EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

JON NORDMARK , CEO , ITERATE . AI

Across industries , one of the most direct benefits of 5G enablement is how it affects complex computing happening on the edge .

Warehouse and supply chain logistics , retail , medical and security applications are all starting to incorporate AI wherever possible – and doing so as close to the action as possible .

Edge Computing reduces bandwidth requirements by placing extra processing capacity close to edge devices – and especially supporting applications where low latency and real-time responsiveness are paramount .

When 5G moves data back and forth , however , tech leaders will be able to raise expectations : 5G-enabled edge-deployed applications can deliver even more advantageous returns .

With 5G allowing more data to flow between the edge , cloud deployments and internal data centers , smart CIOs won ’ t be interested in merely letting faster connectivity give their systems a breather . Instead , they will press the envelope to pursue ever-greater visibility and oversight , quality control , productivity and process optimization .

To take one industry as an example of what 5G is unlocking : a Manufacturers Institute study on 5G expectations finds that more than four in five manufacturing leaders expect to command more efficient and insightful inventory tracking , logistics and facility security monitoring due to 5G connectivity .

Nearly as many anticipate meaningful impacts to assembly activities , inspection and employee training as well .

Predictive maintenance is a top-of-mind application for manufacturers , as 5G speed allows for more sensors to track assets and higher-performance data environments that yield more timely and accurate analysis .

The result : 5G-connected businesses can address issues before malfunctions or downtime can occur , upending traditional productivity projections . Similarly , as deeper 5G-enabled data sets empower more robust and accurate real-time asset tracking , opportunities for greater efficiency jump out of the more detailed insights now available .

Digital twins – offering detailed virtual copies of physical objects or processes that unlock new approaches to communication and insight collection – are another exciting technology application accelerated by 5G connectivity that CIOs should be paying close attention to .

In facilities across industries , 5G is replacing WiFi as the de facto technology supporting data-driven real-time applications , and will make them all the more reliable and effective for it .

Robotics and other automated solutions will also further replace less reliable manual processes and see a boost in the complexities they can handle – now backed by 5G data acceleration .

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