Topgolf, the interactive golf venue chain, has slashed its infrastructure costs by a staggering $11.3 million by migrating to VergeOS from VMware. Scott Forehand, the company's global infrastructure manager, revealed that Topgolf's deep-rooted VMware connection had to go when Broadcom’s changes made future planning a nightmare.

The company, which operates over 100 locations globally, had been using vSphere and ESXi for decades, with VxRail joining the mix in 2017. Despite this, the move was inevitable as VMware products were bundled into more expensive SKUs. Now, 12,000 virtual machines have relocated to VergeOS, with 20 venues still running VxRail. By December, Topgolf expects to be fully off VMware.

For VergeOS users, the savings are no fluke. George Crump, VergeIO’s Chief Marketing Officer, stated that most customers who make the switch see meaningful reductions in software licensing and avoid the costs of proprietary HCI appliances and separate tools for data protection. VergeOS users, like Topgolf, benefit from a more streamlined and cost-effective solution.

While Topgolf's savings are exceptional due to its scale, the broader lesson is clear: software licensing models need to be more flexible and cost-effective for all, not just the big players. As Forehand puts it, 'Our move to VergeOS reduced or eliminated over $11.3 million in combined infrastructure costs.'