HPE Enhances Modern Retail Experiences With Improved Reliability, Security, and AI Insights Across Expanded Networking and Server Portfolios

Key Terms

power over ethernet (poe) technical

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that lets a single network cable carry both data and electrical power to devices like cameras, wireless access points, and sensors, similar to a power strip that also sends internet through the same cord. For investors, PoE matters because it lowers installation and maintenance costs, speeds deployment of connected equipment, and can drive demand for upgraded networking gear and services, affecting sales, margins and recurring revenue potential for companies in networking and infrastructure.

internet of things (iot) technical

The internet of things (IoT) describes a network of everyday objects—such as appliances, vehicles, and devices—that are connected to the internet and can share data automatically. This connectivity enables these objects to function more efficiently and provides valuable insights for businesses and consumers alike. For investors, IoT represents a growing area of technological innovation with the potential to transform industries and create new market opportunities.

aiops technical

AIOps (Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations) uses machine learning and data analysis to monitor, detect, and resolve problems in an organization’s technology systems automatically. It matters to investors because it can cut downtime and operating costs, speed up fixes, and make digital products more reliable—similar to an autopilot that notices and corrects issues before they disrupt service, which can protect revenue and reduce operational risk.

transparent data encryption (tde) technical

Transparent data encryption (TDE) is a technology that automatically scrambles a company’s stored database files so they look like gibberish to anyone without the right key, similar to locking documents in a safe that opens only with a special code. For investors, TDE matters because it reduces the risk and cost of data breaches and helps meet legal and industry rules, which can protect a company’s reputation and financial value.

fault-tolerant technical

A fault-tolerant system is built so it keeps working correctly even when parts fail, by automatically detecting problems and shifting tasks to backups or safe modes. Think of it like a car with redundant brakes or a delivery route that has alternate roads: the service keeps running despite breakdowns. For investors, fault tolerance reduces unexpected downtime, cuts potential loss or regulatory risk, and helps preserve revenue and reputation over time.

power over ethernet technical

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a wiring standard that lets network cables carry both data and electrical power to devices, like delivering internet and charging to a security camera or a wireless access point through the same cable. Investors care because PoE lowers installation and maintenance costs, enables faster rollouts and product upgrades, and can drive demand for networks and smart-building hardware, affecting sales, margins, and recurring service opportunities.

wi-fi 7 technical

Wi‑Fi 7 is the next generation of wireless networking technology that delivers much faster speeds, lower delay, and the ability to handle many more devices at once—think of it as a wider, smoother highway for internet traffic. It matters to investors because upgrades to phones, routers, smart-home gear, and business networks can drive hardware sales, service subscriptions, and demand for data-center or semiconductor capacity, affecting companies across the tech supply chain.

New self-driving features in HPE Aruba Networking CX switch, expanded AI-native retail analytics, and HPE Nonstop Compute capabilities strengthen infrastructure for critical retail transactions

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show – HPE (NYSE: HPE) today announced an expansion of its retail-ready portfolio to help customers improve connectivity, security, insight, and performance across their operations. The expanded solutions help retailers manage transactions, data, and shopping experiences with confidence across their entire landscape, from the back office and warehouse to the front of the store and curbside.

At NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show, HPE is showcasing expanded retail solutions that bring together the self-driving networks of HPE Aruba Networking CX switching and Mist AIOps at the branch edge with the latest HPE Nonstop solutions at the core, demonstrating how secure, resilient connectivity underpins retail modernization. These solutions are combined with HPE AI-native insight and assurance to give retailers the performance and confidence needed to support in-store operations and modern customer experiences.

Built for environments that require absolute continuity, the HPE Nonstop Compute NS9 X5 and NS5 X5 solutions help retailers keep transactions running and data available during peak demand, while new 8-port models in the HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 Switch Series enable flexible deployment at checkout lanes and overhead crawl spaces through a compact, completely silent design.

“In modern retail, a single lost transaction is a lost customer or a damaged reputation. HPE is raising the bar for retail by combining resilient edge connectivity, self-driving AI-native operations, and fault-tolerant compute to give retailers the insight, automation and assurance they need to meet existing and future shopper demands,” said Sujai Hajela, EVP & GM, Campus & Branch, HPE. “This unified foundation combines key HPE solutions to help retailers deliver continuous operations and consistent performance at scale, building trust in the next era of retail, where every transaction counts and every experience matters.”

Connecting edge, assurance, and intelligence for always-on retail operations

By strengthening the store edge, user experience visibility, and business insight, HPE addresses retailers’ needs for uptime, security, and scalability from the point of customer interaction through core business systems, introducing new innovations that include:

• For Business Insight: HPE is expanding access to retail insights, provided by the Mist AIOps platform, by integrating the Marvis virtual network assistant with HPE Juniper Networking Premium Analytics. This integration brings location intelligence and network performance data, including engagement and occupancy analytics, into Marvis' natural language interface, helping retailers move from reactive troubleshooting to proactive decision-making. As a result, IT, business operations, and marketing teams can quickly gain actionable insights to respond faster, optimize operations, and improve customer experiences.

• For the Edge: The HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 Switch Series includes new 8-port Power over Ethernet (PoE) and non-PoE models that securely connect point-of-sale (POS) terminals, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and staff systems to the network. Compared to legacy solutions, the new switches offer increased PoE capacity to support modern retail devices such as wireless access points, cameras, and sensors, enabling retailers to deploy new in-store services like digital signage, smart checkout, and edge analytics without reworking their network infrastructure. Advanced telemetry, IoT probing, and total system monitoring support self-driving operations, reduce dropped connections, and deliver more accurate energy usage insights.

• For User Assurance: HPE Aruba Networking User Experience Insight, part of HPE Aruba Networking Central, acts as an early warning system for organizations modernizing their networks. With support for Wi-Fi 7, User Experience Insight Sensors identify issues introduced by upgrades or network changes before users are impacted, helping protect revenue. Used alongside agents, the sensors deliver a comprehensive view of end-user activity, allowing IT teams to baseline network performance, continuously test network health, track trends, and plan for device growth and AI-native use cases.

New HPE Nonstop Compute advancements power next-generation retail

HPE Nonstop Compute delivers continuous, fault-tolerant solutions for backend payment processing, inventory management, and other mission-critical applications. The platform keeps applications running without interruption, even during hardware failures or network disruptions, reducing downtime and protecting revenue during peak shopping periods.

To support the increasing demands of digital and AI transformation in retail, HPE is introducing new enhancements to the Nonstop portfolio:

• Higher performance and scale: HPE Nonstop solutions support linear, distributed scale to up to 4,000 nodes through multi-generational clustering and deliver up to 15 percent more performance capacity, based on internal benchmarks comparing HPE Nonstop Compute NS8 X4 and HPE Nonstop Compute NS9 X5. The Nonstop OS software scales easily to handle growing transaction volumes, preparing the core infrastructure to handle greater workloads and new data-rich applications like real-time analytics and AI.
• Enhanced data protection: Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) provides stronger security for sensitive customer data and helps retailers meet evolving data privacy and compliance regulations.

Both the HPE Nonstop Compute and HPE Aruba Networking CX Switching solutions are available as a service through the HPE GreenLake cloud platform, allowing retailers to align IT investments with business outcomes through a flexible, subscription-based model.

Future-ready for digital and AI transformation

By deploying a unified data fabric across the edge and core, retailers gain the foundation needed to drive customer engagement and operational efficiency. HPE Aruba Networking CX enables easy expansion to new stores and devices, while new AI-native capabilities simplify operations and provide deeper insight into shopping experiences. At the core, an enhanced HPE Nonstop environment delivers the memory and bandwidth for real-time analytics, and high-volume omnichannel services without compromising availability.

Discover the HPE showcase at booth 3203. For more information, visit the HPE Newsroom.

Availability

The HPE Nonstop Compute solutions and HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 Switch Series are available today from HPE and its worldwide channel partners.

Related Resources:

• Blog: AI-readiness for retail: HPE is powering retail transformation at NRF 2026
• Blog: NRF 2026: Extend Networking and Security with New Compact Switches

Recent HPE News:

• HPE disrupts networking industry with expanded AI-native portfolio; reimagines future of IT operations with self-driving networks strategy
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise enhances robust compute platforms for mission-critical operations
• HPE Aruba Networking doubles down on security-first, AI-powered networks with innovations for retailers’ IoT data collection and edge processing

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

HPE (NYSE: HPE) is a leader in essential enterprise technology, bringing together the power of AI, cloud, and networking to help organizations achieve more. As pioneers of possibility, our innovation and expertise advance the way people live and work. We empower our customers across industries to optimize operational performance, transform data into foresight, and maximize their impact. Unlock your boldest ambitions with HPE. Discover more at www.hpe.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112145444/en/

Media Contact:

Kelsey Akerson

kelsey.akerson@hpe.com

Source: Hewlett Packard Enterprise