Google Cloud Next: What's Happening in the Expo Hall
Look for everyone from Accenture and SADA to Kyndryl and Orca Security — and quite a few more. Plus, some fun shots.
![Google Cloud Next '24 sign Google Cloud Next '24 sign](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/bltb436f4e67a310b42/6616e7d7bc86b3442346f371/Google_Cloud_Next_24_sign.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
With 30,000 people registered to attend Google Cloud Next 2024 in person, the expo hall was full on opening day.
Two executives at one of Google Cloud’s key partners of the year, Deloitte, had this to say about the April 9 keynote announcements:
"Today's keynote showcased how Google Cloud is putting the utmost care and intention into advancing how we work,” said Kashif Rahamatullah, U.S. Google Cloud leader. “Specifically, Vertex AI Agent Builder will allow developers to build and deploy gen AI experiences and connect them with enterprise data. This allows companies to not only accelerate their generative AI use on a day-to-day basis, but also improve the employee and customer experience."
“Generative AI has truly never been as powerful as it is now, and the innovations from today’s keynote presentations showcase this new reality — especially at an industry standpoint,” said Nicola Johnson, U.S. Alphabet Google Alliance Chief Commercial Officer. “Google Cloud is on the cutting edge of transforming enterprise operations, with technologies like Vertex AI Agent Builder, which, in part, could improve the end user experience for their customers.”
This year, consultancy Cognizant took home Google Cloud’s Global Breakthrough award.
Google Cloud-only managed service provider SADA earned 2024’s Global Sales Partner of the Year award. Channel Futures was lucky enough to snag a one-on-one interview with Tony Safoian, and will bring that to you this week. SADA agreed to be acquired by VAR Insight Enterprises late last year and, well, let’s just say that the deal is working out very well.
As it does with nearly all the cloud providers, Nvidia has beefed up its partnership with Google Cloud, too.
Quantiphi landed three Google Cloud partner of the year awards — and new partner leader Colleen Kapase specifically called them out in her one-on-one interview with Channel Futures as an exciting channel player to watch (more to come on that).
Meanwhile, here’s what Asif Hasan, co-founder of Quantiphi, had to say about the wins: "We are deeply honored and motivated by this unprecedented achievement of winning three Google Cloud Partner of the Year category awards in a single year. This acknowledgment fuels our passion to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation through our collaboration with Google Cloud.”
Google Cloud held several breakout sessions on the expo hall floor. This one featured speakers talking DE&I topics — specifically, belonging.
Global services consultancy Wipro got a Google Cloud partner award for supply chain logistics.
Global MSP Rackspace started diving deep into generative AI last year and hasn’t looked back. It’s banking on its FAIR program, or Foundry for AI, as a key revenue generator.
Earlier this year, Orca Security pledged more investment in channel partners throughout 2024.
CDW has had a tough go of business lately, but AI could prove a helpful boost.
Fortinet just held its own partner event, Accelerate, earlier this month. It debuted the latest version of its FortiOS operating system alongside other enhancements to its cybersecurity platform.
Data management vendor Denodo on April 8 said it has integrated its platform with Google Cloud’s Vertex AI. Denodo and Google Cloud will target joint customers with data management, generative AI and large language models.
“By utilizing Google Cloud’s … gen AI capabilities, Denodo can help customers unlock new insights that help them improve operations and be more productive,” said Ritika Suri, technology partnerships director at Google Cloud.
Narayan Sundar, senior director of strategic alliances at Denodo, agreed.
“This latest integration further sets the stage for enterprises to redefine the boundaries of innovation by unlocking new levels of business value through the power of data and generative AI. As a longtime partner of Google Cloud, we enhance the capabilities of large language models by enabling them to query authoritative and relevant data and offer nuanced responses that deliver unprecedented business insights.”
Google Cloud has made significant inroads in the public sector — and so have its channel partners.
DoIT is fresh off a big MSP 501 recognition from Channel Futures.
Another Google Cloud demo let Next ’24 attendees hit the virtual pitch and compete for the highest score.
Consultancy Capgemini took home two Google Cloud partner of the year awards this week — one for industry solution in financial services and insurance, another for generative AI services.
Palo Alto Networks is counting on significant growth in its channel partner program this year.
“There will be some things coming around custom and specific programs and specializations for our SIs, service providers and cloud service providers,” Tom Evans, Palo Alto Networks’ vice president of worldwide channel sales, told Channel Futures in January. “We're developing different specializations and proficiencies for certain technologies like XSIAM Elite. We're revamping some of our Prisma Cloud and our MSSP programs, and we're continuing to evolve technical expertise. So I think what they'll see this year is really a heightened awareness on all the other routes to market.”
The Community Hub on the Google Cloud Next ’ 24 show floor was buzzing with activity. This part of the company’s Innovation Hive provided a place for like-minded folks to have conversations and share insights.
Accenture is highly keen on generative AI and managed services. To the latter point, it bought Navisite earlier this year.
Global MSP Kyndryl just expanded its Google Cloud partnership in February. The two companies are particularly focused on — what else — generative AI.
“As technology evolves, so does our alliance with Google Cloud,” said Annemarie Dev, vice president of Kyndryl’s Global Google Cloud Alliance, on April 9. “We continue to meet customers where they are, and we are committed to helping them responsibly leverage technology to unlock new business value and drive innovation.”
Global MSP Kyndryl just expanded its Google Cloud partnership in February. The two companies are particularly focused on — what else — generative AI.
“As technology evolves, so does our alliance with Google Cloud,” said Annemarie Dev, vice president of Kyndryl’s Global Google Cloud Alliance, on April 9. “We continue to meet customers where they are, and we are committed to helping them responsibly leverage technology to unlock new business value and drive innovation.”
GOOGLE CLOUD NEXT — One of the biggest attractions at any major event is the expo hall, and that's proving to be no exception at this week's Google Cloud Next ’24.
Hundreds of companies are crowding the show floor, so we had to make the hard choices and whittle down our photo coverage to just a handful of those names. We focused largely on Google Cloud partner award winners, as well as brands Channel Futures readers know well. As a hint, look for everyone from Accenture and SADA to Kyndryl and Orca Security — and quite a few more.
Google Cloud Next ’24 is replete with vendors and partners doubling down on AI, which was apparent in the keynote, in one-on-one conversations and, of course, in the expo hall. Along the way, though, we made sure to capture some of the fun attendees were having at Google Cloud Next ’24, too.
Check out the activity from the Google Cloud Next ’24 expo hall in the slideshow above.
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