HPE Discover 2026

You Do Not Need Look at Everything From an AI-perspective

June 29, 2026

AI
Cloud & Data Platform
HPE
Conferences

HPE’s giant event, Discover, presents the new and the next. But does that mean that yesterday is forgotten? The words in the headline come from an industry veteran who knows both the industry and HPE from the inside. A central part of her career has been on the big, global stages in the HPE organization. Today Mette Hartung has stepped out on the outside and is now a part of Danoffice IT. How does the current development look like through a pair of ex-HPE eyes?

Do Not Forget The Core

Being a former HPE employee of many years with a responsibility for large, global clients, one might think that her takeaways from HPE Discover 2026 would focus on everything new. On the new things which HPE suppliers globally now will feature on their selves. However, instead Mette Hartung, Commercial Director, Hybrid Solutions in Danoffice IT, calls for calm.

”Many people and companies forget that the core still needs to be operated”, she says and adds: “The possibilities with AI are exciting and incredible, but in all of the hype and the storm of information you must not forget to focus on your core business. Your strategy is not invalid just because a new technology has entered the stage. The same in particular goes for your focus on your core-infrastructure. One needs to remember that AI is a layer which you add on integrate”, she reflects and brings out a central point: “If you listen closely, that is not what HPE is saying either. Yes, they are in the front on AI-solutions, but HPE’s portfolio of products and services aimed at core-infrastructure is enormous, and they develop heavily on it still”.

A New Side of The Development

Mette knows HPE from the inside and to the core – and after years in the center of the development she has taken the journey to the partner-side, and this marks a shift in focus. “It is very interesting to see HPE’s development from the outside and through a new lens. In my new role, I can supply our clients globally and in Denmark with a specialized knowledge and insight”, she says and shares her thoughts on meeting Dannofice IT.

“My experience coming “outside the walls” at Danoffice IT is super positive. It has been a great experience seeing how dedicated they are in their work with the clients. These are highly skilled people who are praised in the industry – both by the clients and by other partners. In my time with HPE we always viewed Danoffice IT as a major player. We have a very explicit HPE-presence, and this is verified by our partner status, our certifications, and our results with HPE’s technologies. Even on a global scale.”
Mette Hartung, Commercial Director, Hybrid Solutions, Danoffice IT

… And A New Focus in Operations

Mette chooses, in her output from Discover, to place her focus elsewhere than AI. “A central thing I registered this year was that the economy side of things is being changed – there is a new focus. It surprised me how much HPE is focusing on Managed Services. And, especially also on the fact that we now will be operating things more consumption-based”, she says and elaborates: “This will be a big change for many companies in their operations, that we will now be paying for what we consume. HPE also makes another shift: Earlier on we have talked a lot about specific product names, but now these are being bundled in large services-packages, which we can subscribe to in our operations. This does not get as much attention as AI, but in reality, this change is much bigger than you might think”.

Danoffice IT Are Among The First To Set The Clients Free

At last year’s Discover, HPE’s VM Essentials was almost an disruptive launch. A significant launch on the hypervisor market. “Offering Managed Services today has in some people’s eyes become a commodity, but to me that is ok – because we cannot operate modern IT-environments without it”, Mette states.

''I actually believe it is impressive to see that Danoffice IT – being among the first on the whole Managed Services-wave – now are entering the marked with new types of services that are setting the clients free from VMWare.''
Mette Hartung, Commercial Director, Hybrid Solutions, Danoffice IT.

It Is All About The Business

Entering HPE Discover as a former HPE employee is special, Mette admits. “It is fantastic to re-vitalize my old HPE network – something I indeed can bring into play in my work at Danoffice IT. It is funny to see that some of functionalities, we worked on back then – and which did not work – they actually work perfectly now”, she tells.

“Maybe my background makes me able to overlook it all somehow. Because, as I said, I see a lot more than AI over there. You do not need look at everything from an AI-perspective. And to our many clients: You do not need to be super AI to take advantage of all these new workloads, HPE is making possible right now”. Mette’s point is that we must not forget our foundation in our excitement of all the new ways.

“Many are talking about AI, but only few have an A-Z business case on driving a business from it. It is only a small part of the infrastructure. If you have created a modern infrastructure and have implemented a consumption-based model, then this will maybe free up resources for taking up AI as the next step”, the experienced HPE-insider explains. “If you do not have the resources or the competencies to finding your way with AI, then in Danoffice IT, we have an incredibly strong AI-team who are ready with both inspiration and development”, she adds.

”Jokingly, I sometimes say that I am the only one in the industry who does not know anything about IT. My point, obviously, is, that it is all about the business – and that I can talk about! And here I know, I can make a difference”, concludes Mette Hartung, Commercial Director, Hybrid Solutions in Danoffice IT.