By Tom Dodds, Global Strategic Alliances & Events Manager at 10ZiG
Every year, Nutanix .NEXT grows in relevance, but this year’s event in Chicago felt especially significant.
With more than 5,000 attendees, 100+ sessions, and 100+ sponsors, .NEXT has evolved beyond a customer conference into a major industry gathering where enterprise infrastructure, hybrid multicloud, AI, and end-user computing strategies increasingly converge. That scale matters because the event attracts a broad mix of enterprise architects, IT operations leaders, service providers, channel partners, and technology alliances, reflecting how interconnected these conversations have become. Organizations are no longer making infrastructure decisions in isolation. They are evaluating how to modernize securely, support distributed workforces, simplify operations, and prepare for growing AI demands, all within increasingly interconnected ecosystems.
Chicago also proved a fitting host. Beyond being a central destination for North American and international attendees, the city’s accessibility, enterprise presence, and the scale of McCormick Place made it a strong venue for an event built around collaboration. Just as importantly, the energy of the city seemed to mirror the momentum of the show itself.
For 10ZiG, that momentum was unmistakable.
Why .NEXT Matters More Than Ever for EUC
One of the clearest signals from this year’s event was the continued elevation of end-user computing within the broader Nutanix ecosystem. The strong EUC-focused zone, the level of partner participation, and the quality of customer engagement reinforced that desktop delivery, secure endpoints, and digital workspace strategies remain central to modernization conversations.
That aligns closely with the strength of 10ZiG’s relationship with Nutanix and the growing momentum behind the 10ZiG Ready ecosystem, which continues to bring together validated solutions across hardware, software, and management technologies. The value of open, collaborative ecosystems was visible throughout the event, particularly as customers sought practical guidance on how to navigate change while maintaining flexibility.
Organizations are reassessing legacy VDI approaches, evaluating DaaS options, navigating platform changes, and looking for ways to reduce complexity while improving security and user experience. Those conversations were happening across the event floor, in breakout sessions, and in discussions with partners. What stood out was not simply the volume of interest, but the consistency of the themes customers raised and how aligned those themes were with what 10ZiG and its partners are working to address.
What We Heard from Customers
Some of the most valuable moments at .NEXT happened in direct conversations with customers and prospects. We had meaningful discussions around active VDI and DaaS rollouts, migration challenges, and how organizations are trying to eliminate pain points tied to endpoint sprawl, security risks, and inconsistent user experiences.
A consistent theme emerged from those discussions. Customers want simpler endpoint strategies that reduce operational burden while improving performance and control. Many are actively looking for ways to streamline management, support platform flexibility, and avoid the complexity that often comes with fragmented solutions.
That is where 10ZiG’s single-vendor approach resonated strongly. The combination of integrated hardware and software, flexible platform support, and transparent licensing continues to stand out in a market where many organizations are frustrated by complexity and subscription-heavy models.
There was also significant interest in how 10ZiG’s broad endpoint portfolio, including fiber, wireless, Bluetooth, and diverse display configurations, can support complex, high-security, and specialized environments. These conversations underscored how important flexibility has become, particularly as customers work across a broader mix of use cases, security requirements, and deployment models.
Ecosystem Strength Was Everywhere
Another major takeaway was the strength of the surrounding ecosystem. Seeing companies like Omnissa, Microsoft, Citrix, Parallels, ControlUp, Liquidware, Nerdio, Login VSI, Dizzion, Leostream, Apporto, Kasm, and eG Innovations contributing to the conversation reinforced something important. Customers increasingly want solutions, not isolated products. They want interoperability, validated ecosystems, and partners who can collaborate to reduce risk and accelerate outcomes.
That is exactly the thinking behind 10ZiG Ready, and .NEXT reinforced why that strategy continues to gain traction.
The value of partnership was reinforced in discussions with alliance partners throughout the event. There was a shared recognition that customers benefit when infrastructure, endpoint, and management technologies are designed to work together in practical, measurable ways.
As Michael Hopfinger, Senior Vice President, Global Sales at Parallels, put it: “What stood out at Nutanix .NEXT was the growing customer demand for solutions that bring together flexibility, simplicity, and interoperability. That is where strong ecosystem partnerships, including our collaboration with 10ZiG, help customers move faster and reduce complexity as they modernize their digital workspace strategies.”
That perspective was echoed in conversations around observability and digital employee experience.
As Stoney Adkins, Senior Alliance Manager at ControlUp, adds: “Customers are increasingly looking beyond infrastructure performance alone and focusing on the complete user experience. Events like .NEXT highlight how ecosystem collaboration between companies like ControlUp and 10ZiG can help organizations improve visibility, simplify operations, and deliver better outcomes for IT teams and end users alike.”
Jason E. Smith, VP of Alliances and Marketing, Liquidware concluded: “As organizations navigate platform changes and evolving end-user computing strategies, customers are looking for solutions that reduce disruption while preserving flexibility and control. Events like Nutanix .NEXT reinforce how collaboration across the ecosystem, including our work with 10ZiG, helps customers simplify migrations, strengthen the user experience, and modernize with greater confidence.”
AI Was a Major Theme, But So Was Operational Simplicity
Like many major industry events this year, AI was a prominent topic at .NEXT. What was encouraging, however, was how much the conversation moved beyond hype and toward operational realities, including infrastructure readiness, governance, data placement, workload support, and how AI fits into broader hybrid multicloud strategies.
For the EUC community, those discussions have direct implications. As organizations adopt new AI capabilities, the need for secure, manageable, high-performance endpoint strategies does not diminish. It grows. AI-driven environments place greater importance on having endpoint strategies that are scalable, secure, and easier to manage across distributed environments.
That made another recurring theme stand out clearly. Simplicity at the endpoint is becoming even more important, not less, as environments become more sophisticated. Customers recognized that, and it was reflected repeatedly in conversations throughout the event.
Our Big Takeaway
If there was one overarching takeaway from Nutanix .NEXT 2026, it is that the market is moving toward simpler, more open, more collaborative solutions.
Customers are looking for flexibility in platform migrations, fewer moving parts, trusted ecosystems, and endpoint strategies that improve security, reduce complexity, and support better user experiences. Those priorities align directly with where 10ZiG is focused and why the conversations at .NEXT felt so validating.
For 10ZiG, the event was not just a successful gathering. It was confirmation that the broader market is moving in ways that reinforce the value of open ecosystems, practical innovation, and simplified endpoint strategies.
It was an outstanding few days in the Windy City, both professionally and personally, and a fantastic opportunity to spend time with customers, partners, and our own team. The conversations, collaboration, and momentum made clear that Nutanix .NEXT continues to be one of the industry’s most important gatherings, particularly for those shaping the future of EUC.
A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a success, and hats off to Nutanix for continuing to build an event that brings this ecosystem together.
We are already looking forward to what comes next.
