TechTalk
Accelerating Digital Transformation
with Insight and Intel
By Insight Editor / 29 Mar 2021 / Topics: Digital transformation
By Insight Editor / 29 Mar 2021 / Topics: Digital transformation
Traditionally recognized as a leading innovator in micro processing, Intel has evolved from a PC-centric organization to a truly data-centric organization in recent years. In this TechTalk, John Dathan, Insight Canada’s Senior Vice-President & General Manager, is joined by Denis Gaudreault, Country Manager for Intel Canada. Together they discuss Insight’s position as a preferred solution partner within the new Intel Partner Alliance and look ahead to Intel’s next phases of innovation on the horizon.
To experience this week’s episode, listen on the player above, watch the conversation below or scroll down to read a complete transcript. You can also subscribe to Insight TechTalk on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Play.
Audio transcript:
Published March 29, 2021
JOHN
Hello, and welcome to another edition of Insight’s Tech Talk. You know, this is a platform that we use to get information out to our clients. And today I'm really excited to have Denis Gaudreault, who's joining us, Denis is the country manager for Intel and a great partner of Insight. Welcome Denis.
DENIS
All right, thanks John. Thanks for having me, I really appreciate it.
JOHN
Great. Great to see you. I hope everything's safe. And I imagine like me, you've got a lot more time for these things without any travel on your schedule. So, things continue to be different.
DENIS
Yeah, absolutely, big time. Looking to travel again a little bit, but yeah, so.
JOHN
Yeah, me too. Me too. Look, I want to start, I mean, this might be kind of simplistic but not everybody knows Intel the way that obviously you know Intel and we know you as a partner. You know, many people think of Intel as, you know, the company that's inside the vast majority of PCs and, you know, you've transformed so much from beyond the microprocessor and that.
Do you want to just talk a little bit about Intel's journey right now?
DENIS
Yeah, absolutely. So as some of you may know, right? A couple of years ago, we start our transformation moving from a PC centric organization to really being a data centric organization. So, with all the volume of data that now it's greater and need to be analyzed, we're really moving forward to create all those technology and product that will let people to compute, move, store, and secure all that data. So really moving away from just being focusing on silicone, or really on CPU, moving to XPU architectures where it won't be only just the silicone but really about all the platforms. So, the hardware, the software, the service and everything to really address a great opportunity that is in front of us with all that compute movement and storing of data that is needed moving forward.
JOHN
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's a big transformation for you. And, and I guess with the new CEO that's probably going to continue to, to move forward.
One of the areas, you know, we've, we both see in every, almost every presentation everybody loves to quote Satya on this that, you know, during the pandemic, you know, what used to be two years of, of transformation is now, you know, somewhere around two months. I would think that some of your transformation is to help address that. But maybe you can expand a little bit on, on what it is, or how you're helping the Canadian clients around transformation.
DENIS
Yeah. That's a very good point. I guess everybody was surprised by how fast. So, we're all, everybody in the industry was pushing that digital transformation, right? For, I would say years, but with the pandemic, things accelerate very, very fast. So right now, if you look what we're doing, right, we're really helping the organizations because the, what they did during their COVID is basically they try to keep the business continuity, right? Keep the light up and running, like the work from home, and using the count, agility, and everything. And now, so what we're trying to do is like, move the people to that digital transformation, where they are going to be leveraging digital technologies to transform that process, their business, their organization, really, to help the business to grow and be more agile and adapt to that new reality.
JOHN
Hmm. Now, are you seeing, when you, when you think of digital transformation, are your clients and your conversations, culturally, are they moving at the same speed or is there a little bit of a lag between a digital transformation and a cultural transformation?
DENIS
Yeah, so I would say, so it depends on the industry, right? Some industries are faster than others. Some are a bit slower, but I would say with the pandemic, I would say everybody now gets that they really need to transform, and they need to do that fast, because it's kind of a question of, to survive, right? And which before we had still to convince some customers to go faster, that was key for them in the early, have to go, and everybody get that. And they get that, the fact that the smart infrastructure, the platform, your IT platform become the center of their transformation.
JOHN
Yeah. That's terrific. Well, listen, and if I didn't properly thank you for investing time with us today we appreciate your partnership every day. And we're pretty excited because you've launched a new partner program and Insight's at the highest tier of that. And I think it's now called the Intel Partner Alliance.
Maybe you could talk about a little bit about what that means for a partner like Insight, and ultimately, what does that mean for a client of Insight to be your highest level of partner?
DENIS
Yeah, so we had to evolve our program, right? It's called the IPA, the Intel Partner Alliance. So, because the market is moving, we already do change up. And what that means for Insight, so like, great partners like you. So, like you say, you're the titanium level which is the highest level. It's really that helping you to create more possibility to really have, I would say, a personal experience dealing with us and going through a better collaboration between the two organization that we can help you to grow. And there are different ways that we can do that with your organization, which at the end will also benefit your customer, right? Whereas the partner university, where we have deeper knowledge around AI, 5G, cloud, all the new things that we see, right, that are growing super fast. Also, more tools to do co-marketing. You see with you and your customers. And also, that what we call that solution marketplace, where any customer can go and look for a different solution that an organization like Insight are putting together to solve some real problems that customer will see.
JOHN
Yeah, we've actually, and a couple of examples come to mind on that. I know we've done some joint work with a service provider who's kind of looking at next generation, you know, advanced memory systems and things for higher speed searches and then you guys were right there willing to invest in the proof of concept. So, we certainly appreciate that. Any guidance for clients as to how to, you know, what they should be looking for in terms of how to best work with you know, with yourselves, through a company like Insight?
DENIS
Yeah, absolutely. So, as we, as an organization look to digitally transform their organization and look what kind of platform that they need, right? That look at their OTD, IT environment, how they can capture the data, move all the stack. It's really to sit down with an organization like Insight, like your organizations, and figure out, okay, what are all the capabilities that they have, they look at discovery process and everything, and Intel, we're working like, and with your organization, right? So, to really go through that process and really figure out, okay, what are the steps, where are the direction they should go and whether they should start that transformation toward the digital transformation they want and organizations really working end to end together in that.
JOHN
Yeah. So, when you're working on all these projects that are kind of out there and you know, talking about digital transformation. What is success for Intel in Canada in 2021? Or even beyond that? Like how are you looking at, this is what's going to move the needle for Intel and clients?
DENIS
Yeah, so absolutely, so that's a good point.
So first, we're looking at, really, our main goal or priority for Canada is to really have a Canadian organization. What is in the retail space, education, the banking, any organization to accelerate that digital transformation is super important for Canada, for our economy, and the survival of all of our enterprise, right? And doing such, so we're making sure our partners are up to speed, organization like Insight have all the knowledge and everything. And as every time we have a new project that we're working, I don't know, an AI project or a network transformation that they move to more virtualizing the network with the communication service provider. So, for us, it's a success because we're moving the market toward that strong transformation that create more opportunity for all the enterprise and organization.
JOHN
Yeah, no, that's terrific. And it's exciting stuff. Maybe... without giving away something that you can't give away, but any hints around, what do you expect, technology? Like I know you've done a lot in the GPU space for example, that was a relatively new space for you for the last couple of years. Any hints of kind of where you think things are going to go?
DENIS
Yeah there's a, it's always a question that we get, right? So hey, Intel, so you're so much driving the market, so what's coming? So, we share a few thoughts, a few things at the CES, a few stuff.
So, this year is a big year for us. And the second part of the year, so without giving like specific dates, everything. We're going to launch a new server platform. So, fire rapid, and then using a multi-chip, a multi-chip, that technology, which bring new architecture which will change a lot of things.
Also, on the GPU space, like you mentioned, with up on the VQ architecture, which also coming toward a second part of the year or so, which also will challenge many, many players already established in the market.
So, we're pretty excited for what's coming down the road. And as you know, earlier this year, we launched Tiger Lake for client, Ice Lake for servers, all new product, new process. So very, very exciting year for us with a lot of new things.
JOHN
No, that's terrific. Well, we, and certainly the innovation that Intel brings is second to none. I mean, you guys have, you've been doing it for a long, long time, and it's great to see the continued, you know, of the investments that you make.
So, I want to thank you for spending time with us. It's great to get a message out not only to our clients, but also our Insight teammates. We're always looking to learn. We're always looking to figure out what is next. And so, you've shared a little bit of that with us today. So, thank you, and to those that have joined us today, we really appreciate it.
Stay well.
DENIS
Thank you so much.
Senior Vice-President & General Manager, Insight Canada
In 2018, John joined Insight with more than 30 years of sales and business management experience in IT. John fosters deep partner relationships and meaningful connections with clients. He guides Insight Canada’s overall strategy to meet their needs through unique processes, tools and services provided via Insight Intelligent Technology Solutions™ in supply chain optimization, connected workforce, cloud and data centre transformation, and digital innovation.
Country Manager, Intel Canada
Denis Gaudreault is the Country Manager for Intel in Canada and the Director of Americas Territory Enterprise & Government Teams focused on developing and expanding the consumption market and technology acceleration adoption in the region. Since joining Intel in 2000, Denis has held a variety of positions, including Global Director for the Government World Ahead Vertical, Director for Intel US Federal team and Business Development Manager to name a few. His areas of expertise include technological developments, the disruptive impact of technology, and the effect of both on corporate and governmental strategies. With 19 years of experience at Intel and a dedicated passion for coaching & mentoring, He is all about empowering people to advance their career and go beyond what they think is out of reach.
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