Edge Computing and the Keys to Unlocking IoT in Asia Pacific

The key trend we identified in the DC 2025: Closer to the Edge Report was that more than half of respondents in APAC and across the globe believe their number of edge sites would increase by at least 100 percent, while a fifth expected a 400 percent or more increase.

This trend underscores the growing understanding that the edge is vital when it comes to IoT and other digital trends. Without the right injection of edge infrastructure, these incredible technological ambitions can’t be realized.

This is because existing cloud and large core data centres don’t have the network and bandwidth in place to process the volume of data we are creating at the edge. Even if we did, it’s not a cost-effective or pragmatic way to do it.

Edge and the Bottom Line

The edge can serve not only to drive IoT and digital transformation, but it can also have a positive impact on the bottom line. Traditionally, IT has been a cost center, but the increasing importance of digital services and automation of tedious ‘fire fighting’ tasks have meant that, if done the right way, it can drive profitable growth for businesses.

Our experience has taught us that businesses could save upwards of 50 percent on data center spend over five years.

This is down to a number of factors. Space is a key one.—edge data centers don’t require organizations to spend hundreds of thousands, or possibly millions, of dollars to design and construct a dedicated room.

Reducing power is another major factor. We estimate data centers consume almost five percent of all power used in the region. While there are ways to optimize efficiency in any data center, modern edge data centers carry a minimum carbon footprint and are difficult to beat, in terms of energy use.

Given one of the key societal problems, IoT hopes to address or improve our carbon footprint, edge can be a catalyst for driving efficiency and IoT at the same time.

Another key consideration for the edge is the vendor consolidation it can bring. Data centres usually contain a varied mix of different vendors’ solutions. Dealing with such an array of different companies can mean multiple quote requests, purchasing agreements and payment terms—all of which is complex and time-consuming.

Because of this, CFOs and procurement departments across APAC are favouring vendor consolidation. Moving to the edge simplifies that process and means there is only one company to go to if anything goes wrong.

Perhaps most importantly, the edge has the power to fulfil the long-awaited promise IT has made to make our working lives easier. No more fire fighting for the IT department, and easy-to-manage applications and digital services that help achieve business goals for the entire organization.

The edge and IoT are ripe for exponential growth in APAC. Organizations that recognize the simplicity, digital enablement and cost benefits attached to these developments and how they relate to each other will gain a competitive advantage and be in pole position to be an industry leader in the uncertain new internet-connected world.