Unlocking growth opportunities at the Edge
In association with Dell Technologies Ireland
Edge computing is gaining steam across industries, bringing processing power closer to the data source. It changes the way businesses operate and how they drive growth. The result is never-before-possible business outcomes – from transforming the future of healthcare to increasing energy efficiency to optimising the manufacturing floor – where real-time computing takes place far from a traditional data centre.
If businesses want to see immediate value from edge data, it must be acted upon quickly. According to the recent Dell Innovation Index, 78% of businesses say the edge is central to their IT strategy and unlocking innovation across their organisation.
But doing so is not simple. However, with the right strategy in place, organisations can identify a multitude of innovation opportunities at the edge and speed decision-making in real-time.
Edge is the next frontier of business transformation with 75% of the world’s data to be produced and consumed outside of the data centre or cloud by 2025.
While the number of use cases at the edge continues to grow, so do the complexities of edge operations. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for the edge, and every industry is required to take a tailored, strategic approach to effectively manage and secure their edge technologies.
The thriving pharma and medical technology manufacturing industry in Ireland is a notable case where edge technologies can have a significant impact. With more than 227,000 people employed within the sector, a shift towards innovation-driven manufacturing would have far-reaching consequences in improving efficiencies and productivity across supply chains globally.
The government is supporting this transformation in its Industry 4.0 Strategy. This blueprint aims to position Ireland as a leader in innovation-driven manufacturing by 2025 through a combination of technologies including artificial intelligence, edge computing, digital twins and 5G.
Unlocking opportunities at the edge
In manufacturing, edge computing enables companies to access new data that can improve the manufacturing process, minimise waste and increase energy efficiency. For example, manufacturers can use sensors and cameras to keep an eye on the efficiency of all the production floor machinery as well as the standard of goods from the assembly line. Edge computing examines the data from many sources to look for broad trends.
To maximise system efficiency, factories can use data insights to speed up the system, enhance output quality, and address breakdowns in real time – something that is critical and cannot be addressed as quickly if data otherwise needs to travel back and forth from a data centre or public cloud. Data is processed on the shop floor, giving manufacturers improved data insights and accuracy, so they can act more quickly and increase efficiency.
Manufacturing is one of many industries that will be transformed by the technology. Edge computing - in combination with other smart technologies – will play an important role in supporting the progress of Irish society towards a more sustainable future. For example, the energy sector can benefit from performing analytics at the source of data collection, using edge technology. By doing so it can better forecast real-time demand, enhance energy security and deliver a more reliable service for its customers.
Understanding challenges at the edge
Many businesses want to manage and safeguard data at the source but have limited IT assistance to do so. This has led to an increase in the complexity of edge deployments and often involves unclear objectives and conflicting processes between IT and operational technology (OT). 4 in 10 IT decision makers at organisations in Ireland have expressed that integrating business architecture with their IT infrastructure architecture is a barrier to adoption. A partner that understands the complexities involved in integration and can help your organisation navigate these challenges will be key to success.
With the amount of data generated growing nine times annually and expected to reach 221 zettabytes by 2026 (according to IDC), organisations need a simple and effective way to manage and secure the diverse ecosystem of edge technologies. Focusing on the end goal is the foundation of effective edge projects. Prior to discussing technology, make sure your intended business objectives are agreed upon and aligned. For instance, if you work in manufacturing, you can consider if you want to minimise costs or increase production yields by proactively avoiding machine failure and the ensuing downtime.
To help your business save money on edge computing, look for chances to combine apps onto a single infrastructure. Think of your edge as a system that permits effective operations rather than a collection of disconnected devices and apps. Key components of a system that can support consolidation include virtualisation, containerised applications and software-defined infrastructure. Edge consolidation offers more flexibility while also being more effective.
These are just some of the challenges to consider as you plan for growth and develop agile processes at the edge.
Planning your future at the edge
It is important to choose a partner who can assist you in defining your edge, consolidating your edge computing operations and developing a growth strategy. The data collected and processed at the edge can change both businesses and our everyday lives. Adopting technology that secures and streamlines the edge can lead to outstanding business outcomes.
The time is now for action. By planning ahead today, your business can harness the power of data at the Edge to drive innovation, future-proof your digital infrastructure and continue your path to success.
This year’s Dell Technologies Forum, taking place on 26 September at Dublin Convention Centre, will be placing a spotlight on the many business benefits at the Edge and how it can rapidly accelerate the pace of innovation. Other key topics will include AI, cyber, multi-cloud, the future of work, and more.
Attendees will hear from Mika Häkkinen, a two-time Formula One World Champion who will share his valuable insights on how innovation and emerging technologies are driving progress in sport. Experts from across our team at Dell Technologies Ireland will also be speaking on the day.
Register by clicking here.
Colin Boyd is data centre solutions sales director with Dell Technologies Ireland
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