ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chicago technology company AHEAD, a leading provider of enterprise cloud solutions, announced today another addition to its family of R&D labs. Dubbed the “Cloud Innovation Center,” this Ann Arbor facility will serve as a hub for research on emerging cloud technologies, and as a place where professionals from across the AHEAD ecosystem collaborate and learn.
According to Eric Kaplan, AHEAD’s Chief Technology Officer, Ann Arbor’s tech scene is a perfect fit for this kind of investment from the company.
“Ann Arbor has always been a great location for our teams who serve the Michigan region,” Kaplan said. “But with the burgeoning tech startup scene in Ann Arbor, thanks to it being home to a renowned research university, the time is right to establish one of our AHEAD Labs here.”
The Cloud Innovation Center will serve as the third facility in the AHEAD Labs lineup, along with two other locations in Chicago. In addition to having an R&D mandate, AHEAD Labs operate as briefing centers, engaging approximately 600 client professionals annually, across a portfolio of more than 50 enterprise cloud topics.
The Cloud Innovation Center will specialize in researching the technologies and practices required to evolve enterprises from their foundational use of the cloud, to a more advanced, enterprise-scale model that incorporates automation, orchestration, and DevOps.
“Whether they’re focused on the public cloud or just optimizing workloads in their own data centers, technology leaders seek the same attributes of speed, elasticity, and scalability,” said Kaplan. “At the same time, they need proper security, visibility, and governance. This lab will help clients with those balancing acts at all stages of the cloud journey.”
The Ann Arbor center is just one part of AHEAD’s commitment to aiding enterprises in the Midwest and along the Atlantic coast with their enterprise cloud journeys.
According to Pat Petersen, CTO of Detroit-based Ally Financial, “In this area, there’s a wealth of technology resources to draw from and develop. AHEAD has been a valued resource to Ally, and it’s great to see them expand their commitment to the region.”
“Michigan has given a lot to AHEAD. We wanted to invest back in the region to create a space where we, our clients, and partners, can work side by side on innovation.” Kaplan said.
About AHEAD, LLC
AHEAD transforms how and where enterprises run applications and infrastructure. From strategic consulting, to implementation and managed services, we create tailored solutions at all stages of the enterprise cloud journey. Learn more at www.thinkAhead.com.
