Thread regarding VMware layoffs

The only support needed is to turn it off and … no, never mind, just leave it off.

When you buy Tanzu k8s products you get a Pivot sent to your company to badger you all day long that you aren’t smart enough to use the software and aren’t worthy to use it, so don’t try. Very effective way to get rid of these toxic assets called customers, let’s people focus on their science projects dreamt up while they were microdosing.

Good times, good times.

Hello,

I'm uncertain with whom you've had a conversation, but I hope it involved the setup of a VMware product proof of concept (POC). However, this doesn't necessarily mean you have a full understanding of the Broadcom approach.

It seems that you are promoting VMware products, especially vSphere Core and NSX. While these may be beneficial to customers, it appears that the majority of your products have limited impact, especially in the SME sector. Many seem comparable to solutions that can be implemented by various companies globally.

In discussions with our core customers, we've learned about the challenges in setting up Tanzu, even in POC. Customers have escalated issues, requesting a simplified solution, but unfortunately, even experienced individuals find it complex. Contrarily, individuals with just one year of experience can set up open-source clusters by following simple YouTube videos.

Now, let's talk about the Premium support you offer. Could you provide information on the number of bugs fixed throughout history? It appears that solutions often involve recommending system reboots and emphasizing the importance of having backups in place. Customers are paying for support but sometimes feel bullied with statements about data ownership.

Regarding the cross margin, it's noteworthy that in Broadcom, most software achieves margins ranging from 50% to 90%. How does VMware compare in this aspect?

Furthermore, how is your IT managed? It's been noted that VMware's IT tends to grant more resources than necessary, with limited control over provisioning VMs. Broadcom's IT, on the other hand, efficiently operates at 0.83% of revenue. If additional resources are essential, perhaps showcasing a business case could lead to an allocation.

VMware is investing significantly in IT software licenses, totaling over $25 million annually. What is the rationale behind this expense? Is it merely for running IT or for selling Windows VDI with all associated licenses to customers?

Broadcom's IT team has demonstrated efficiency by carefully selecting products from the market to use wisely, benefiting both the vendor and the IT teams.

While keeping silent doesn't imply a lack of knowledge about software, our leadership emphasizes that software companies often make money seemingly out of thin air. The approach at Broadcom is to create value even in seemingly challenging situations.

In conclusion, rather than overthinking how Broadcom operates, it may be more beneficial to focus on leveraging the RSU received as a joining bonus and enabling the right products to address core customer issues.

VMware needs a trim dude. It has been collapsing under its own weight for years. Pat, Raghu, and Betsy are all responsible for this.

@fnd+1pCAj51r

Do you really think customers would shed a tear if Broadcom vanished into thin air? What's left of Symantec? Or CA? Or even Brocade?

From what I gather, every customer or partner I chat with sees Broadcom as this magical kingdom where the only spell they've mastered is turning everything into cold, hard cash. Forget about genuine tech enthusiasm; it's all about the moolah, baby. And don't get me started on their people skills...

Ah, Broadcom, the crown jewel of soulless acquisitions. 😒

But wait, there's more! Lately, they've been bombarding social media with these 'Isn't it a blast to work at Broadcom?' ads. I mean, seriously, those employees look like they're auditioning for an Oscar when they talk about how 'fun' it is to be there. 🤣

And who even knows or cares about what software Broadcom provides these days? Certainly not me... and I can guarantee nobody around here does either. 🙄

Revenue per employee is not a standard valuation metric. It's used in internal corporate propaganda/ cool aid. More relevant efficiency metrics will be margins and profitability.

No worries. DEI will be gone in BC's world

You are so right. It was nearly impossible to on-board into the company with training being heavily weighted toward DEI and light on needed information. The tools to actually do the job are disjointed and processes convoluted. Vmware is super fat and inefficient. This has been an interesting experience, but now just looking forward to leave with severance, Cobra, commission etc. Good luck everyone

OP Please make no mistake:
As someone alluded to previously:
Broadcom ARR is $26B with 20k employees. VMware is $12B with 37k employees.
Broadcom Market Cap is 400B, vmware is getting bough at 61B which is price with PREMIUM.
Yes, there is a reason why this is happening. Yes, believe it or not they know what they are doing. Yes the have all basic systems to support the customer. No, you dont need 600+ tools for this. The strategy is simple: eliminate the noise and deliver results, nothing naive about it. For the lack of a better expression, what you do is not rocket science. They can do almost as good but with 30% resources (which would be better paid as well) and this is where shareholder value is coming from. VMware have turned into a bureaucracy of biblical proportions where you would spend 70% of time on "alignment calls" and ticking all the boxes with a hoard of different BUs and managers instead of delivering. I've known many intelligent and talented vmware people and they would do great in Broadcom.

Given all the lies. Can't close a acquisition in their own country. Pure incompetence. I seriously doubt all the numbers.

It is simple, really, it is. BRCM run rate is ~$26B with 20k employees. vmware is $12B with 37k employees. BRCM has 22 business units that design and engineer hardware and software. vmware has 4 software BUs.

Simplification will occur when the number of employees are reduced (by a lot).

So then why do you care if Broadcom is capable of handling VMW?

I dont. They can’t. Very obvious,

I’m timing my exit with this approval and leaving with my severance

Luck for all the rest who are trying to get out asap

Fu-k. Can this just close so I can get my money and start my new job???? Da---t

“ But can you do it cheaper and good enough?”

Hey China and Broadcom and Hock, better is not synonymous with cheaper.

Something you will never understand.

Being made in China is not prestigious and the economy there is declining for this reason. Profit at the cost of the planet, human rights, ethics, good culture, good products, happy customers, etc etc

Run forest run!!!!

"I’ve been here a decade. I have enough money I don’t need to work in a sweatshop to make more."

So then why do you care if Broadcom is capable of handling VMW?

You’re not going to service Bank of America off of one rep and Google sheet.

You are right. You need two reps and two google sheets. Maybe, just maybe a slide deck.

Moot question

All they care about is the top 1000 accounts

It's exactly 2100 accounts.

I laugh at guy 10+ in Vmware

That Guy is involved in espionage, thinking BC will reward him...

“If you are lucky enough to stick around throughout, you will make a lot of money”

I’ve been here a decade. I have enough money I don’t need to work in a sweatshop to make more.

“stuff you are referring to is there to support all the customers they don't care about. All they care about is the top 1000 accounts”
No dude. Not how it works.
You need systems to support customers. You think the largest clients in the world are simple?? Their environments? Their install base?

You’re not going to service Bank of America off of one rep and Google sheet.
🙄

Everyone says your cannot replace X with Y or we need person A for X reason. Until its gone, then you realize everything is replaceable. Most IT companies have huge management structures with wasted positions. It can be simplified. Will BC get it all right, no. They are learning as they go with Software. CA they cut all the education over to HCL then said how can we help customers learn and adopt products, oh no education team anymore opps. Symantec they kept the education team. So lessons were learned and im sure they will fck something up with the VMWare deal but in the end its a business to produce a profit for the shareholders. At >900$ a share many are happy to continue to work through the struggles.

Those coming over tend to think they know more and how to do it better. But can you do it cheaper and good enough? That you will learn is the real BC way. When revenue is greater that operational costs theres a profit. Simple as that. Salesforce is a great tool but can you use Johnnys Software for teh same thing with less features to get the job done? Yup and you will.

What BC understands is most of the stuff you are referring to is there to support all the customers they don't care about. All they care about is the top 1000 accounts. The entire business and product portfolio will be restructured to cater to those accounts. It's not that complicated. Things will be messy at first, and customers will leave, but that's the point! If you are lucky enough to stick around throughout, you will make a lot of money.

Betsy is taking on Hock and Ragu right now on Only Fans First Exec DEI 3 way! I need a cigarette

I have been in some of these integration meetings. They don’t have any appreciation for absorbing a software company this size. The thing is, they don’t care. The gutting of VMware products, services, internal processes and operations is all part of the plan. Migration of systems will be as quick and painful as possible no matter the carnage or degradation of quality of service.

"as if we at VMW are just making things hard for the sake of it"

I've been at VMware for 10+ years, and can absolutely say most of the time we do make things hard just for the sake of it. This is what happens when you overhire. Those unneeded employees must justify their existence, and exponential bureaucracy is the result.

VMware is screwed not the BC

There approach is not naive ..its a way too extreme but a successful one. Less overhead . HR , legal and IT has already faced the burnt of their plans with all offer rolling its pretty pretty bad just in the name of overhead and redundancy. Some good people has been eliminated or offered Tea(T)

Sales people you should not take things granted. The 2 billion investment one in channel partners and one billion in R&D whats the plan.. Plan is too simple sell everything through SI or channel partners. The 1 Billion investment how thats going to be compensated..The folks in sales who are not customer facing would soon be eliminated in next iteration. out of 2 Billion 1 Billion of investment would come from this route only remaining money would go to the highest monetized VMware products.. they will also put a break in VMware SAAS journey ..they are looking immediate returns by increasing price , Hence sales Commission to channel partners.

The work force reduction is a continuous journey in BC..

I've always thought Broadcom is committing mu---r-su----e with this acquisition. It's not just bad for VMware. It's also destructive for Broadcom too and they're so dimwitted to realize this

"NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING"

Except, you know...they're growing at many times VMW. But what what does revenue have to do with business anyway, right?

If you can't see that VMW is massively bloated, I don't know what to tell you. There are whole BU's that could disappear and not one customer would notice, or really care.