Strategic data center capacity planning for the future

As discussed in the webinar, AI at scale: why tomorrow’s data center starts now, demand for AI-ready capacity is accelerating faster than traditional data center models can support. Enterprises that once planned infrastructure purchases years apart are now discovering that waiting even months can mean missing out entirely.

In a candid conversation, Jeff Johnson, VP of Broker and Agent Relations at Flexential, and David Liggitt, Founder & CEO of datacenterHawk, unpacked what this shift means for enterprise IT leaders navigating constrained supply, rising density, and unprecedented lead times.

Watch the full webinar on demand to hear directly from the experts and learn how to future-proof your infrastructure strategy.

Why capacity planning must start earlier than ever

The panel made one reality clear: just-in-time data center delivery no longer exists.

AI-driven demand has pushed the market into a new phase of maturity, one where facilities are often fully leased before construction even begins. According to insights shared during the session, many enterprises now need to plan two years or more in advance just to secure viable space.

“Capacity can be gone before enterprises even realize they’re late to the table,” noted the speakers, emphasizing how traditional pursuit cycles no longer align with market conditions.

Shrinking supply, longer lead times, higher stakes

Another major theme was the disconnect between perceived and actual availability. While headlines may highlight massive data center construction projects, much of that capacity is already pre-leased.

For enterprises seeking first-generation, AI-ready space, the window is narrowing fast. Even second-generation facilities are being absorbed quickly, often re-entering the market at higher rates due to power and density upgrades.

This is where partner selection becomes strategic, not transactional. The Flexential nationwide portfolio is purpose-built to support enterprise-scale workloads, offering scalable colocation designed for today’s AI-driven requirements.

Hybrid strategies evolve for the AI era

Hybrid infrastructure remains foundational, but its role has evolved.

Instead of simply balancing on-premises and cloud, enterprises are now focused on training private data sets, integrating GPU-as-a-service, and ensuring low-latency connectivity to public cloud ecosystems.

Fabric-based interconnection is becoming essential to tie these environments together seamlessly. Flexential Fabric enables secure, high-performance connectivity across colocation, cloud, and edge environments—critical for AI workloads that demand speed and flexibility.

Density, liquid cooling, and the new data center reality

The conversation also highlighted a dramatic shift toward high-density infrastructure, with many facilities now supporting hundreds of kilowatts per cabinet.

Liquid cooling, once considered niche, is quickly becoming mainstream. Enterprises must now assess not only power availability, but also cooling readiness and operational comfort with advanced thermal technologies.

Flexential data centers are already designed with this future in mind.

The risk of waiting too long

Perhaps the most important takeaway: the biggest risk isn’t overbuilding—it’s under-preparing.

Enterprises that delay infrastructure planning risk being unable to participate meaningfully in AI-driven innovation simply because they lack the capacity to support it.

“You don’t want the reason you fall behind to be infrastructure,” the speakers emphasized.

Watch the full discussion on demand

AI is reshaping the data center industry faster than many enterprises expected. Those that start planning now will be positioned to scale, innovate, and compete—while others scramble to catch up.

Watch the full webinar on demand to gain practical insights on AI-driven capacity planning, hybrid strategies, and infrastructure readiness.