Welcome to the Open-Experts – The Data Storage Podcast, episode #5! This time, our new host, Topper Power, delves into the biggest trends shaping the world of data storage. From the growing role of artificial intelligence in accelerating development and improving reliability, to the overall industry shift toward flexible software-defined storage. Keeping his finger on the pulse of the market, Topper explains how Open-E is adapting to the explosive growth of data, hybrid infrastructures and the increasing demand for business continuity. He also summarizes Open-E’s milestones in 2024 and shares what’s coming in 2025, including an all-new subscription model, expanded channel partner strategies and a series of technical podcasts with industry leaders. If you want to find out where storage is headed, this episode is for you.
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Hi everyone, I’m Topper Power, head of business development at Open-E. My role is all about driving growth, making sure our software development aligns with long-term success, and ensuring we stay ahead of industry trends.I work closely with our sales, marketing, and product development teams to keep Open-E moving forward. Today, I want to show you why Open-E’s flexible business model and powerful technology make us a leader in software-defined storage. I’ll highlight key trends shaping the data storage industry and how Open-E is positioning itself to stay competitive. Finally, I’ll walk you through our achievements in 2024 and what’s in store for 2025.
At Open-E, flexibility and reliability set us apart. Our flagship product, Open-E JovianDSS, can work with virtually any hardware and supports integration with all major hypervisors, giving businesses the freedom to build storage their way without vendor lock-in. But flexibility isn’t enough. You also need reliability. And that’s where our rigorous hardware certification program comes in. We validate a wide range of hardware to ensure optimal compatibility and performance with our software. This means businesses and partners can confidently choose the best hardware for their needs, knowing it will work seamlessly with Open-E JovianDSS. For both customers and partners, this is a win-win. Customers get choice and flexibility, while our partners can expand their offerings without being tied to proprietary solutions. It’s all about delivering dependable, adaptable storage.
The data storage industry is evolving fast. Businesses are handling explosive data growth, complex IT infrastructures, and the constant challenge of balancing performance, scalability, and cost. One of the biggest shifts is the move from traditional hardware-based storage to software-defined solutions. Companies need storage that grows with them, not systems that force them into costly hardware upgrades. Open-E Jovian DSS is built for this new reality. Whether that means scaling out with additional nodes or repurposing existing hardware. Another key trend is business continuity and disaster recovery. As data becomes more decentralized across hybrid and multicloud environments, uptime and protection are critical. Open-E JovianDSS is designed with this in mind, offering high availability and advanced data protection features to keep businesses running. And of course, AI is reshaping everything. At OpenE, AI-driven tools are speeding up our software development and testing, facilitating documentation and maintenance, helping us innovate faster and refine our products in real time, while allowing us to improve quality, accelerate releases, and ensure reliability.
2024 was all about laying the groundwork for our growth. One big focus was strengthening customer engagement, especially in the US market. We’re helping channel partners bring in new customers, adding value beyond just selling storage. It’s about solving real business challenges. We’re also invested heavily in product development, streamlining how we manage multiple initiatives while maintaining top-tier support and feature updates. As we scale, these internal investments help us stay disciplined and aligned with industry best practices. Operationally, we improved internal efficiencies, refining financial metrics, developing procedures, and better aligning incentive structures for stronger collaboration. All of this momentum is setting us up for a breakthrough year.
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be that year. Expanding our channel partner network is a top priority. To support this, we’re growing our sales and account management teams, strengthening partner engagement as we scale. We’re also being more proactive in recruiting new partners. Instead of waiting for them to find us, we’re targeting key industries and verticals and regions, setting clear criteria, maintaining an updated prospect list, and refining our outreach strategy for maximum effectiveness. A big move for us, launching our subscription plan. We’re working closely with partners to refine this model, ensuring it aligns with real market needs. This isn’t just about pricing. It’s about creating a sustainable, value-driven approach to modern storage consumption. Another exciting initiative is our technology partner podcast series. We’ll bring in industry leaders from companies like Toshiba, Seagate, and AIC to discuss trends, foster collaboration, and showcase real-world cases of Open-E JovianDSS. And most importantly, we’re revamping product development to refuel long-term growth. We’re expanding research, improving team structures, and modernizing our development tools. These changes will help us scale faster while continuing to meet the real-time needs of partners and customers.
So, that’s where Open-E is today and where we’re heading in 2025. Our mission is simple – keep evolving with our customers and partners to deliver smarter, more flexible storage solutions. If you’re looking for a powerful software-defined storage solution or if you are a channel partner ready to grow with Open-E, let’s talk. Visit open-e.com to explore our solutions, download case studies, or reach out to our team, and make sure to subscribe to our upcoming podcast. We’ll be unpacking industry trends with top experts in storage technology. Thanks for listening!
