Building the future of intelligent networks at the edge

Edge computing is evolving and is the future of building intelligent networks at the edge.

Why is edge computing the next frontier?

Computer network experts have been working at the edge for nearly a decade, and the journey has not been easy. As edge technologies evolve to serve increasing workloads and more complex tasks, IT decision makers must chart a course to keep pace and avoid falling off the edge.

Building enterprise edge networks is exciting. A scattered galaxy of hardware manufacturers, software vendors, and IT talent in the enterprise weaves together various solutions. For the most part, things work. However, many customers became overly dependent on vendors to build their edge devices to spec, and they spent a lot of resources developing the software to run and manage edge applications. Now, similar solutions are available off the shelf and are quite affordable.

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Why should businesses think about edge now?

Today, a wave of consolidation and standardization has helped the market mature and evolve, making the edge more accessible. We are seeing broader adoption taking shape as industries harness the power of the edge.

Gartner estimates that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be processed at the edge. They also estimate that by 2022, more than 80% of enterprise IoT projects will incorporate AI applications.

Retailers are implementing more automated checkouts and dynamic signage, as well as real-time store traffic monitoring, inventory, and fulfillment. Manufacturers are further automating assembly lines through predictive maintenance alerts and using smart cameras for safety and quality checks. The healthcare industry is using edge computing for remote patient monitoring and medical device integration. The list of successful applications goes on.

As the demand for powerful real-time insights increases across industries, the edge is becoming more critical and complex than ever.

What should businesses consider before investing in edge?

An early approach to harnessing the edge may still serve enterprises relatively well today, but it may not be sustainable in the future. Too many things are changing so quickly.

First, to get reliable performance at the edge, enterprises should consider exploring purpose-built devices that are rugged, powerful, and secure. It is no longer enough to build an enterprise edge network on a patchwork of gateways and single-board computers.

Second, global enterprises need partners with hardware, software, and service solutions to support global operations. Local and regional suppliers may be an option at the beginning of the edge journey, but they cannot support global operations now and in the future.