WHAT IS EDGE COMPUTING?

5G infrastructure enables edge computing by bringing compute capabilities into the local network, reducing latency, and improving efficiency in the process.

Edge computing is a computing model that distributes the analysis and processing of data to decentralized computing devices located near the data’s origin.

This approach differs from centralized and cloud computing in a few important ways. •Centralized computing requires all data to travel to a data center for analysis and processing. This means data may have to travel thousands of miles to complete even the simplest of operations. • •Cloud computing relies on a decentralized network of servers handling data from multiple sources. This approach can shorten the distance data must travel, but it also increases the overall infrastructural load necessary to achieve optimum performance.

With edge computing-capable infrastructure in place, automated sensors can collect necessary data and send it immediately for on-site analysis and processing. The same equipment is responsible for connecting to other local devices, like laptops and smartphones.

In practical terms, this means that industrial and enterprise-level organizations can maximize operational efficiency, improve safety, and automate core business processes with “always-on” availability in a flexible, scalable way.

By moving computing resources closer to the “edge” of the network, organizations can promote a business ecosystem that is more agile and efficient. At the same time, it is simpler to manage and maintain.

Will Edge Computing Replace the Cloud?

Edge computing augments many of the capabilities cloud technology offers. Cloud computing will remain the ideal framework for large-scale, business-wide analytics. Edge computing enables the data that feeds those analytics to be generated, processed, and validated automatically at its source location.

5G infrastructure enables edge computing by bringing compute capabilities into the local network, reducing latency, and improving efficiency in the process.

Organizations that use a hybrid cloud architecture are already partitioning data between public and private clouds, committing resources to tasks according to their relative efficiency. Edge computing is an ideal addition to this kind of network architecture.

Complement the Cloud with Edge Computing Capabilities

5G technology enables edge computing, but it is not a prerequisite. Organizations with 4G infrastructure can begin implementing edge computing-capable infrastructure now, preparing for ultra-low latency performance in the future.

Many operators opt for a “5G go slow cycle” where enhancing mobile broadband capabilities comes in a series of steps, improved at each level by emerging technologies as they become available. Enhanced 4G edge computing can help accelerate 5G coverage and adoption in the long run by establishing a fallback infrastructure for 5G capabilities to rest on.

Unleash the Collective Genius of Your Team

4 ways to tap into your team’s highest potential in today’s fast-changing world.

Today’s leaders must go beyond providing a vision, devising a product strategy, or setting the company direction. You need to structure collaborative activities so diverse sets of individuals can contribute their strengths and innovate.

According to a recent international survey sponsored by iBridge, Business Brio and the Digital Science Foundation, collaboration in the post-COVID work world will be difficult.   Participants of the initial survey felt the expanding hybrid workforce will make collaborative meetings hard to assemble.

The survey’s findings showed that historically only 15% of their workforce was outside the office 80% of the time but anticipated that as much as 46% of the workforce would be spending less than 20% of their time in the office.   In fact, respondents said they anticipate 18% of their workforce to be 100% remote.

So, if you want to inspire collaboration and unlock the power of your team post-COVID, you will likely need to change the way you lead.

Here’s how to unleash the collective genius of your team:

Adapt and Adjust with Sensemaking

In today’s fast-changing business environment, you need to help your team update their understanding of how shifts in technology, markets, customers, and competitive moves will impact their success on an ongoing basis.

As a leader, you should take fast-evolving inputs, such as changes in regulations, emerging market needs, technologies, market gaps, new opportunities, etc., and distill the insights down to a solution that your team can understand and execute.

Humanize Leadership with Care

2020 has taught us a valuable lesson in how leaders need to interact with their teams with compassion by caring for each employee as a holistic human being and addressing their emotions inside and outside of the work context.

Without an understanding of what drives your employees, you can’t develop processes and design procedures to keep them engaged, which is the key to creating the synergies you need to tap into their strengths and talents.

Foster a Team-Based Culture

Gone are the days when the leader is responsible for providing all the solutions to every issue. Instead, foster a collaborative environment in which team members can challenge each other to do their best and most creative thinking.

You also need to find out what makes your employees tick and enable each of them to produce to the maximum return on their capabilities. Help them tap into their needs and strengths in flexible ways while actively managing a culture that supports adaptability and learning.

Give and Receive Continuous Feedback

Feedback is a two-way street. While it’s important that employees get timely input to improve their performance, you also need to make sure there’s a channel for them to be heard and get their concerns addressed promptly.

Instead of traditional annual performance reviews, organizations are using software that collects real-time input from both sides. This also enables employees to feel more confident about their strengths and inspires them to develop their potential.

The Foundation to Leadership in 2021

Your core value as a leader will drive the success of your employees. If you’re committed to unleashing the collective genius of your team, you need to put your employees at the center of everything that you do.

From helping them apply their strengths and sharing continuous feedback to celebrating diverse perspectives and creating a sense of belonging, a leader has the power to shape the culture and values that hold the team together and inspire them to do their best work.

Balancing Hybrid Operations

5 ways to ensure seamless collaboration among on-site and remote employees.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made remote work a necessity. During this time, many employees have experienced the benefits of working from home, such as an improvement in work-life balance, while employers are taking advantage of higher productivity and lower overhead.

The remote working trend is here to stay, given that 38% of the workforce is expected to work remotely in some way over the next decade. While we should not overlook the importance of in-person interactions, companies should also be prepared to support remote workers so they can get the best of both worlds.

Here’s how you can balance remote working with in-person operations:

Set Goals and Track Progress

“Out of sight” employees shouldn’t be “out of mind.” Managers need to be intentional about setting quarterly and annual goals for each employee and ensuring that they’re on track for career growth. For instance, team leaders should recommend remote workers for new project opportunities, include them in planning discussions, and schedule regular one-on-one conversations. They should also check in with remote employees to encourage collaboration with their on-site coworkers — driving employee engagement and job satisfaction without micromanaging.

Be Considerate of Time Zone Differences

Remote employees may be located in different time zones or choose to work off-site for added flexibility. As such, managers should be mindful about each employee’s schedule. For example, leverage asynchronous communication for your day-to-day operations. If real-time communication is essential, structure your teams so that there is more overlap of working hours to ensure that close collaboration among team members is practical and sustainable.

Manage Biases Towards Remote Workers

Some managers and employees still perceive remote workers to be less productive, even though that’s not the case. In fact, 76% of workers are more productive when they’re working remotely. It’s important to build trust among team members from the beginning of the working relationship. Also, leadership should show respect toward remote workers and acknowledge their contributions, which are more likely to fall by the wayside simply because they aren’t present in the office.

Foster Your Company Culture

You can improve the relationships between on-site and remote workers by reinforcing your company’s values and culture through virtual and in-person interactions. For example, encourage managers and team leaders to periodically create opportunities to keep an open dialogue. Requesting employee feedback can help you find ways to enhance employee productivity while reassuring that the company cares about their job satisfaction and opinions.

Implement the Right Collaboration Technologies

Collaboration and communication is the key to making sure that everyone in your team, whether they’re working in the office or remotely, can stay in the loop and do their jobs effectively. You should implement a unified communications platform that allows employees to communicate in real-time via voice and video calls, as well as chat, file sharing, and screen sharing technologies to replicate the experience of having everyone in the same room.

The ability to support remote working has become a key component for any digital transformation initiative in today’s digital business environment. Companies proactive in supporting remote workers are poised to attract more talent and retain more employees now and in the future.