Gaining the Edge (Literally!) Through Edge Computing

Written by Neelakantan Venkataraman, Vice President & Global Head of Cloud & Edge Business, Tata Communications.

Originally published by Frontier Enterprise.

The world is captivated by AI's impressive deployment, but the real profits lie in reassessing operational models. As Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, noted, an internationally agreed-upon framework for AI governance is crucial.

AI and transformation are here to stay, impacting every aspect of life. Emerging technologies, including AI, focus on efficient operations, environmental sustainability, and optimised performance.

As AI scales, it faces challenges like latency, privacy issues, and network bandwidth constraints.

Enter edge computing, which addresses these challenges by processing data near the 'edge' of a network, closer to where data is generated. This improves response times, saves bandwidth, and tackles privacy and security concerns.

Taking AI to ‘Cutting Edge’

By implementing AI at the edge, we can tackle challenges head-on, especially in applications requiring rapid data processing with stringent latency and availability demands. Additionally, it addresses privacy and security concerns by keeping sensitive data in a more localised and secure environment.

Despite its benefits, only 65% of companies worldwide use edge computing, although 83% believe it's essential to stay competitive. With global spending on edge computing projected to rise by 15.4% from 2023 to $232 billion in 2024, it’s clear that edge computing is not just a trend but a crucial investment.

The cloud versus edge computing debate is intensifying. Enterprises realise that running all applications on the cloud is no longer feasible due to cost, latency, and uptime constraints. Edge computing is poised to become mainstream, offering agility, speed, and lower latency.

The power of edge computing exists in its ability to minimise reliance on centralised servers, reducing energy consumption and latency, by bringing computational capabilities closer to the data sources, and focusing on local processing to ensure data privacy.

The Next Step in Our Digitalisation

For many, digitalisation is a long and challenging journey, with edge computing playing a significant but not exclusive role.

To deploy edge computing effectively, organisations must evaluate their data needs, determine the proper balance of tools, and answer key questions about data usage. Edge computing is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it serves as a complementary function to the cloud, expediting the delivery of real-time digital services.

Organisations may differ in their needs for processing real-time data, in the volume and variety of data, connectivity and bandwidth limitations to name a few. Edge computing is highly customisable – its flexibility begins with the hardware options available.

In healthcare, for instance, edge computing emerges as an invaluable asset for efficiency and privacy. Processing data locally ensures the security of patient information, while delivering right-time notifications to practitioners offers insights into unusual patient trends or behaviours. The creation of 360-degree view patient dashboards provides practitioners with comprehensive visibility, elevating the quality of healthcare.

When integrated strategically, edge computing can drive greater returns on investment, enhance security and resilience, and enable faster data processing. As AI accelerates data growth, organisations must balance data costs and performance. Edge computing will play a central role in building the digital fabric of enterprises, providing the competitive edge businesses need to thrive.

Edge computing represents a pivotal evolution in IT infrastructure, catering to the need for speed in our hyperconnected world. It extends its influence beyond manufacturing and smart factories, shaping the future of retail shop floor experiences and contributing to the ongoing evolution of smart cities. It’s a powerhouse driving innovation across diverse realms from monitoring mental well-being to preserving the environment, revolutionizing healthcare, shaping the metaverse and fine-tuning precision agriculture etc.

As AI continues to accelerate data growth, organisations will face the challenge of balancing data costs and performance. With IoT bringing more devices and functions online, edge computing is poised to play an increasingly central role in building the digital fabric of enterprises.

Edge computing is ushering in a future where innovation serves as a catalyst for positive change. It marks a profound shift in our technological landscape, propelling us into a hyperconnected era where speed, precision, and real-time responsiveness define new standards across industries. From nurturing our minds to cultivating the land, edge computing emerges as a transformative force, redefining the way we live, work, and connect.

Edge computing is not just the future; it’s the competitive edge businesses need today to thrive in a hyper-connected ecosystem.