Customer concerns loom as VMware Explore event approaches

“Are some customers having conversations about VMware alternatives? Yes,” Eliot says. “The smaller the VMware customer, the more it comes up. However, when it comes to replacement options that meet technology, security, scale, hardware support, skills, and process integration requirements [and considering] the total cost to migrate, the conversations often change to a renewal strategy.”

The conversation of what to do going forward needs to be about business value and reducing the business risk, Eliot says. Migrating away from VMware is not just a technology consideration. “VMware has four divisions today with much more focus and autonomy than before,” he says. “For many customers, this is going to be a very good change as technology execution moves forward.”

Broadscale platform changes wouldn’t be easy

Gartner clients have reported price increases for many VMware products, Palmer says, with some facing cost increases of two to five times. “As a result, stakeholders are seeking guidance from us to navigate this situation,” she says. “Based on thousands of inquiries Gartner conducted, customers are actively exploring alternative paths.”

This includes tactical moves such as hyperconverged solutions and alternative hypervisors, and strategic ones including distributed hybrid infrastructure platforms such as Azure stack HCI, AWS Outposts and others, container platforms, public cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions.

“Migrating from VMware’s server virtualization platform on a large scale would necessitate significant effort spanning multiple person-years, substantial one-time project costs, and entail business risks,” Palmer says. “Furthermore, the entire process would likely take anywhere from 18 to 48 months to complete.”

Clarity and reassurance at the confab

So, what does Broadcom need to do at the upcoming VMware Explore conference – and in the bigger picture – to reassure and retain VMware customers?