The urgency underpinning this question often arises historically with all technological innovations, as it seems everyone needs to be up-to-date on everything to avoid “missing the boat”. But, in this case, adopting edge computing, or not, and doing so quickly, can prove to be a differentiator. However modest your business, you will have noticed that the volume of data generated by IoT devices, artificial intelligence applications, and automated processes is growing exponentially, whether you like it or not. 

The ability to process information instantly is no longer an advantage, but a competitive necessity. The traditional model of sending all data to a centralised cloud for analysis is beginning to show its limitations, especially when response speed is critical. 

A biology-based example to understand what edge computing is 

Imagine your operations network as a nervous system, like your own body’s. For years, the brain — the cloud — has centralised all decision-making. Edge computing proposes something different: empowering the extremities with intelligence. Instead of sending a massive torrent of raw data to a distant central server, this technology processes information as close as possible to where it is generated — a different extremity, depending on the task in question.  

This could be on the device itself, in a factory, in a shop, or on a nearby telecommunications antenna. The objective is simple: analyse and act on data in real-time, without the latency implied by a round trip to the cloud. 

Edge computing vs. cloud computing: rivals or allies? 

It is a common mistake to see these two technologies as competitors. In reality, they are two sides of the same coin, and their combination creates a much more robust and efficient infrastructure.  

Cloud services are unbeatable for massive storage, the analysis of large volumes of historical data — Big Data — and for executing complex applications that do not depend on an immediate response. The cloud is your company’s historical archive and large-scale analysis laboratory.  

Edge computing, for its part, handles urgent tasks. It filters, processes, and acts on data that requires instant action. Only relevant information or consolidated summaries are then sent to the cloud for storage and subsequent analysis. They are, therefore, strategic allies that can — and should — complement each other. 

What real impact will edge computing have on my business, if I implement it? 

A totally legitimate question, when it comes to this relative technological paradigm shift. One must bear in mind that behind the decision is not just a technological leap, but a complete reorientation of the activity, focusing on both efficiency and profitability. What can one expect, then? 

• Speed and minimal latency: For applications such as machinery control in a production plant, autonomous vehicles, or personalised customer experiences in a shop, a delay of milliseconds matters. Edge computing eliminates this latency, allowing automatic and fluid responses that improve productivity and user experience.  

• Reduced bandwidth costs: Transmitting gigabytes of unprocessed data from thousands of sensors to the cloud can consume very expensive bandwidth. By processing data locally, you only send essential information. This translates into direct savings on your connectivity and cloud services bills.  

• Greater security and data sovereignty: Keeping sensitive data within the local perimeter — without the need for it to travel over public networks to a data centre — drastically reduces the surface area for a potential cybersecurity attack. Furthermore, it facilitates compliance with data protection regulations that require certain information not to leave a specific geographical location.  

Ultimately, edge computing is a fully current and immediately applicable technology, not a promise for the future. It responds to the demands of a hyper-connected environment where agility, efficiency, and security are key to success. Adapting to this new era is crucial, and an infrastructure prepared for edge computing is the first step towards a positioning more typical of sector leaders than of “members of the flock”. 

The urgency underpinning this question often arises historically with all technological innovations, as it seems everyone needs to be up-to-date on everything to avoid “missing the boat”. But, in this case, adopting edge computing, or not, and doing so quickly, can prove to be a differentiator. However modest your business, you will have noticed that the volume of data generated by IoT devices, artificial intelligence applications, and automated processes is growing exponentially, whether you like it or not. 

The ability to process information instantly is no longer an advantage, but a competitive necessity. The traditional model of sending all data to a centralised cloud for analysis is beginning to show its limitations, especially when response speed is critical. 

A biology-based example to understand what edge computing is 

Imagine your operations network as a nervous system, like your own body’s. For years, the brain — the cloud — has centralised all decision-making. Edge computing proposes something different: empowering the extremities with intelligence. Instead of sending a massive torrent of raw data to a distant central server, this technology processes information as close as possible to where it is generated — a different extremity, depending on the task in question.  

This could be on the device itself, in a factory, in a shop, or on a nearby telecommunications antenna. The objective is simple: analyse and act on data in real-time, without the latency implied by a round trip to the cloud. 

 Edge computing vs. cloud computing: rivals or allies? 

It is a common mistake to see these two technologies as competitors. In reality, they are two sides of the same coin, and their combination creates a much more robust and efficient infrastructure.  

Cloud services are unbeatable for massive storage, the analysis of large volumes of historical data — Big Data — and for executing complex applications that do not depend on an immediate response. The cloud is your company’s historical archive and large-scale analysis laboratory.  

Edge computing, for its part, handles urgent tasks. It filters, processes, and acts on data that requires instant action. Only relevant information or consolidated summaries are then sent to the cloud for storage and subsequent analysis. They are, therefore, strategic allies that can — and should — complement each other. 

 What real impact will edge computing have on my business, if I implement it? 

A totally legitimate question, when it comes to this relative technological paradigm shift. One must bear in mind that behind the decision is not just a technological leap, but a complete reorientation of the activity, focusing on both efficiency and profitability. What can one expect, then? 

• Speed and minimal latency: For applications such as machinery control in a production plant, autonomous vehicles, or personalised customer experiences in a shop, a delay of milliseconds matters. Edge computing eliminates this latency, allowing automatic and fluid responses that improve productivity and user experience.  

• Reduced bandwidth costs: Transmitting gigabytes of unprocessed data from thousands of sensors to the cloud can consume very expensive bandwidth. By processing data locally, you only send essential information. This translates into direct savings on your connectivity and cloud services bills.  

• Greater security and data sovereignty: Keeping sensitive data within the local perimeter — without the need for it to travel over public networks to a data centre — drastically reduces the surface area for a potential cybersecurity attack. Furthermore, it facilitates compliance with data protection regulations that require certain information not to leave a specific geographical location.  

Ultimately, edge computing is a fully current and immediately applicable technology, not a promise for the future. It responds to the demands of a hyper-connected environment where agility, efficiency, and security are key to success. Adapting to this new era is crucial, and an infrastructure prepared for edge computing is the first step towards a positioning more typical of sector leaders than of “members of the flock”.