Staying competitive requires more than just keeping up—it demands a mindset of continuous innovation and adaptability. Companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Schneider Electric have shown how embracing cutting-edge technologies, including AI, can drive sustainable growth and long-term success. But what does that look like in practice, and what can you learn from their strategies?

In this blog, you'll uncover key insights from their approach to innovation, adaptability, and forward-thinking leadership. Whether you're leading digital transformation efforts, managing large-scale change, or simply looking for inspiration to future-proof your business, these lessons will offer valuable guidance for your journey.

Let’s dive into the strategies and takeaways that can help you keep pace and stay ahead.

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How HPE Is Leading With Innovation

Innovation isn’t just about launching new products or services—it’s about rethinking how your company operates at every level. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Schneider Electric have recognized that staying competitive means innovating in tangible products, processes, strategies, and technologies.

Building Resilient Machine Learning Models at HPE

Shelby Dunlap, an AI strategist at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), knows firsthand the challenges of building machine learning systems that mimic human intelligence. While the goal was clear—to create models that can reason, predict, and adapt like humans—the journey was far from straightforward. One of the biggest hurdles was data inconsistency.

Sometimes, data behaves predictably, aligning perfectly with machine learning models. Other times, it doesn’t. According to Dunlap, this unpredictability can introduce layers of complexity that challenge even the most advanced systems. As Dunlap explained, the actual test of a machine learning model isn’t just its ability to perform under ideal conditions—it’s how it handles unpredictability and adapts to constant change.

Dunlap highlights the team's key techniques, including clustering, text classification, and neural networks. These approaches weren’t just technical choices, but strategic decisions aimed at building models that can thrive in real-world applications.

For businesses looking to integrate AI and machine learning, the lesson is clear: success doesn’t come from flawless execution, but from building systems that are resilient, adaptable, and prepared to handle uncertainty head-on.

Related: HPE’s Journey Toward Replicating Human Intelligence

Schneider Electric’s Approach to Digital Transformation

For Schneider Electric, staying ahead means more than just keeping up with technological advancements—it requires a mindset of continuous evolution. Emmy Redman, Support and Offer Leader for Contract Sales at Schneider Electric, shared how the company has embraced digital transformation through its innovative Customer Care Center (CCC) initiative.

The CCC serves as a blueprint for how companies can build customer-centric strategies while navigating the complexities of digital transformation. Redman’s insights revealed that successful innovation isn’t about chasing every new trend—it’s about creating systems and processes that are flexible enough to adapt to shifting customer needs and market conditions.

Innovation in Action

Whether rethinking outdated business models or finding ways to manage the overwhelming volume of customer and operational data, Schneider Electric has shown that the key to long-term success is facing these challenges head-on. Instead of seeing change as a disruption, they’ve positioned it as an opportunity to build smarter systems, better serve customers, and create sustainable value.

The takeaway for your business? Digital transformation isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing commitment. Companies that embrace change rather than resist it will be the ones that thrive in the years to come.

Related: Evolving for the Future: Schneider Electric’s Journey to Digital Transformation

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Embracing Change as a Competitive Advantage

Whether restructuring long-standing business models or managing complex, ever-evolving datasets, companies like HPE and Schneider Electric demonstrate that success isn’t about avoiding challenges, but facing them with intention and adaptability.

Both organizations have shown that true innovation goes beyond adopting new technologies; it requires a cultural shift toward embracing change as a constant. For your business, the lesson is clear: be prepared to rethink, rework, and refine your strategies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

The question isn’t whether change will happen—it’s whether you’re ready to turn it into an advantage.

Related: The Hard Truth About Mastering Change Management

Your Key Takeaways

• Innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s a mindset: Companies like HPE and Schneider Electric demonstrate that true innovation goes beyond adopting new tools or technologies; It requires a cultural shift toward adaptability, continuous learning, and resilience in uncertainty.
• Resilience and adaptability are non-negotiable for AI success: As HPE shows, building effective machine learning models is about creating systems that can handle unpredictability, adapt to changing data, and thrive in real-world conditions.‍
• Digital transformation is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time project: Schneider Electric’s approach to digital transformation highlights that success lies in building flexible systems and processes that can evolve alongside customer needs and market demands.