Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 67 | Page 74

FINAL WORD

Preparing businesses for the next wave of Digital Transformation

The C-suite and business leaders understand the value of technology and the benefits it can bring to their bottom line , but there is one key technological shift on the horizon that they can ’ t afford to ignore . Networking at the Edge . Jacob Chacko , Regional Director – Middle East , Saudi and South Africa , Aruba , a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company , outlines how businesses can prepare for the next wave of Digital Transformation .

The C-suite and business leaders understand the value of technology and the benefits it can bring to their bottom line , but there is one key technological shift on the horizon that they can ’ t afford to ignore . Networking at the Edge Over the next few years , organisations in every industry will experience change on an unprecedented scale as people , digital devices , smart technologies , and an ever-expanding network come together to transform commerce , work , education , healthcare , recreation , and more . A whole new range of possibilities emerges when we can engage with literally every device and build intelligence and connectivity into physical objects such as office furniture and clothing . The path to 2030 will spawn new customer-centric businesses , enable entire new industries and reinvent existing ones , challenge us to adapt and evolve , and facilitate greater access , equity , and inclusion across every aspect of society – this is the potential of the Edge .

We define the Edge as the new experiences being enabled by edge technologies for customers , employees , students , patients , and any users of network services . Edge technologies allow the processing of data by devices at the Edge of networks , which is where users and devices are . It is where things connect to the network , whether they are wired or wireless . The Edge is where actions take place . Over time , these actions at the Edge will become smarter .
Smart meets digital at the Edge – smart conference rooms , smart assembly lines , smart menu ordering , smart stadiums , and a range of technology-enabled
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