How Kolbe Windows and Doors Transformed Their Manufacturing IT Infrastructure with Scale Computing

Behind every high-performance manufacturing operation is an IT system working just as hard to keep things connected, secure, and scalable. Recently, Kolbe Windows and Doors shared their experience modernizing their IT environment with Scale Computing, highlighting how their IT modernization journey streamlined virtualization, simplified disaster recovery, and improved system performance.

At our Platform 2024 event in Las Vegas, Scale Computing’s Director of Product Marketing, Kris Schultz, alongside Luis Apodaca, Technical Services Engineer at Scale Computing, led the session “Unveiling the Journey: A Customer’s Perspective on Implementing Scale Computing,” featuring John Stuplich, Systems Administrator at Kolbe Windows and Doors.

Below is a recap of their discussion and some of the key lessons from Kolbe’s IT transformation.

Meeting Manufacturing IT Challenges with a Lean Team

Kolbe Windows and Doors, a leading manufacturer of premium windows and doors, operates multiple facilities, including three separate manufacturing locations across Wisconsin as well as additional locations in Arizona and Minnesota. As a rapidly growing company with nearly 2,000 employees, Kolbe faces a number of diverse IT challenges, particularly in managing infrastructure across dispersed sites with a relatively small IT team.

Responsible for overseeing network-connected devices, servers, and the broader IT infrastructure, Stuplich described how Scale Computing provided a much-needed solution to their resource constraints. “With a relatively small IT team, we needed a system that was easy to manage, reduced complexity, and gave us more time to focus on strategic projects.”

Kolbe’s previous IT environment was built on VMware, requiring a separate storage system and a complex interface that added to their administrative burden. “VMware is powerful but can be overwhelming. We had issues with detached storage, and managing it all became cumbersome. We needed to consolidate these systems, streamline our hardware, and looking forward, wanted to deploy extra nodes to improve our disaster recovery capabilities. Scale Computing provided an all-in-one solution that just made sense.”

While transitioning from VMware was initially a high-stakes decision, the benefits of Scale Computing became quickly apparent: simplified management, a consolidated hardware footprint, and significant cost savings. “The cost difference alone made it an easy choice,” notes Stuplich. “And the interface is so much more intuitive. At first, I thought I might be missing features, but as I became more familiar with it, I realized everything we needed was there, just easier to use.”

Ensuring Uptime for Mission-Critical Manufacturing Operations

For Kolbe’s IT team, few metrics are more important than uptime. Their manufacturing software, which includes ReynaPro and WTS Paradigm, drives everything from sales quoting to CNC machine operations. Additionally, MasterPoint, their production tracking system, ensures seamless workflow coordination on the shop floor. Any disruption to these applications could lead to costly downtime and production delays.

Says Stuplich, “If Master Point goes down, our employees don’t know what the next step in production is. At first, they can work based on previous instructions, but after a few hours, things start to fall apart. That’s why reliability was such a key factor in our decision to move to Scale Computing.”

Kolbe partnered with Scale Computing for an on-site installation, with Technical Services Engineer Luis Apodaca assisting with deployment and integration. “Luis and the team were great to work with. He worked closely with our third-party network provider, Solaris, ensuring that our network stayed up and running throughout the deployment.”

While most migrations went smoothly, Kolbe learned that no two workloads are the same. For some applications, they found that alternate migration methods, such as Clonezilla, provided better results than traditional tools. “We had one instance where an application moved over, but the web interface wouldn’t start. Switching migration methods solved the problem, but that was a good lesson – always have a backup plan.”

The Road Ahead: Disaster Recovery and Future Expansion

Kolbe is already seeing improved performance with Scale Computing, with applications running faster and infrastructure management becoming more efficient. “Even simple tasks like taking snapshots for quick rollbacks are much easier now,” Stuplich said.

Looking ahead, Kolbe plans to implement a disaster recovery (DR) site using Scale Computing. “Right now, we rely on Acronis for cloud backups, but we’re exploring a Scale-based DR cluster in our Minnesota office. Having an easy-to-deploy solution for disaster recovery was another big selling point for us.”

Beyond delivering a powerful IT solution, Scale Computing is dedicated to ensuring customers have the resources and support needed to maximize their investment. From hands-on assistance during deployment to ongoing technical support, the Scale Computing team works closely with customers to streamline migrations, troubleshoot challenges, and optimize performance. “One of the really cool things in the Scale Computing interface is the click-to-chat feature. You can just click, get on chat with tech support, and they’ll take care of you.”

Kolbe’s journey underscores how Scale Computing can simplify IT for manufacturers dealing with complex operations and limited IT staff. Their advice for others considering a move? “Explore Scale Computing’s migration services as it will save you a great deal of time,” says Stuplich. “We’ve been able to move workloads ourselves, but if we had migration services handle it, we’d be even further along.”

For manufacturers looking to streamline their IT infrastructure, Scale Computing offers a cost-effective, easy-to-manage, and resilient platform that enables teams to focus on growth rather than maintenance.

To learn more, visit our Resources page or reach out for a personalized consultation.

Award nominations are now open for Platform//2025

INDIANAPOLIS – February 25, 2025 – Scale Computing, the market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced it is now accepting nominations for the third annual Scale Computing Platform Summit Awards. The awards ceremony will take place May 15, 2025 at Resorts World in Las Vegas at Scale Computing Platform Summit (Platform//2025), the company’s flagship event for IT professionals and partners. These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of Scale Computing’s partners, IT leaders, and technology alliances, who have driven innovation, collaboration, and success within the Scale Computing ecosystem.

The company welcomes nominations for individuals, organizations, and teams with exceptional contributions across multiple award categories. Submit a nomination today to shine a spotlight on those who have truly made an impact this year.

The Scale Computing Platform Summit Awards categories include:

Partner Awards

• Outstanding Partner Momentum Award: Recognizes a partner who has demonstrated exceptional growth and success in driving new business opportunities with Scale Computing solutions.
• Edge Pioneer Partner of the Year: Awarded to a partner at the forefront of delivering innovative edge computing solutions using Scale Computing’s platform.
• Scale Computing Partner of the Year – North America: Honors the top-performing partner within the NA market who has showcased exceptional collaboration, sales achievement, and customer impact.
• Scale Computing Partner of the Year – International: Celebrates the international partner who has demonstrated outstanding performance and expanded Scale Computing’s presence globally.
• Distribution Partner of the Year – North America: Acknowledges the distribution partner who has excelled in enabling and supporting partner success through Scale Computing technologies.
• Distribution Partner of the Year – International: Highlights the international distribution partner who has driven significant growth and supported partners in achieving Scale Computing success.
• MSP Leadership: Honors a managed service provider (MSP) that has shown remarkable leadership in delivering Scale Computing solutions and driving customer value.
• MVP Sales: Recognizes an individual who has achieved unparalleled success in driving sales of Scale Computing solutions.
• MVP Technical: Celebrates a technical expert who has gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional support, expertise, and solutions to Scale Computing customers and partners.

Customer Awards

• IT Leadership in Edge: Recognizes an IT leader who has implemented innovative edge computing solutions to transform their organization’s operations using Scale Computing technology.
• IT Leadership in Data Center: Awarded to an IT leader who has leveraged Scale Computing’s platform to achieve significant advancements and efficiencies in their data center operations.
• Scale Computing CHAMP: Honors customers and partners who have passionately championed Scale Computing, advocating for its value and impact across the market.
• Tech Leadership Award: Celebrates a technology partner who has driven innovation and set new standards through their collaboration with Scale Computing.
• Marketing Innovator Award: Recognizes a technology alliance partner who has creatively leveraged marketing initiatives to elevate Scale Computing solutions and drive mutual success.
• Partnership Excellence Award: Honors a technology alliance partner who has exemplified outstanding collaboration, fostering shared success and impactful results through their partnership with Scale Computing.

“We are excited to celebrate the best of the best in the Scale Computing community. The Platform Summit Awards recognize the organizations and individuals who embody the spirit of innovation and collaboration—the pillars of Scale Computing’s culture. We look forward to acknowledging the winners’ achievements in Las Vegas and welcoming our community of customers, partners, and technology alliances in May,” said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder of Scale Computing.

The three-day event, held May 13-15, 2025, at Resorts World in Las Vegas, will feature live educational and best practices sessions, dedicated networking opportunities, the Platform//2025 Awards Dinner, training and certification opportunities, and more.

Shares New Real-Time Pricing Tool, Delivering Instant, Transparent, and Upfront Pricing

INDIANAPOLIS – February 18, 2025 – Scale Computing, the market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced new tailored pricing tiers that include entry level pricing with scalable options to meet the needs of customers and partners with a wide variety of budgets and use cases. The company also announced the launch of its new Scale Computing Pricing Tool. The real-time pricing tool, now live on the Scale Computing website, enables users to customize hyperconverged solution options and receive an instant, transparent quote.

“Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has created uncertainty in the market with escalating costs and unpredictable changes, leading organizations everywhere to seek alternative virtualization solutions. At Scale Computing, we pride ourselves on providing innovative infrastructure solutions and straightforward, tailored, upfront pricing—with no hidden fees. Organizations navigating the virtualization market shift can now take advantage of our new licensing tiers, which deliver award-winning virtualization technology priced to meet the use cases and budget needs of organizations of all sizes. Paired with our easy-to-use pricing tool, we’re making it easier than ever to find the perfect IT infrastructure and virtualization solution,” said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder of Scale Computing.

Scale Computing’s new licensing tiers deliver the company’s award-winning IT infrastructure with tailored, transparent pricing and include:

1. Professional Essentials: A cost-effective 3-node virtualization solution with 256GB RAM per node, designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking to modernize IT infrastructure.
2. Standard: Reliable, affordable solutions with essential IT features, including HyperCore virtualization and software-defined distributed storage.
3. Professional: Advanced tools like replication and GPU virtualization for AI applications and businesses ready to scale.

Scale Computing’s real-time pricing tool enables users to:

• Instantly configure solutions to match the organization’s needs.
• Compare options and receive clear, upfront quotes.
• Enjoy transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Scale Computing Platform (SC//Platform) replaces virtualization software, disaster recovery software, servers, and shared storage with a fully integrated, highly available system. The leading hyperconverged infrastructure solution for small and midsize organizations, and the distributed enterprise, SC//Platform delivers simplicity combined with high availability, near turn-key deployment, seamless scalability, disaster recovery, and non-disruptive rolling updates. The company recently unveiled the Scale Computing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator, a free online tool for estimating the cost savings customers can achieve by migrating application workloads to SC//Platform. Easy to use and easy to maintain, the award-winning SC//Platform reduces TCO by 40% thanks to its more efficient resource management and lower licensing costs.

Scale Computing is currently offering two promotions to further ease the transition from VMware to SC//Platform, including a 25% software and services discount for new customers through its VMware Rip & Replace offer, and a full system exchange trade-up plus no-cost coverage for the remaining VMware term with the Seamless Switch: Trade-Up to Scale Computing promotion.

To learn more about Scale Computing’s new pricing tool, please visit scalecomputing.com/pricing-tool.

Scale Computing Executive Spotlight: VMware Migration

For many organizations, the first hurdle in considering a VMware alternative is the migration process itself. Will it integrate with our existing infrastructure and tools? What about the ecosystem of backup and security software tied to VMware? As Jeff explains, Scale Computing has been tackling these challenges for years, long before Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware. Armed with the right tools and the infrastructure experts at the ready to ensure a seamless and efficient transition, we’re here to help guide you through every step of your migration journey.

Scale Computing’s tailored approach ensures that each migration is optimized for each customer’s unique environment. Jeff further explains how Scale Computing leverages a diverse set of tools and methodologies across a broad spectrum of use cases to successfully migrate practically every type of application from VMware to the SC//Platform. The collective expertise of our team ensures that our customers and partners can be fully confident that their workloads will transition smoothly and that their IT systems will remain resilient both during and after the move.

However, what really makes Scale Computing stand out from the crowd isn’t just our migration expertise, but SC//Platform itself. Unlike VMware, which was developed decades ago, Scale Computing continues to actively invest in the latest groundbreaking automation and AI technologies into its solutions. As one of the top five VMware alternatives recommended by DCIG, Scale Computing offers not just a replacement but a significant upgrade that enables organizations to reduce complexity, enhance performance, and future-proof their IT operations.

If you’ve been considering moving away from VMware but are wary of the potential complications, it’s time to rethink what’s possible. Watch the full video to hear Jeff explain how Scale Computing delivers a seamless, stress-free migration experience and why we’re recognized as a leader in VMware alternatives.

Scale Computing CEO Series: VMware Alternatives

The ripple effects of the VMware acquisition by Broadcom at the close of 2023 continues to be felt across the IT world, sparking uncertainty among customers and partners alike. From rising costs to discontinued product lines and shifting roadmaps, many organizations are now reevaluating their reliance on VMware. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your systems, simplifying your IT infrastructure, and saving significant management time, you’re not alone.

In a new video, Scale Computing CEO Jeff Ready, sheds some light on how Scale Computing offers a practical and cost-effective VMware alternative for those who feel trapped in a cycle of escalating costs and operational headaches.

As Jeff notes, many customers have built their VMware-based systems incrementally over time, leading to a tangled “ball of twine” that feels increasingly convoluted, costly, and hard to manage. While the thought of migrating to a new solution can seem daunting, it’s also an opportunity to embrace a simpler, more streamlined future. Scale Computing’s solutions are purpose-built to simplify IT operations, enabling organizations to reduce management overhead by up to 90%.

One of the key concerns for IT leaders exploring VMware alternatives is compatibility. “Can this alternative run my workloads?” is often the first question. Scale Computing answers this with confidence, offering a seamless migration that doesn’t take years of effort. Jeff highlights how the SC//Platform effortlessly integrates with existing systems, from backups to security tools, minimizing disruption and easing the path to modernization.

But the benefits go beyond just functionality. Organizations that make the switch to Scale Computing experience transformative changes in how IT is managed. With a system designed from the ground up to minimize complexity, IT teams are freed from the endless cycle of ‘bolted- on’ fixes and managing siloed systems. As Jeff explains in the video, customers frequently return after a few months to share how Scale Computing’s solutions have “changed their life as an IT person.”

If you’re ready to simplify, reduce costs, and embrace a modernized way to manage your infrastructure, there’s never been a better time to explore your options. Watch the full video to hear directly from Jeff and learn how Scale Computing can transform your IT operations today.

Mann also recognized on CRN’s elite 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs for 2025

INDIANAPOLIS – February 3, 2025 – Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named both Scott Mann, Managing Director and Vice President of Scale Computing International, and Kyle Fenske, Director, North American Channel, to the prestigious 2025 CRN Channel Chiefs list, which recognizes the IT vendor and distribution executives who are driving strategy and setting the channel agenda for their companies. Scott Mann was additionally named one of 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs, an elite subset of CRN’s Channel Chiefs list.

The Channel Chiefs list, released annually by CRN, showcases the top leaders throughout the IT channel ecosystem who work tirelessly to ensure mutual success with their partners and customers. The notable 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs list highlights leaders who have achieved remarkable professional and channel accomplishments. Their influence and strategic leadership play a significant role in shaping the future of the IT community, fostering innovation, and supporting the success of solution providers.

Mann has been named a Channel Chief for seven consecutive years for his leadership within the Scale Computing Partner Community. In 2024, he continued to grow Scale Computing’s channel team and spearheaded the company’s growth initiatives across all international markets, while overseeing the global channel. This is Fenske’s inaugural year on the Channel Chiefs list, recognizing him for his integral role in leading Scale Computing’s North American channel activities. Over the past year, Scale Computing achieved record growth in revenue from both existing and net new business and expanded key global partnerships, driven by customers and partners seeking VMware alternative virtualization platforms, edge computing, and AI inference solutions.

“We are very proud of Scott and Kyle for their Channel Chief list inclusion. Both are very deserving of this recognition as they play pivotal roles in our partner community. Scale Computing is a proud channel-first organization and we remain committed to ensuring that our partners find us to be the best and most productive solution in their portfolio. Coming off an incredible 2024, we look forward to continuing to grow our business with our partner community,” said Dave Hallmen, chief revenue officer, Scale Computing.

Registration is currently open for the annual Scale Computing Platform Summit (Platform//2025), the company’s flagship event for IT professionals and partners. The three-day event, held May 13-15, 2025, at Resorts World in Las Vegas, will feature live educational and best practices sessions, dedicated networking opportunities, the Platform//2025 Awards Dinner, training and certification opportunities, and more. Guests can register for the event and view the event agenda on the Platform//2025 website. Special early bird pricing is available through February 14, 2025.

Scale Computing’s channel recognition on the 2025 Channel Chiefs list comes on the heels of the company’s 2024 CRN Annual Report Card (ARC) award win in the Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure category, sweeping all subcategories. The Channel Company also honored the Scale Computing Partner Community with a 5-star rating in the 2024 CRN Partner Program Guide and named Scale Computing Autonomous Infrastructure Management Engine (AIME) a winner of the CRN’s 2024 Products of the Year Awards in the Edge Computing/IoT category.

“This year’s honorees exemplify dedication, innovation, and leadership that supports solution provider success and fosters growth across the channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. “Each of these exceptional leaders has made a lasting channel impact by championing partnerships and designing creative strategies that get results. They’ve set a high bar in the channel, and we’re thrilled to recognize their standout achievements.”

CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2025 print issue of CRN® Magazine and online beginning February 3rd at CRN.com/ChannelChiefs.

It’s a new year, and with it, we’ve brought together some of our resident product experts and technical evangelists here at Scale Computing to share their insights and offer their forecasts on what trends might shape the edge computing, hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), and virtualization market in the year ahead.

1. Frustrations with VMware Mount, Pushing IT Leaders to Seek Modern Alternatives

2024 proved to be a turbulent time for IT as VMware customers faced mounting pressures from licensing complexities, escalating costs, and restrictive product bundles. Broadcom’s acquisition-driven focus on short-term profitability – raising prices, cutting R&D, and changing products to focus on profit and not customer needs – continues to alienate long-time customers and partners. These factors forced some organizations to make hasty decisions to mitigate immediate financial and operational burdens, while others, constrained by resource or timing limitations, began planning longer-term strategies to transition away from VMware.

This dissatisfaction represents more than a momentary shift; it marks the early stages of a broader exodus. Broadcom’s attempts to repair relationships by recalibrating its approach may come too late, as the IT community has grown skeptical of its intentions and more confident in pursuing alternative solutions that emphasize flexibility, innovation, and customer-first priorities.

The growing discontent has not only opened the door for VMware competitors but also stimulated the search for disruptive technologies and operational models. These shifts are likely to drive long-term changes in virtualization, including greater adoption of open-source hypervisors, edge-optimized platforms, and hybrid-cloud solutions.

2. Edge Computing Will Fuel the Next Generation of AI Innovation in the Enterprise

In 2025, edge computing will become a foundational element of AI, shifting how companies collect, process, and analyze data. As AI applications grow more sophisticated and data-intensive, relying solely on cloud-based architectures will prove cost-prohibitive for many organizations. Likewise, the rapid scaling of data from AI applications requires immense computational resources, leading companies to turn to multi-layered edge infrastructures where data processing and storage can occur closer to the point of collection. For industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation, this edge-centric approach addresses both financial and operational challenges associated with cloud usage, as companies need to ensure predictable costs while enhancing AI performance.

The unpredictability of cloud costs will continue to be a significant driver in the shift toward edge-based AI processing. Cloud providers often charge based on data transfer, storage, and compute time, all of which scale dramatically with AI’s high CPU and GPU demands. By processing data locally at the edge, organizations can mitigate the volatility of fluctuating costs and reduce their dependency on long-term cloud storage and computation. Furthermore, edge processing enables real-time data analysis, which is becoming increasingly critical in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.

In retail, for instance, edge computing allows stores to leverage AI for real-time inventory management, customer behavior analysis, and even security monitoring without incurring excessive cloud costs. Similarly, in manufacturing, where IoT devices and sensors monitor equipment health, edge-based processing can enable predictive maintenance while reducing latency and dependence on the cloud.

Looking ahead, 2025 will likely see increased investment in multi-layered edge networks that can dynamically support AI workloads. With edge computing addressing both the operational and financial demands of AI applications, a broad cross-section of industries is poised to adopt more robust edge solutions, transforming edge-based infrastructure into a critical enabler of AI-driven innovation.

3. Scalable Solutions at the Edge: ROBOs Will Embrace Containerized Deployments in 2025

In 2025, containerized solutions will become indispensable for remote office/branch office (ROBO) deployments as edge computing takes on a more prominent role in the distributed enterprise. As organizations seek scalable, agile application deployment across numerous locations, containers will provide the ideal lightweight, portable execution environment needed to meet these goals. By encapsulating applications and their dependencies into self-contained units, containerization allows developers and IT teams to create consistent, reliable deployment packages that work seamlessly at the edge. This approach is particularly valuable for distributed enterprises that require rapid deployment, simplified maintenance, and minimal resource overhead across multiple sites.

The success of containerization at the edge parallels that of the public cloud model, which popularized streamlined, application-first approaches to software deployment. Concepts like continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) and DevOps practices shifted focus from infrastructure management to application-centric development. By enabling developers to package applications in universal formats that operate the same way across development, testing, and production environments, containerization simplifies the otherwise complex deployment process.

Industries are already seeing these benefits play out in their edge deployments. In retail, containers allow stores to run localized applications for inventory tracking, customer insights, and real-time analytics, helping reduce reliance on cloud connectivity. Similarly, in healthcare, containerized applications are being deployed in clinical environments to support diagnostics and data processing directly at the point of care. Manufacturing plants, meanwhile, are using containers to standardize and automate processes across facilities, enabling quick updates and reducing the need for specialized infrastructure in each location.

Additionally, containerized solutions provide a universal framework that mitigates the complexities of managing edge sites with varying architectures. Edge operators can build multi-architecture packages that support a variety of CPU architectures, reducing compatibility issues and allowing organizations to optimize deployments for cost and performance. Furthermore, the layered nature of container images minimizes data transfer needs, as only updated layers are downloaded during deployment, addressing the challenges of limited or costly connectivity often faced at the edge.

With standardized observability and monitoring capabilities, containers offer ROBO environments a robust mechanism for maintaining application health and functionality across all sites and 2025 will see organizations continue to embrace containerized solutions as they look to improve the resilience and agility of their edge environments.

4. IaC and Kubernetes Bring Cloud-Like Simplicity to the Edge in 2025

In 2025, edge computing will mature to offer the same simplicity, flexibility, and agility traditionally associated with today’s popular public cloud platforms, transforming how organizations deploy low-latency, localized applications. With advancements in edge infrastructure and management practices, developers will increasingly be able to build and manage edge applications as easily as they do in the public cloud, paving the way for innovative services in industries that demand real-time data processing and minimal latency.

A critical enabler of this transformation is the adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles at the edge. By extending IaC practices to edge environments, DevOps teams can leverage automated, version-controlled deployments for remote infrastructure, streamlining configuration and reducing deployment times. This approach enhances consistency, simplifies management, and allows for rapid scaling, even in highly distributed environments. As a result, edge computing is evolving to mirror the programmability and efficiency that made cloud platforms so successful, empowering organizations to maintain consistency across diverse environments without introducing further complexity.

Kubernetes is also gaining traction as a key technology that enables edge orchestration. As more enterprises seek to deploy applications at the edge, Kubernetes provides the scalability, reliability, and orchestration capabilities needed to manage distributed workloads. While challenging to implement, Kubernetes at the edge offers a unified platform for containerized applications, allowing organizations to standardize deployments and streamline management across both cloud and edge infrastructures.

Together, the principles of IaC and Kubernetes orchestration are set to transform the edge from a fragmented set of isolated nodes into a cohesive, cloud-like environment. By combining automation with robust orchestration, edge computing will support a growing range of applications that demand low latency, including IoT, augmented reality, and autonomous systems.

5. Edge Computing Fuels the Expansion of Computer Vision Beyond Retail in 2025

In 2025, edge computing will usher in a variety of innovative use cases for computer vision, driving adoption across industries beyond its retail origins. The ability to process visual data locally at the edge enables real-time decision-making and enhances operational efficiency in scenarios where latency and bandwidth constraints would otherwise hinder AI applications. While 2024 marked a turning point for computer vision in retail – powering innovations like automated checkout, personalized shopping experiences, and loss prevention – we believe 2025 will see this technology flourish in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, where the demand for real-time insights is accelerating.

Healthcare providers are poised to leverage computer vision at the edge for applications like diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring, and surgical assistance. By processing visual data locally, hospitals and clinics can make faster, data-driven decisions, enhancing patient outcomes while maintaining compliance with stringent data privacy regulations. Similarly, logistics companies will deploy edge-enabled computer vision to optimize warehouse operations, track inventory in real time, and improve last-mile delivery efficiency. These capabilities reduce delays and errors, ensuring smoother supply chain operations in a world increasingly reliant on rapid, reliable deliveries.

Manufacturing will also benefit from the marriage of edge computing and computer vision, enabling advancements in quality control, predictive maintenance, and worker safety. Smart cameras integrated with edge infrastructure can improve the identification of defects on production lines, monitor equipment health, and detect potential hazards, all in real time. Across all these sectors, the shift to edge-powered computer vision reduces reliance on cloud infrastructure, making the technology more cost-effective and accessible for enterprises.

Scale Computing has been named to CRN’s Cloud 100 list for 2025 in the Cloud Infrastructure category! The annual list recognizes the top cloud computing powerhouses in the IT channel, and we’re proud to be among those delivering the most innovative and partner-centric cloud infrastructure solutions to partners and customers globally.

Simplifying Hybrid Cloud with Scale Computing Platform

As businesses increasingly embrace the advantages of both public and private clouds, hybrid cloud solutions have become critical for IT departments everywhere. Scale Computing Platform (SC//Platform) brings the simplicity of hyperconverged infrastructure to the cloud, delivering a hybrid cloud solution built for organizations of every size.

A compelling alternative to the complexities of traditional cloud architectures, SC//Platform boasts a self-healing platform that’s built for simplicity, high availability, and scalability. This means you can deploy applications autonomously in your data center or at the network’s edge, wherever your data resides. This versatile approach empowers your IT department to design the ideal hybrid cloud solution for your unique needs.

Benefits of the Scale Computing Platform

Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll reap with a hybrid cloud deployment powered by Scale Computing:

• Flexibility: Scale Computing empowers your IT team with unparalleled flexibility. You can seamlessly scale your computing resources up or down to perfectly match your workload demands. This ensures you can adapt to changing business needs, conquer peak usage periods, and optimize resource allocation.
• Seamless Management: SC//Platform allows you to connect and manage all your virtual machines through a single, intuitive user interface, regardless of their location — on-premises or in the cloud. This streamlined approach simplifies operations and minimizes the learning curve, even during critical events like disaster recovery.
• Robust Data Security: Our hybrid cloud solution allows you to control your company’s critical data and applications by maintaining them on-premises, while offloading anonymized or less private data to a private or public cloud for big data and analytics use. This approach ensures compliance with relevant industry regulations and provides a crucial layer of security for sensitive information.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Our hybrid cloud architecture helps optimize IT spending by dynamically allocating resources. You’ll minimize upfront capital expenditures and maximize the return on your IT investments.
• Simplified Networking Across Multiple Sites: Scale Computing’s innovative technology, including HyperCore Edge Fabric and Open vSwitch/VxLAN, simplifies networking across multiple locations. This means you can effortlessly manage multiple virtual LANs and configure them on a per-VM basis within SC//HyperCore. This capability extends to managing multiple on-premises instances, streamlining disaster recovery failover/failback processes, and enabling live migration between on-premises and cloud-based instances for a seamless hybrid cloud experience.

INDIANAPOLIS – January 22, 2025 – Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced record growth for 2024. The company saw an increase in software sales of over 45% year over year (YoY), and more than doubled its number of new customers over the last year. Business accelerated throughout the year, and in Q4 the company saw software sales up 77% and new logos up 350% from the year-ago period. Customers and partners seeking VMware alternative virtualization platforms, edge computing, and AI inference solutions drove these record increases.

“2024 was an extraordinary year for Scale Computing. We currently see an unprecedented opportunity to enable the best outcomes for our customers and partners as they navigate the industry disruption caused by Broadcom and VMware. Scale Computing Platform (SC//Platform) provides a major upgrade to VMware by providing a hypervisor alternative while simultaneously enabling edge computing and AI inference at the edge,” said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder of Scale Computing. “So our partners and customers get a two-for-one: a solution to today’s Broadcom problem, and a technology roadmap into the future of edge and AI. Each quarter this past year, we have exceeded our highest growth forecasts, reaching record profitability on record demand. We anticipate this accelerated growth to continue in 2025 as we remain focused on delivering cutting-edge technology and world-class service to our customers and partners.”

Former VMware customers are choosing Scale Computing as their virtualization offering of choice. SC//Platform reduces downtime by up to 90% and decreases total costs by up to 40% compared to VMware. Customers interested in switching to Scale Computing can save up to 25% with current promotions while implementing solutions that deliver simpler management, integrated backup and disaster recovery, built-in high availability, and effortless scalability. To learn more, please visit the Scale Computing website to learn about its VMware alternative solutions.

In Q4, Scale Computing launched the SC//Fast Track Partner Promotion, offering new partners a free hyperconverged edge computing system to experience the company’s award-winning technology firsthand and accelerate partner onboarding. The company also announced a new partnership with 10ZiG, to provide managed, secure, and flexible Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). By combining 10ZiG’s Modernized, Managed, Secure Thin & Zero Client hardware and software solutions with SC//Platform, organizations can achieve unparalleled cost efficiency, enhanced security, and exceptional scalability. Recently, Scale Computing opened registration for its third annual flagship event for IT professionals and partners, Scale Computing Platform Summit (Platform//2025), occurring May 13-15, 2025 in Las Vegas.

Other key Q4 2024 awards and recognitions include:

• CRN named Scale Computing Autonomous Infrastructure Management Engine (AIME) the winner in the CRN 2024 Product of the Year Awards in the Edge Computing/Internet of Things category.
• Scale Computing earned the 2025 TrustRadius Buyer’s Choice Award
• CRN recognized Scale Computing on its Edge Computing 100 list for the fifth consecutive year.
• Data Center Intelligence Group named Scale Computing a Top 5 VMware vSphere Alternative in all three of its Enterprise Global, Enterprise US, and SMB/Edge DCIG reports.
• Scale Computing was recognized as an Established Vendor in the 2024 Gartner® Voice of the Customer.
• G2 awarded Scale Computing 60 Badges in its G2 Winter 2025 Report, including a Leader badge in the Server Virtualization category.
• Data Center Dynamics honored Scale Computing with the Edge Data Center Project of the Year award in the recent 2024 DCD>Awards for its work with established convenience store and fuel chain, Royal Farms.