orchestration by seamlessly integrating trusted technology into existing IT management platforms.

The initial beta wireless service provider partners for Private Mobile Network include Betacom, Boingo Wireless, and Federated Wireless, signalling the company's commitment to driving innovation in the field of edge connectivity.

Meeting Diverse Edge Use Cases

As a trailblazer in the industry, they recognise the diverse spectrum of edge use cases and offer tailored solutions to address these challenges.  From manufacturing and retail to energy and healthcare, VMware's edge solutions are tailored to meet specific industry needs, creating a foundation for innovation. Chief Technology Officer at Boingo, Derek Peterson affirmed the collaboration with VMware in enhancing managed private 5G networks,  showcasing how VMware's solutions simplify network integration and management, ultimately accelerating deployments.

In a world where the edge is the epicenter of transformation, Edge Cloud Orchestrator is claimed to stand as a beacon of innovation, uniting technology and industry to propel business operations into a new era of possibility. With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, VMware affirmed that it is steering enterprises towards a future where the edge holds the key to unlocking untapped potential.