Dell Brings the Cloud to the Branch

As banks are trying to simplify processes and reform their branch customer experience for the digital age, Dell announced a new product today that aims to accomplish both of those goals simultaneously. Dell is marketing the new product, called the PowerEdge VRTX, as a “cloud in a box,” bringing data center capabilities into the branch by combining storage, server and networking needs for branch offices into one chassis.

This will allow banks to deploy one solution for all of those needs instead of several, notes Bob Barris, Dell’s vice president and vertical marketing leader for banking and securities. Eliminating the need for several solutions will reduce hardware sprawl and complexity, he says, since banks won’t have to wire together all of those solutions. The PowerEdge VRTX can reduce the number of cables connecting IT hardware in the branch by up to 86%, according to Dell. In addition to providing a less complex hardware environment in the branch, banks can save money on their branch operations because they have to power fewer hardware components, Barris adds.

The single chassis can store up to 64 cores for processing power and offers up to 48 terrabytes of storage, and can integrate with major 3rd party management solutions like Microsoft Systems Center and BMC Patrol, according to Dell.

Barris says that Dell hopes to attract banks that are looking to upgrade the technology capabilities in their branches. “We see a lot of interest from big banks in using virtual desktops in their branches with this. A lot of banks are faced with aging infrastructure in their branch offices. This is a solution that can address that,” he remarks.

Some of the banks looking into the solution are working on branch of the future models and integrating tablets into their branch environments, Barris reports. “We’re definitely trying to ride that wave of branch refreshes that is happening, and, if we can, accelerate it,” he says.

[See Related: What Will the Branch of the Future Look Like?]

Jonathan Camhi has been an associate editor with Bank Systems & Technology since 2012. He previously worked as a freelance journalist in New York City covering politics, health and immigration, and has a master's degree from the City University of New York's Graduate School ... View Full Bio