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Alan Hayward, Sales and Marketing Manager at SEH Technology explores the growing popularity of edge computing.
Although edge computing has been available for almost a decade, only recently has it increased in popularity amongst businesses. It enables large amounts of data to be distributed quickly and efficiently by choosing and utilising computing resources that are closest to the person or device that is making the request. This eliminates time lag in data sharing and ultimately makes the process of sharing information with others, smoother and speedier.
What’s more, edge computing allows data to be processed very close to the source, reducing Internet bandwidth usage, which makes other processes within a company become that slight bit easier due to an increase in speeds. There are a number of benefits that come with the introduction of edge computing to a company, as well as its efficiency and ability to create a better experience for consumers.
Benefits for business
For many businesses, edge computing is a new and exciting concept, although some may not yet understand the depths and advancements of its benefits. It allows data to be responded to instantaneously as it’s being created, enabling a more streamlined service. Devices such as routers, sensors and other network access equipment can enable edge computing to provide processing for local data requests.
Despite cloud computing and edge computing having similarities in the way they allow data to be shared, there is a large difference. In fact, edge computing ensures that the cloud is used in a more optimal way. It creates an alternative path for devices to complete the processing that is needed for them to function. This means that the cloud doesn’t become overwhelmed by traffic that could be more effectively handled elsewhere, therefore creating more space for businesses to use the cloud for other reasons and operational functions.
Efficiency and better experience
With edge computing decreasing the load placed on cloud or data centers, it provides more efficiency as a process and therefore facilitates a better experience for consumers. In particular, it provides more space for Internet of Things Management, which is very important in keeping a company running successfully and up to date with company developments. IoT devices provide personalised experiences to as many as millions of people across a network and as these have become more powerful, they have been able to serve as edge devices, by handling data requests and analytics on their own.
The increase in edge computing, edge devices and their capabilities, reduces the amount of information that must be processed by data centres, freeing up more space in the cloud and ensuring faster experiences for consumers. In essence, edge computing introduces a cycle of creating more time and efficiency for us all.
Future of edge computing
As the benefits of edge computing become increasingly recognised, it is a system that many data sharing businesses will use. For it to develop in a way that puts it on the same level and popularity as cloud computing, professionals must continue to develop compact devices with ultimate processing power, as well as software that enables companies to remotely monitor and update a limitless number of edge devices all around the world. 5G will be one of the main drivers for edge computing, due to its capabilities for increased numbers of data sources that can be interconnected and its allowance for much lower latencies, which is a key component to many new applications. In five or ten years, artificial intelligence and automation will have advanced at such an incredible rate in relation to edge computing and more sophisticated uses will be possible.
It’s evident that as technological advancements like these continue to be made at an astounding rate in our day and age, edge computing will also be seen as a necessary tool for success in our economy and its adoption will eventually match cloud computing in the coming years. With the ability to increase network performance by reducing latency, edge computing has extremely high potential and there’s a possibility that many businesses will begin to understand the benefits of this technology sooner rather than later. The world of IoT includes some relatively remote territories concerning Internet connectivity, and edge computing can provide the reliability that is needed to boost success and efficiency within businesses.
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