Why edge computing is an imperative for innovation in a data driven-world

01 February 2022

Claudio Scola, management head of product EM-EA at Lumen Technologies discusses the importance of edge computing for data driven technology innovation in the world.

A recent survey which is sponsored by Lumen Technologies and Intel Corporation indicates that global IT leaders are implementing edge computation, a distributed model where data processing happens closer to the point of digital interaction. International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that by 2023 over 50% to 60% of new enterprise IT infrastructures deployed will be at the edge and by 2024, the number of apps at the edge will increase by 800% to 900%. So what is the reason for an edge high on today’s IT sector agenda?

We are in the 4th Industrial Revolution, driven by technologies such as IoT, 5G and AI, machine learning etc which are enabling organisations to speed their pace of growth and create new digital experiences.

These technologies generate big quantities of data that offer businesses an enormous competitive advantage if they can effectively acquire it from its various sources,analyse it and then and then only act on those insights to succeed,organisations need this data cycle. That is where edge computing occurs.

Insights require lower latency

It is an unavoidable fact that distance creates latency causing delays between application actions and responses etc.

In a highly connected world,where workforce are distributed,smart devices are the quality of customer interactions is most important and latency matters.High latency interrupts data flow and applications performance and this directly affects business operations.

Edge computing moves computation and storage resources closer to where data is generated and consumed,reducing the distance that critical information has to travel.It decreases latency, increases the speed at which data can be accessed and used,relieves bandwidth pressure and reduces the cost of supporting the movement of amounts of data.

The survey conducted by International Data Corporation found that 75% to 85% of business leaders require a latency of more or less to ensure the success of their edge applications.This low level of latency significantly transforms application performance and allows businesses to acquire and analyse data in real time, allowing insights to be acted on more quickly.

Better business and quality of life

Edge computing is driving transformation across industries. A faster cycle of the data driven insights enables more innovative products, services and digital experiences to be developed in a short time frame. This drives financial growth, better customer services, lower costs and more efficient operations.

Depending on the use cases, edge computing delivers meaningful benefits to various users.

Edge computing accelerates the processing of the data that these technologies produce and consume so that manufacturers can realize the full power of these technological advances.

The ability to acquire, analyse and act on operational data within factory and enables manufacturers to monitor and improve equipment effectiveness and facility efficiency, use smart sensors to predict maintenance needs and prevent problems, and track assets and also manage inventories in real time to streamline supply chains and procurement.

Edge computing is also instrumental in making a real difference to the way we live and also work. In Smart cities any such improvements will involve managing staggering amounts of data collected by multiple devices with ultra low latency.

It is becoming apparent then, that real-time access to data allows organisations to maximize the potential of next generation technologies and applications. So it will come as no surprise that nearly 75% to 85% of executives who participated in the survey conducted by International Data Corporation consider edge computing to be a strategic investment for their organisation, one that promises competitive advantage now and for many years to come.