In retail, technology is rarely perceived… until it fails. A payment that doesn’t go through at checkout, a connectivity drop during peak hours, or an inventory system that gets “frozen” can turn a purchase into frustration and, worse for a brand, distrust. With this idea as a backdrop, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has leveraged NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show to introduce an expansion of its retail-oriented portfolio, with a clear message: keep operations running end-to-end, from the store (edge) to the core where transactions and critical data are processed.
The announcement, made in New York on January 12, 2026, combines two worlds that have traditionally operated on separate tracks: on one side, in-store connectivity and observability; on the other, computing designed for uninterrupted operation. At the center of the proposal are HPE Aruba Networking CX switching, advanced Mist AIOps capabilities at the branch edge, and the HPE Nonstop Compute family, tailored for environments where continuity is not a “nice-to-have,” but an operational necessity.
The edge as a pressure point: more devices, more risk, more automation needed
Modern retail is increasingly dense with technology. POS terminals, cameras, sensors, digital signage, IoT devices, mobile terminals for staff, and next-generation Wi-Fi networks coexist in spaces with an often overlooked detail: the infrastructure is typically hidden in inconvenient locations—from checkout lanes to false ceilings and technical corridors.
This is where one of the most tangible innovations comes in: new 8-port models in the HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 series, available in PoE and non-PoE versions, designed for flexible deployment in a compact, silent form factor. Practically, this class of equipment aims to facilitate “surgical” deployments near the point of service—where cabling matters—without the need to redesign the network every time a new device is added.
HPE complements this “proximity hardware” with a focus on “self-driving” networks: advanced telemetric data, system monitoring, IoT probing functions, and AI-assisted operational capabilities to reduce disconnects, accelerate troubleshooting, and also obtain more accurate energy consumption readings in store infrastructure. The goal is to shift from fire-fighting to prevention.
AI-native analytics: turning network performance into business data
Another key aspect of the announcement is the use of analytics and natural language assistance to gain visibility—not just technical, but operational. HPE announced the integration of the virtual assistant Marvis with HPE Juniper Networking Premium Analytics within the Mist AIOps framework. In practical terms: it’s not just about knowing whether the network “is working,” but about relating connectivity experience, location data, and usage patterns to business decisions.
The approach aims to enable IT teams, operations, and even marketing to draw actionable insights with less friction, leveraging natural language queries to understand what’s happening in-store, where bottlenecks occur, and how metrics evolve over time. Additionally, at the trade show, it’s highlighted that this approach allows for analyzing seasonality with a broader data window for planning and year-over-year comparisons—a particularly useful feature in a sector driven by calendars and where each campaign has its own “physics”.
“If the core goes down, trust is compromised”: Nonstop as the transactional backbone
Networks can be autonomous, analytics can be intelligent, but retail still has a weak spot: transaction processing. During high-demand campaigns, systems that validate payments, update inventory, or synchronize omnichannel services cannot afford interruptions. That’s why HPE emphasizes its fault tolerance offering with HPE Nonstop Compute, especially the NS9 X5 and NS5 X5 models, designed to maintain transactions and data availability even in hardware failure or network disruption scenarios.
HPE frames this strategy with a phrase that encapsulates its real-world impact: a lost transaction is not just a number; it’s a customer leaving with a poor experience. Thus, the “core that doesn’t fail” becomes a brand asset as much as an IT asset: it protects revenue, yes, but also reputation.
Regarding capabilities, the company highlights performance improvements over previous generations based on internal benchmarks, as well as large-scale distributed scaling. It also incorporates Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) as an added layer of security for sensitive customer data and transactions, aligning with ongoing privacy, audit, and compliance requirements in the sector.
From hardware purchase to consumption as a service
An unnoticed shift is HPE’s emphasis on the fact that both networking and Nonstop solutions can be consumed as-a-service via HPE GreenLake. In retail, where CAPEX competes with tight margins and demand peaks can be sudden, their subscription and elasticity approach is marketed as a way to align investment with results and absorb growth without redesigning every cycle.
Overall, the announcement sketches out an “always-on” retail architecture with three layers: connected, automated edge, observable and AI-native analytics, and fault-tolerant core for payments and inventory. This isn’t just a future promise; it’s a solution to an old problem with new ingredients, where AI appears less as a trend and more as a mechanism to operate networks and systems with less friction and greater predictability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a “self-driving” network bring to brick-and-mortar stores with hundreds of devices?
It automates diagnosis and incident response, reduces outages, and speeds up problem resolution without relying on constant manual intervention.
Why integrate Marvis with premium analytics in retail environments?
To turn network metrics and location data into actionable insights, useful for both IT (performance) and operations (occupancy, seasonality, and in-store experience).
Which types of retailers benefit most from HPE Nonstop Compute?
Especially those relying on critical transactions and continuous availability: large chains, centralized payments, real-time inventory, and omnichannel operations.
Why are compact 8-port PoE switches relevant in stores?
Because they allow connecting POS systems, cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and sensors close to their usage points, with flexible deployment and without revamping infrastructure.
via: hpe