New Delhi: HPE Aruba Networking has been discreetly developing its Instant On sub-brand, which offers a range of products designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Although traditionally focused on enterprise networking solutions, the company has crafted an identity tailored to SMBs, emphasizing user-friendly cloud-based networking at competitive prices.
HPE Aruba, which exclusively conducts its SMB business through channel partners, has introduced a new access point and switch to expand its Instant On product lineup as part of its ongoing expansion efforts.
“We’ve been at this for four years and now we’re really doubling down on this business,” said Amol Mitra, HPE Aruba’s vice president and general manager of global SMB.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, HPE Aruba has witnessed a resurgence of interest in the SMB segment, driven by significant customer demand. This trend presents substantial opportunities for channel partners since SMB networking is exclusively fulfilled, delivered, and supported through the channel, as explained by Mitra.
According to research conducted by IDC, 40 percent of SMBs intend to upgrade their connectivity by the end of the current calendar year. Most of these businesses consider cloud-managed networking essential for its flexibility, ease of use, and remote management capabilities, as emphasized by Mitra.
Mitra said, “We really want to propel the success we’ve already had in this space even further,” adding, “Our entire focus is to make sure that our channel partners are successful.”
For channel partners, the SMB sector offers the potential to cultivate a loyal customer base. Partners can augment the Instant On portfolio with their management services, creating a promising business opportunity, as suggested by Mitra.