By David Hutchison, CDCS, Founder of Excipio; a premier data center strategy company.
Let's face it: How we think about data centers is broken. It's old, bloated, and in many ways, it's holding your organization hostage. Every executive nods wisely at the term "Data Center Strategy"—as if uttering it will miraculously transform an unruly flood of infrastructure into an agile powerhouse. But the truth? A thousand-point PowerPoint presentation is never going to solve the issue of fragmented infrastructure, redundant silos, or a culture hesitant to consolidate. Your company needs more than just a strategy—you need a revolution. I have made it my mission to flip this entire narrative on its head, empowering organizations to finally harness the full value of their data centers without the layers of clutter and unnecessary complexity.
We live in an era where data centers have become the lifeblood of every decision—a central vein that should connect every organization's heartbeat. And yet, most companies find themselves in a position where their data center strategy has become an albatross, weighing them down rather than helping them soar. Why? Because the infrastructure isn't integrated. Because information that should be a powerful driver of efficiency and profit remains segregated across different systems, serving no purpose other than to pad already hefty maintenance bills.
Data Center Strategy: Less Glamour, More Impact
Data center strategy—we've all heard the term, and most companies claim to have one. But scratch the surface, and you'll find most 'strategies' are merely glorified filing systems designed to appease stakeholders rather than propel companies into the future. A real data center strategy isn't just a plan to manage infrastructure. It's an actionable guide for extracting every ounce of value from your data center and then using that infrastructure to drive real-time business decisions.
Excipio knows this isn't about running smoother operations. This is about transforming the chaos of disparate systems into a streamlined, cohesive asset that accelerates growth. I believe in laying down a foundation where infrastructure is managed, consolidated, and optimized for maximum impact. No more silos. No more isolated facilities. Just a single, clear view that brings meaning and alignment to every department's objective.
Data Center Consolidation: Making the Impossible Possible
Consolidating data centers is perhaps the least glamorous part of any IT strategy. There are no shiny new products to unveil, no grand visions of AI-driven miracles—just the messy, unending task of cleaning, integrating, and optimizing. But here's the twist: none of those buzzwords matter without data center consolidation. Machine learning, predictive analytics, digital twins—all of these rest on one foundation: good, clean, integrated infrastructure.
Consider this: according to Gartner's Data Center Consolidation Study, companies that successfully consolidate and optimize their data centers grow at twice the rate of those that don't. Why? Because they make better decisions. It's as simple as that. They see clearer trends, spot opportunities faster, and eliminate redundancy. Data center consolidation is about cutting away the fat, ending the petty turf wars between systems, and creating an ecosystem where infrastructure flows freely and logically.
Reach out today, schedule that meeting, and ensure that your business isn't just surviving—it's thriving, no matter what the future holds.
An Example to Remember
A large, $3B medical healthcare provider with 10+ hospitals, 150+ clinics, and 60+ pharmacies desired a data center assessment and future data center strategy. Their current facility was aged (25+ years) and was only a Tier I facility, which was unsuitable for healthcare standards.
Prior Pain Points/Challenges
Complex IT Infrastructure: The healthcare provider was managing a complex and outdated IT infrastructure that included various systems and technologies.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with stringent healthcare regulations and standards was challenging.
Disaster Recovery: The existing disaster recovery plans were inadequate, risking business continuity.
Cost Management: Controlling and reducing operational costs while maintaining high service quality was a persistent issue.
Vendor Management: Handling multiple vendor contracts and ensuring optimal terms and conditions was cumbersome.
Why Excipio Was Selected
The healthcare provider chose Excipio Consulting for several compelling reasons:
Proven Methodology (EAMM® Process): Excipio's EAMM® process provides a thorough understanding of the data center's technical, business, and financial state, which is crucial for healthcare organizations needing precise and reliable assessments.
Comprehensive Assessments: Excipio offers in-depth assessments of the entire technology structure, identifying and ranking critical technology services.
Disaster Recovery Strategy: The ability to develop robust disaster recovery strategies tailored to the specific needs of healthcare facilities.
Vendor Management Expertise: Expertise in vendor management, helping clients leverage, consolidate, and negotiate the best contracts, leading to significant cost savings.
Industry Best Practices: Drawing upon best practices from multiple industries, Excipio brings a wealth of experience and innovative solutions.
Financial Impact Forecasting: Accurate financial forecasting of the impact of recommended changes, providing clear visualization of potential cost savings and ROI.
Value Brought to the Healthcare Delivery Systems
Excipio delivered substantial value to the healthcare provider through the following key benefits:
In-Depth Insights: Provided comprehensive insights into technical, financial, and operational factors, enabling informed decision-making.
Enhanced Disaster Recovery: Improved disaster recovery plans, enhancing business continuity and preparedness.
Elevated Service Quality: Leveraged best practices from a blend of industry experience, elevating service quality and innovation.
Strategic Expertise: Brought expertise from former C-level executives, adding a layer of credibility and high-level strategic thinking.
Data-Driven Analysis: Utilized data-driven analysis and precise financial forecasting, allowing for clear visualization of impacts and ROI.
"Our engagement with Excipio was very positive. Excipio accomplished within 3 years what we as an enterprise could not accomplish on our own over 8 years. We found that the expertise of the Excipio staff assisted us in a better understanding of the available technology options in the market and encouraged us to look at new innovative approaches to our delivery of technology services. The Excipio team offered consulting services and worked alongside our staff, implementing the solutions and offering training when needed. Excipio went above and beyond to ensure we had overall success and realized the needed cost reductions."
Excipio Results
Modern Tier III Facility: A new facility with 500kW of usable UPS power, scalable to 1MW.
Cost Savings: Saved the client $3MM from design to final commissioning.
Efficient Cooling: Hot aisle containment with in-row cooling, allowing for free cooling for 7 months of the year. Here are actual Excipio projects that demonstrate this approach in action: https://www.excipio.net/projects-8.
Are We Ready for the Change?
The catch here is this: transforming data center strategy and consolidation is not easy, and it's not a change that can happen overnight. What David Hutchison and Excipio are offering isn't a magic wand but the roadmap to drive through some rocky terrain towards an inevitable goal—turning fragmented, frustrating infrastructure into a powerful resource. It will require tough decisions, pushing back against comfortable legacy systems, and it may not make you many friends within the organization's outdated comfort zones.
Why Media Should Take Notice
The media needs to spotlight this because it's not just another software update or the newest platform on the block. This is a movement that can elevate entire industries. Imagine healthcare with consolidated data centers, manufacturing operations that intuitively predict breakdowns based on infrastructure insights, and retail that knows what the customer needs even before they step into a store. These aren't pipe dreams. They're the direct outcomes of thinking smarter about infrastructure—not bigger, just smarter.
David Hutchison has seen firsthand the cost of ignoring these shifts: wasted budgets, tech investments that never pay off, and competitors taking the lead because they made the leap. By calling this issue what it is—an albatross—he's helping companies shed weight and finally move with agility and purpose.
Action Steps for Leaders
So, how do you start? Here are the steps every company must consider:
Map Your Data Center Landscape: Before consolidating, you must know what you have. Create a complete audit of where your infrastructure lives, who manages it, and how it's being used (or not used).
Identify Redundancies: You'd be amazed how much infrastructure is duplicated across systems. Identifying these overlaps is crucial to reducing clutter and improving efficiency.
Consolidate with Intent: Data center consolidation isn't about shoving all your systems into a single facility. It's about being intentional—connecting dots that actually need connecting and building interfaces that empower cross-departmental decision-making.
Leverage Expert Guidance: Data center consolidation isn't a DIY project. It requires someone with the experience to know what's worth consolidating and what's not—someone like David Hutchison, who has performed over 500 mission-critical assessments and knows the potholes you'll hit along the way.
A Call to Innovate, Not Imitate
The easiest thing in the world is to stick with what's safe—to keep plugging numbers into spreadsheets and call it analysis. But the easy road is rarely the profitable one. To truly innovate, your data center strategy must evolve, starting with a radical, unapologetic approach to consolidation.
There's a reason David Hutchison and Excipio's clients are not just surviving—they're leading. The systems you build today are the ones that will either empower your company's growth tomorrow or leave you struggling to keep up as others pass you by. It's time to cut the dead weight, transform your data center landscape, and let your organization take flight.
If you're ready to drop the albatross of stale data center strategies and step into a future where infrastructure is a partner in growth rather than a burden, Excipio is ready to help. The conversation starts with a meeting that could change how your company thinks about data centers forever.
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