Aruba Networks, which is a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) company, is working on some rather interesting technology in the machine learning and artificial intelligence fields as it looks to further push solutions for the edge in network environment.

Instead of simply talking about with potential enterprise customers, Aruba wants to show them, which is why the company recently announced the local launch of the first ever Lighthouse Customer Experience Centre in South Africa.

Said centre is located at HPE’s Johannesburg offices, and will offer enterprise customers the opportunity to have customised briefing sessions and highly personalised technology demonstrations, the company enthuses.

“What makes the Centre different is that it’s virtual. Not only can customers see our solutions in action through tailored demo sessions, but members of the technical community are also able to try out new software and equipment, backed by the assistance of Aruba’s engineering team,” explains Mandy Duncan, Aruba HPE country manager.

“Our technical partners don’t need to go into a datacentre or even their offices to test new deployment strategies, because we now offer this as a service. They can sort out any teething issues before actually deploying in a customer environment, all while working from home,” she adds.

This as Duncan highlights, is a particularly significant aspect given the current remote working era we find ourselves in.

The country manager also points out that the Lighthouse will offer customised demonstrations and user testing across a wide variety of solutions. These include the hybrid cloud, intelligent data storage, as well as insight and analytics and perhaps most importantly for Aruba – the experience edge.

Here the company says it is is leveraging the use of machine learning and AI to provide the tools that enterprises need to drive adoption of edge technologies at scale, without compromising on network security.

Aruba adds that a major drive behind these technologies is to advance the way people live and work, with one of the more pertinent solutions showcased at the Lighthouse being a smart digital workspace.

“We’re seeing a lot of customers that have previously been office-based now shifting to a distributed model. This solution allows them to make that transition, while maintaining the same level of security and convenience as they would have experienced within an office space,” notes Duncan.

“We’re incredibly excited about this investment, not only because it signifies the company’s commitment to the South African market, but also our commitment to the local channel, our customers and partners. The ability to showcase concepts like edge to cloud and hybrid cloud will go a long way to growing knowledge around these new technologies and how they can improve the way we live and work,” she concludes.