By Adam Compton, Director of Strategy for Schneider Electric
As we move deeper into the digital age, enterprises must bolster their technology to ensure they remain competitive and offer seamless customer experiences. Demand for modern data processing solutions is increasing tremendously and companies must now be capable of processing and analyzing massive amounts of data in real-time in order to optimize implementation of modern technologies such as augmented reality and robotics in factory settings, and smart city sensors. While 5G is synonymous with rapid processing, it relies on infrastructural solutions like edge computing to reach its full potential.
The capabilities of 5G and edge computing haven’t gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of industrial leaders who are now focusing on capitalizing on these technologies to modernize production operations. According to a study from Google and Omdia, eight out of ten enterprises believe that the availability of 5G is highly important to benefit from edge computing. Through this unification, companies are given an upper hand as these two technologies together bring forward a completely new level of automation and drastically optimize data operations.
In addition, the merging of 5G and edge computing allows enterprises to relieve friction points that are contributing to the nationwide supply chain crisis by using software-enabled inventory and warehouse logistics in an end-to-end ecosystem of interconnected databases that share real-time supply and logistics data.
5G initiatives have become a priority for many companies due to the endless capabilities that it has to offer; some of which include boosting connection quality, minimizing latency, increasing bandwidth, and delivering significantly faster speeds than 4G. 5G also strengthens security and efficiency through network slicing and enabling organizations to prioritize specific data.
The convergence of 5G and edge computing
Combining the capabilities of both 5G and edge computing opens doors to a new era of digital transformation, with the two technologies working symbiotically to drive the adoption of Industry 4.0 and bring forward significant advancements in industrial settings.
The establishment of edge computing infrastructure has enabled future-focused enterprises to process mass amounts of data with little to no latency, across a large geographical area with many of the centers being able to operate autonomously through remote monitoring technologies like DCIM.
Projects in effect
5G and edge projects are already starting to be deployed throughout various industries, and more commonly throughout the manufacturing industry.
For instance, Schneider Electric and NTT recently joined forces on a project that deploys private 5G (P5G), which is advancing digital services in the manufacturing industry. The P5G will power key use-cases that solve challenges around equipment availability, machine performance, and product quality.
5G initiatives are also starting to be carried out by large corporations like Microsoft, which has recently begun implementing 5G technology in its Azure cloud to speed up their delivery at the edge and enable automation throughout its services.
Additionally, Ice Mobility, a logistics and supply chain solution provider, has combined the capabilities of Microsoft Azure Stack Edge along with Verizon’s 5G Edge in order to optimize on-site quality assurance at their warehouses.
Unlocking automation
While 5G networks still have a great deal of progress to make in terms of development and ability to provide widespread coverage, new edge applications are constantly being introduced that require the speed that only 5G can offer. The expansion and implementation of 5G and edge services across various industries will enable the development of new applications and drive technological advancements, ensuring that companies are able to keep up with the growing expectations around data usage and processing.
In time, this pair will be the cornerstone of the manufacturing industry, as well as any other industry looking to automate their processes. 5G initiatives will not only drive innovation within industrial environments, but transform them entirely. As these capabilities continue to evolve and gain traction throughout the industrial environment, it will come as no surprise that it will inevitably transform every aspect of our lives.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Compton is the Director of Strategy for Schneider Electric, where he leads business strategy for the North American business, focused on IT and data center markets and applications for high available power and cooling solutions. With over 20 years of experience, originally hailing from APC, he is responsible for monitoring and analyzing market intelligence towards the goal of revenue growth for Schneider Electric. As an entrepreneurial leader, Adam attends industry conferences and is a mentor capable of directing large cross-functional teams. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Rhode Island and received a Bachelor of Science in English from Tulane University.
