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Arrow Electronics, Inc.
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Artigo

DC refresh scenarios: Storage+Compute—What to refresh & why it matters

The data center refresh opportunity partners can’t afford to miss. Across EMEA, organizations are facing a growing challenge: aging data center infrastructure that’s becoming more expensive, less efficient and increasingly risky to maintain.

 

For partners, this isn’t just a technical issue, it’s a significant commercial opportunity to drive new conversations, access services revenue and strengthen long-term customer relationships. The question is no longer if customers should refresh, it’s when and how fast.


Why now? The perfect storm driving refresh demand

Several forces are converging to accelerate refresh cycles:

• Rising support costs for legacy storage and compute 
Energy and sustainability pressures impacting OPEX and ESG goals 
End-of-life (EOL) risks for older platforms and software 
Hybrid cloud adoption requiring more flexible infrastructure 
AI and data-driven workloads demanding modern performance 

For customers still running 3PAR, Primera, Nimble or ProLiant Gen8–Gen10, the gap between current infrastructure and future needs is widening fast.

Serveurs Dell Technologies
Modern storage is no longer just about capacity, it’s about availability, simplicity and cloud readiness

Storage refresh: From legacy arrays to HPE Alletra MP

What to refresh:
• HPE 3PAR
• HPE Primera
• HPE Nimble

Why it matters? Legacy arrays often come with:
• Increasing support renewal costs 
• Operational complexity 
• Limited scalability and cloud integration

The opportunity with HPE Alletra MP:
• 100% data availability guarantee
for mission-critical workloads 
• Non-disruptive migration
with zero downtime 
• Cloud-native operations
via HPE GreenLake 
• Hybrid cloud flexibility
with AWS integration 
• Improved efficiency
through better data reduction and footprint

For customers, this means lower risk and lower TCO. For partners, it opens the door to migration services, managed services and long-term value.

Server Room Walkway
Compute is often the biggest hidden cost in the data center, especially when running older generations.

Compute refresh: Unlocking efficiency with HPE ProLiant Gen12

What to refresh: 
• ProLiant Gen8
• ProLiant Gen9
• ProLiant Gen10

The challenge: Older servers consume more power, require more space and increase licensing costs while delivering less performance.

The modernization advantage. With HPE ProLiant Gen12, customers can achieve: 
Up to 65–84% power savings
Up to 7:1 server consolidation
Significant licensing reductions (VM + virtualization) 
Enhanced security with built-in silicon root of trust 
Optimized performance for AI, analytics and VDI workloads  

The result is a leaner, more secure and future-ready infrastructure with measurable cost savings

5G_Telecommunications_Tower

Why Storage + Compute together is a game-changer

While storage or compute refresh alone delivers value, modernizing both together multiplies the impact:
• Fewer disruption cycles and maintenance windows 
• End-to-end performance improvements across workloads 
• Better alignment with hybrid cloud strategies 
• Stronger sustainability outcomes (power, space, carbon)

For partners, this creates larger deal sizes and more strategic engagements.

How to identify the right customers

Not every customer will be ready—but many already are.

Look for:
• Installed base using 3PAR, Nimble, Primera 
• Customers running Gen8–Gen10 servers 
• High support renewal costs approaching 
• Increasing energy bills or sustainability targets 
• Workloads evolving toward AI, analytics or cloud-native apps 
• Concerns around downtime, risk, or compliance

These signals indicate high refresh readiness and a strong opportunity to engage.

 

Why partners win with proactive refresh

Partners who lead refresh conversations—rather than wait for customers—consistently outperform.

The business impact:
Increased pipeline from installed base opportunities 
Higher margins through value-led selling 
Services attach (migration, assessment, managed services) 
Stronger customer retention and stickiness 

In short: refresh isn’t just a hardware sale; it’s a platform for long-term growth.

 

How Arrow helps you accelerate deals

You don’t have to do it alone.

Arrow provides the tools and expertise to help you move faster and win more:
TCO modelling to clearly demonstrate cost savings 
SDOE-driven proposals for faster opportunity creation 
• Workload sizing and migration support 
Guidance on positioning and objection handling 
Access to HPE enablement assets and incentives 

This support helps you turn conversations into closed deals faster.

 

The bottom line: Turn refresh into revenue

Data center modernization is one of the clearest and most immediate opportunities in today’s market.

Customers need:
• Lower costs 
• Better performance 
• Reduced risk 
• Future-ready infrastructure

Partners who act now can position themselves as trusted advisors, not just suppliers.

Ready to take the next step? Explore how to lead smarter refresh conversations and access new opportunities with HPE and Arrow. Visit the landing page to watch the explainer video and download the 4-step refresh guide.

Visit the landing page