When gathering around the fire to watch Home Alone for the 10th consecutive year, I’d imagine the last thing to cross your mind this Christmas was how data centres were coping with the increased data demand caused by us. With a surge in online shopping and the notable spike in streaming services such as Netflix this time of year, we must stop to consider how it’s all possible.
Connectivity demands place pressure on data centre infrastructure, highlighting the sheer strength and resilience of these facilities. Data centres are operating year-round behind the scenes but should be celebrated more than ever during the festive period. Their ability to adapt and scale means they are a force to be reckoned with.
The annual Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2023 brought some stark findings as Adobe Analytics data showed record holiday season spending, with Cyber Monday growing 9.6% year-over-year (YoY) to US$12.4 billion, and Cyber Week up 7.8% YoY to US$38 billion. On Cyber Monday, in the peak hour (10:00 to 11:00 pm Eastern), consumers spent US$15.7 million every minute. These figures are staggering to say the least and at its core are the services provided by the data centre.
With the ability to process such large quantities of data at speed, data centres enable data-driven requests to be carried out efficiently, ultimately determining business success and happy customers this Winter period.
Data centre providers must continue on this upwards trajectory if they are to meet the ever-evolving needs of their customers. End-users will continue to reap the benefits of technology and its expanding capabilities and data centres must therefore scale up and make the most of AI-focused initiatives throughout the course of the year.
It goes without saying that 2024 will offer an abundance of fresh ideas and innovative approaches in the data centre space, with a large proportion of the focus being on sustainability and AI. Data centre leaders have had a chance to reflect and regroup, brainstorming ways to meet their customers’ needs through the use of automation, while also managing the amount of traffic on the network.
Let’s toast to a new year and to those that keep data centres up and running, not just during the festivities, but all year round.
