Nile Shows up to a Mobility Field Day Event
This week marks the first time Nile presents at a Mobility Field Day event (#MFD12). Nile has presented at two Tech Field Day Networking Field Day events (#NFD32 & #NFD34).
If you are not familiar with Nile, they are a relatively new company with a goal of revolutionizing enterprise networking by combining wired and wireless solutions with AI-driven automation, aiming for guaranteed performance and simplified operations.
During the presentation, I expect Nile to highlight some of their perceived advantages, including:
- Next-Gen Networking: Focuses on building future-proof wired and wireless networks
- AI Integration: Utilizes AI for automation and operational efficiency
- Zero Trust Security: Incorporates built-in security measures for all devices
- Performance Guarantees: Promises coverage, availability, and capacity
- Enterprise Focus: Targets carpeted office spaces, education, and warehouses
- Simplification: Reduces complexity in network design and management
- Cloud-Based Management: Centralizes monitoring and control in the cloud
On first glance, these advantages sound good on paper, but after peeling back a few layers of the onion, it seems like this technical marketing is heavily focused on automating and optimizing project management. The true insight here is that significant efficiency gains can be realized when automating standardized and consistent project management practices. Building future proof wired a wireless network is a wonderful goal. Which company would claim a focus on deemphasizing future-proof networks? It would be like a company boldly stating safety is priority #2.
Promises can easily be made and contracts written up to quantify financial re-imbursement when those promises are broken. The networking age is quickly reaching a point when financial compensation is not enough as some organizations require 100% uptime.
Cloud-based management has been around for decades, and AI integration needs to be mentioned otherwise everyone’s spidey-sense would tingle… as anything not mentioning AI would be an immediate red flag.
Nile attempts to solve issues plaguing today’s enterprise networks:
- Industry Evolution: Networking has seen incremental innovation but lacks fundamental changes in hardware and software, leading to complexity. A fresh perspective is needed.
- Outcome-Driven Approach: Customers prioritize guaranteed performance and ease of use, suggesting a shift from technology to outcome-centric networking solutions.
- Comparative Learning: The automotive industry’s shift to autonomous cars serves as a model for networking, emphasizing the need for new platforms instead of patching old systems.
- Operational Efficiency: Addressing operational costs is critical; clients spend significantly on OPEX, highlighting the need for streamlined network management.
- Deep Instrumentation: Comprehensive monitoring is essential for effective network management, requiring detailed insights into every component and environment.
- Subscription Challenges: The current subscription model is unsustainable for many clients, indicating a need for more predictable pricing structures.
- Self-Managing Networks: Networking solutions should focus on eliminating problems before they occur, moving beyond reactive measures to proactive management.
At #MFD12, I am looking to hear Nile meaningfully demonstrate how each of these challenges is being solved and delivered on my Nile’s solution. Do these points differentiate Nile from the competition or has the narrative been refined?
My questions going into the MFD12 presentation from Nile tomorrow:
- The first stage of network design involves gathering business requirements. When done correctly, business outcomes are effectively described, feeding into the technical requirements phase. Are there options within the Nile solution to implement different technologies, or single technologies (e.g. Ethernet and Wi-Fi) deliver on the outcome-centric goals that customers are prioritizing?
- What fresh perspectives take enterprise networking beyond incremental innovation?
- What problems will be eliminated before they occur? What level of OPEX savings have been measured from this operational efficiency?
- Anything more than three subscription options is unsustainable and complicated. How will predictable pricing avoid add-ons and customization for snowflake enterprises requirements?
- How long into the presentation will it take to link Nile and former Cisco leadership?
What other questions do you have around the Network as a Service (NaaS) offering from Nile?
Follow along with me during the Nile presentation at Tech Field Day – Mobility Field Day event on November 20th to hear answers to these questions. You can watch the livestream (link below) or catch up the presentation once the recording has been posted.
Slàinte!
Resources
Mobility Field Day 12