Enabling Mass Innovation with the VMware Edge Compute Stack

Across all industries, organizations are adding intelligence to enhance their business operations at the edge for lower costs, higher quality, and increased sales. But scaling out innovation across sites is challenging. VMware’s approach removes edge complexity with zero touch operations.

VMware’s approach to edge computing focuses on simplifying operations and enabling mass innovation across industries by addressing the unique challenges of managing distributed infrastructure at scale. The VMware Edge Compute Stack is designed to handle the complexities of edge environments, where organizations are increasingly deploying intelligent systems to enhance business operations. These edge environments, such as retail stores, manufacturing plants, and energy substations, require localized computing power to process large amounts of data in real-time, often without reliable network connectivity. VMware’s solution integrates edge computing with networking and security services, offering a full-stack approach that includes SD-WAN and SASE technologies to ensure reliable and secure operations across dispersed locations.

The VMware Edge Compute Stack is built to handle the specific constraints of edge environments, such as limited on-site personnel, ruggedized hardware, and the need for real-time processing. The platform supports both virtual machines and containerized applications, allowing organizations to run legacy systems alongside modern applications. VMware’s orchestration platform, Edge Cloud Orchestra, enables zero-touch provisioning, making it easier to deploy and manage edge infrastructure without requiring IT staff at each location. This pull-based management model, inspired by the way smartphones update themselves, allows edge devices to autonomously check for updates and install them, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing downtime.

VMware’s edge computing solutions are already being used in various industries, including retail, manufacturing, and energy. For example, in retail, edge computing is used for loss prevention through computer vision, while in manufacturing, companies like Audi are using edge AI to improve the precision of welding robots and torque wrenches. In the energy sector, virtualizing electrical substations allows for faster response times and reduced operational costs. VMware’s flexible and scalable platform is designed to meet the evolving needs of edge environments, ensuring that organizations can innovate and optimize their operations while maintaining security and reliability.

Presented by Alan Renouf, Technical Product Manager, Software-Defined Edge and Chris Taylor, Product Marketing, Software-Defined Edge

See how VMware Edge Compute Stack works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiJ3YAWDASw