Lloyd Bryant, the general manager of HP Canada, has a metaphor to describe HP’s blockbuster decision to separate into two organizations. “HP started in a single car garage and now we are moving into a two car garage.”
The Oct. 6 middle-of-the-night announcement by CEO Meg Whitman to split HP into two separate organizations sent shockwaves throughout the industry even though HP had been operating internally as two distinct business operations for years.
But from a channel perspective, HP’s decision to be two separate companies – sometime in 2015 – has the potential to impact practically every channel partner in Canada because of HP’s high reliance on the channel.
Bryant told CDN in an exclusive interview that he is excited about the company’s separation that will create two significant focused companies. He also said the split will increase HP’s overall commitment to the channel. “The channel strategy and the separation will allow both companies to accelerate the innovation agenda and that will create more opportunities for the channel,” Bryant said.
The split may have attracted big headlines for HP but that does mean it was the company’s only story for 2014.
Bryant said of his 28 years at HP Canada, 2014 may have been the biggest in terms of the number of innovative products rolled out.
On top of that list is something called “The Machine”. The Machine was created at HP Labs and is that facility’s biggest project to date. The Machine stores data onsite, while indexing it via the cloud. Local apps on the Machine can be shared and distributed in a wireless mesh system making the Machine a learning engine. This Machine is pretty far out there as it uses electrons, photons and ions for computing, communicating and storing data. It can swap out copper wires for lasers a quarter the thickness of human hair. This helps data transmission catch up with processor speed using less energy and in a smaller form factor. With the Machine, HP claims, it can build tomorrow’s cloud for everyone.
“The Machine is not a current offering but it will fundamentally change computing and bring unprecedented levels of performance,” Bryant said.
Also in 2014 HP took 3D printing to another level with its MultiJet 3D Fusion technology. Bryant called MultiJet 3D Fusion a breakthrough at HP because it leveraged all of the company’s intellectual property in the printing space and it has the potential to transform the way 3D printing is done today.
“Imagine if you go to a dental office to get a tooth replaced and the Dentist can take a picture of the tooth, do a 3D replacement and have it made right there? The possibilities are endless,” he said.
According to Bryant, 3D printing can impact business and society. HP is targeting 3D printing in the commercial market and will be able to increase the speed of manufacturing; allowing more substrates.
“This technology will change the way manufacturing gets done and has the potential to impact many different industries such as aerospace and parts distribution,” he added.
Lastly, Bryant is very active in the Canadian IT community, supporting programs such as Green4Good and the Channel Charity Golf tournament for the RCMP Foundation.
