StorMagic Migrated 830 Store Locations Remotely
Retailers can reduce edge computing costs by replacing data center-heavy hardware with software-defined storage.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Remote Work
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StorMagic completed a remote migration of software-defined storage for 830 Sheetz locations over a four-month period. The initiative demonstrates a shift toward deploying edge technology in retail environments that lack dedicated on-site IT support.
Why it matters
Scaling data center-oriented solutions to numerous edge sites often proves economically unviable for businesses with limited local technical staff. Software-defined storage allows these operators to maintain critical uptime on existing x86 hardware without onsite intervention.
StorMagic successfully transitioned 830 Sheetz store sites during a 4-month remote migration project. This case study underscores the scale of remote deployment possible for edge environments compared to standard data center-focused rollouts.
The players
StorMagic
A Bristol, U.K.-based software provider specializing in storage virtualization for edge computing environments.
Sheetz
An Altoona, Pa.-based convenience store chain operating across multiple states.
Susan Odle
The CEO of StorMagic who detailed the firm's remote migration capabilities at the XChange conference.
The Channel Company
An event and media firm that hosts the Best of Breed conference for IT industry leaders.
The details
StorMagic provides virtualization technology for small-footprint edge sites that runs on existing x86 hardware, bypassing the need for specialized data center equipment at every branch. Partners assess business and technical requirements to identify environments where this software-defined approach can replace heavier, more costly infrastructure. Although Sheetz moved to this storage solution, the company retains VMware for its central data center operations.
Timeline
October 2026: CEO Susan Odle addressed the Best of Breed conference in Atlanta.
Market Landscape
This project reflects the broader industry movement to decentralize compute power in retail environments. It marks a departure from traditional, data center-dependent infrastructure models by favoring lightweight software solutions for edge sites.
Operators managing geographically dispersed locations should evaluate if their current edge infrastructure requires heavy hardware or if software-defined alternatives can lower costs. Assessing the technical requirements of each site is a prerequisite for determining if remote migration is viable for your specific environment.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates that even large-scale retail chains can successfully transition hundreds of sites to software-defined storage without on-site IT teams. Operators should audit their edge hardware lifecycle to determine if shifting to software-defined virtualization could streamline future upgrades.
Further reading
For more on managing distributed infrastructure, explore our coverage of Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CRN.
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