The CDW OCTOpod

Hybrid Trends with Dell: The AI Factory Explained

In the final episode of the Hybrid Trends with Dell series, Rob Sims is once again joined by Dell’s Ihab El Ghazzawi to explore how organisations can move from AI experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment.

After discussing multi-cloud optimisation in part one and the common reasons AI projects fail in part two, this episode focuses on the practical framework Dell calls the AI Factory.

Rather than simply being a collection of GPU servers, the AI Factory is a complete architecture designed to help organisations build, deploy and scale AI capabilities efficiently and securely.

Rob and Ehab break down the key components of the AI Factory approach. They also discuss why the term “factory” reflects the idea of creating repeatable AI outcomes at scale, transforming experimentation into production-ready platforms that generate real business value.

This episode concludes the three-part series with Dell on hybrid cloud and AI, providing a practical blueprint for organisations looking to operationalise AI and unlock the next wave of digital innovation.

Stop Playing, Start Delivering: The Real Business Case for AI PCs

AI experimentation is over. Now it’s about outcomes.

In this episode of the CDW Octopod, Tim Russell, Matt Browne and Tom Pursey unpack what organisations are really seeing from Windows 11, Copilot and AI-enabled devices. From productivity and security to user support and digital experience, this is a grounded look at where AI is delivering value and where businesses need to get smarter.

The discussion covers the shift from cloud-only AI to AI at the edge, the emergence of Copilot+ PCs, and how organisations can make better hardware decisions in a market that’s evolving at pace.

Hybrid Trends with Dell: Why AI Projects Fail (And How to Fix Them)

In part two of the Hybrid Trends with Dell series, Rob Sims is joined again by Dell’s  Ihab El Ghazzawi to explore a critical question facing organisations today:

Why are so many AI projects failing?

Despite the huge momentum behind AI adoption, many organisations struggle to move from experimentation to real business value. In this episode, Rob and Ehab break down the three most common reasons AI initiatives fail and what technology leaders can do to overcome them.

The discussion focuses on three core challenges!

This episode sets the stage for the final part of the series, where Rob and Ehab break down the Dell AI Factory and how organisations can move from experimentation to production-ready AI environments.

Hybrid Trends with Dell: Multi-Cloud by Design, Not by Accident

In this episode of Hybrid Trends, Rob Sims and Dell’s Ihab El Ghazzawi tackle one of the biggest challenges facing IT leaders today: how to optimise a multi-cloud world without losing control.

From cloud sprawl and inconsistent policies to rising costs and duplicated data, they discuss why successful organisations are shifting to a multi-cloud by design approach — placing workloads in the right location based on business value, not just trend or habit.

The conversation explores hybrid cloud strategy, operational simplicity, Dell APEX, private cloud automation and the growing need for flexibility, control and security across on-prem, co-lo, edge and hyperscale environments.

Why Your Data Strategy Matters More Than Your AI Strategy

Everyone is talking about AI — but very few organisations truly understand their data.

In this episode of the OCTOPOD, Kyle Davies is joined by Chief Technologist Rob Sims and Field Technologist Jagdeep “Jags” Rai to explore one of the most persistent challenges in enterprise IT: data strategy.

Drawing on real-world experiences from customer environments, the discussion looks at why many organisations still struggle with fragmented data estates, unclear storage strategies, and a lack of defined information lifecycle management.

The team explores:

• Why data often ends up scattered across silos, clouds, archives and legacy systems

• The importance of defining information lifecycle management

• How storage decisions can directly impact performance, cost and innovation

• The growing complexity of managing data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments

• Why data classification and governance are essential foundations for AI

• Practical advice for organisations starting their data and AI journey

While AI continues to dominate headlines, the reality is that AI success is entirely dependent on the quality, accessibility and management of your data.

This episode focuses on a simple but critical message: before organisations can unlock the value of AI, they must first understand, organise and manage their data effectively.

2026 View – The Year of Accountability

In this episode of the OCTOPOD, Kyle Davies is joined by Rob Sims, Tim Russell and Jaro Tomik to explore the major trends set to shape technology decisions in 2026.

From inflationary pressures, geopolitical instability and supply chain disruption, through to AI fatigue, rising scrutiny on investment and growing pressure to prove value, the team discusses why 2026 is becoming a year of sharper focus, stronger governance and greater accountability for technology leaders.

The conversation covers:

• How macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures are reshaping IT investment decisions

• Why organisations are placing greater emphasis on ROI, resilience and cost predictability

• The impact of supply chain constraints across infrastructure, cloud and end-user technology

• Why hybrid platforms, digital resilience and network modernisation remain foundational

• How modern workspace strategies must shift from technology ownership to human outcomes

• The rise of AI-driven cyber threats, identity-led security and skills challenges

• Why digital enablement, integration and service experience are now central to business value

• The transition from experimentation to accountability as leaders are asked to prove measurable results

A clear theme runs throughout the episode: the most successful organisations in 2026 will not necessarily be the most technical, but the ones that make confident decisions, stay aligned to business outcomes and execute with speed and discipline.

This episode is a practical look at what technology leaders should be prioritising now to reduce risk, improve productivity and create measurable value across the year ahead.

RAMAGEDDON – The Global Tech Supply Crunch

In this episode of the CDW OCTOPOD, Kyle Davies is joined by Rob Sims, Nick Garland, and John Evans to unpack the growing global technology supply challenge being driven by the explosive demand for AI infrastructure.

From hyperscalers reserving silicon manufacturing capacity years in advance, to geopolitical instability, rising energy costs and shifting supply chains, the panel explores why the current disruption is fundamentally different from the shortages experienced during Covid.

The conversation dives into:

• The global AI boom and its impact on memory, storage and GPU supply

• Why only three companies dominate global DRAM and NAND fabrication

• How hyperscalers are reserving semiconductor capacity through 2029

• The knock-on impact across servers, networking, security and devices

• What customers are seeing today in pricing volatility and lead times

• Practical advice for CTOs, CIOs and procurement leaders navigating the next 12–24 months

While the headlines focus on “RAMAGEDDON”, the panel explains why this is actually a structural shift in how technology is manufactured, procured and consumed.

Most importantly, they discuss how organisations can adapt through flexibility, planning and architectural change to operate successfully in a more constrained and volatile technology market.

Breaking the Data Centre: How Coventry University Rebuilt for the Hybrid Era - Part 3

Episode 3: Securing the Future & Designing the Smart Campus

In the final part of the series, Rob Sims and Coventry University CTO Steve Rogers look beyond the last decade of transformation and focus on what comes next for hybrid in higher education.

Steve shares why his immediate priority isn’t “jumping on the AI bandwagon,” but doubling down on cybersecurity, human firewalls and smarter use of data to drive better decisions. He explains how Coventry is consolidating tools, moving away from “premium by default” vendors, and choosing platforms that are good enough, cost-effective, and tightly aligned to real needs.

The conversation then widens to the future student experience: immersive learning spaces, VR and AR, sensor-driven smart campuses, edge capabilities, and how technologies like Cisco Spaces are already helping Coventry make data-informed decisions about estate usage. Steve outlines his ambition to become a cloud-native, cloud-only organisation for core infrastructure within five years, with on-premise reduced to focused edge processing.

Packed with forward-looking insight, this episode explores how universities can prepare their networks, teams and strategies today to stay competitive tomorrow—and why continuous innovation, smart partnerships and a clear view of the “connected campus” are now essential to attracting and retaining the next generation of students.