In automation and interconnectivity, high-speed wireless communication plays a significant role, as it acts like a bridge between seamless yet scalable connectivity and machines, sensors, and users. It also connects the Internet of Things (IoT), robots, drones, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Another benefit comes in the form of eliminating cables from devices with limited mobility.

The expansion of Industry 4.0 has hastened the demand for faster and more secure connectivity. The fifth-generation cellular network (5G) offers the stability and speed to connect all these devices and then fetch and analyze the data.

5G for Industrial Applications, a new study by ABI Research, predicts widespread adoption of 5G technology in the manufacturing sector by 2028. The study also reveals that the manufacturing industry alone will generate 25% of the total revenue in the 5G global market.

Advantages of 5G in Industrial Automation

Faster and reliable digital connectivity

5G, the successor to the fourth-generation cellular network (4G), enables faster data transfer over the internet. Not only does 5G enhance the digital connectivity of users but also the connectivity of sensors and other IoT devices. 5G offers data transfer rates at 20Gbps with a low latency of one millisecond or, in other words, without any delay.

More than anything else, 5G is nearly as reliable as wired connectivity and makes it possible to conduct critical communications in real time. This sets the groundwork for a reliable, faster, and secure operation of applications and devices. Moreover, 5G offers new opportunities where other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi will not be sufficient.

Competitive edge

Currently, the number of IoT devices connected to the internet is many times greater than the number of actual human netizens. Recent research predicts that IoT devices worldwide will cross 31 billion units by 2025, a sharp rise from roughly 14 billion units in 2021. This additional number of connected devices is mainly used in industrial applications and automation.

Several IoT companies are investing a great amount on 5G technology research, as they realize it can revolutionize the automated and connected smart factories of the future. Thus, adopting 5G technology is crucial in gaining a competitive edge in today’s market. However, if a business fails to adopt it early enough, it will be left behind in the market.

Also read: Best Enterprise 5G Network Providers 2022

Secured, enhanced, and flexible production

In a smart factory with 5G networking, only walls, ceiling, and floor will be the immovable components. Every other part will be scalable, portable, and easily reconfigurable. 5G networking creates a wireless yet high-performing infrastructure that enables efficient communication between machinery, people, and facilities.

Moreover, 5G technology allows the implementation of new industrial manufacturing concepts. It also has the potential to streamline gadgets and workforces in the field of industrial production and logistics.

Guaranteed data sovereignty

With the advent of 5G technology, industrial production lines got the first-time opportunity to set up, operate, and tailor local networks precisely for industrial applications. Additionally, it allows users to bring every relevant security aspect under their control. In this way, businesses can reduce cybersecurity and enterprise risks by guaranteeing data sovereignty.

More straightforward conversion to 5G technology

It is true that 5G technology accelerates data transmission speed among IoT devices and gives an extra boost to Industry 4.0. Everything from logistics to production lines benefits from faster, real-time data transmission.

But all of this is only possible if the business installs 5G-enabled devices and networks in the first place. As a result, several globally leading IT companies have begun helping businesses implement 5G technology in industrial automation from scratch.

Practical Use Cases of 5G Technology in Industrial Automation

Here are five practical 5G technology use cases and the companies that are currently pioneering these innovative approaches.

Industrial process automation

Smart factories powered by 5G technology automates monotonous, labor-intensive, and dangerous tasks. This brings down human errors and the risk of fatal accidents and, at the same time, provides the workforce with more time to concentrate on critical tasks.

MTU Aero Engines, a German aircraft engine manufacturer, experimented with 5G technology and made their operations more efficient. The innovations include testing their applications on blade integrated disks (blisk), a high-tech jet engine component, and reducing the manufacturing time of blisks by 75% using a smart factory.

Remote monitoring

In smart factories, production lines can be monitored and controlled remotely without the need for workers or operators on the factory floor. With its high-speed data transmission and lower latency, 5G technology makes real-time remote monitoring easy.

To take a real-world example, Siemens installed its first real-time remote monitoring system for Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) in one of its factories in Mexico.

Robotics

Industrial manufacturers have been employing robots for quite a long time, but the scene has totally changed with the advent of 5G technology.

Robots, designed to work alongside humans, are used mainly to move goods from one location to another. Previously, these robots were connected using a wired network, but 5G technology eliminated the wired network system and allowed faster and more efficient robotics.

KT Corp, South Korea’s leading telecom company partnered with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to develop 5G network infrastructure at construction sites. Their partnership has an objective to develop construction and automation technology. Along with that, they plan to deploy robots over the 5G infrastructure to boost productivity and efficient monitoring at construction sites.

Predictive maintenance

A recent Wall Street Journal report states that unpredictable downtimes cost more than $50 billion each year for industrial manufacturers. HIROTEC, a globally leading automobile parts manufacturer, deployed an IoT cloud platform and edge analytics to get real-time visibility into the efficiency of its business operations.

HIROTEC deployed all these industrial automation initiatives over a 5G network as a way to leverage machine learning (ML) to predict and prevent downtime and mishaps. The result led to reduced downtime and accidents as well as the elimination of manual inspections.

3D printing

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has already made ripples in industrial manufacturing, particularly for spare parts and construction. The higher bandwidth and lower latency of 5G technology are revolutionizing the arena of construction.

For instance, Hadrian X, an autonomous bricklaying robot and the first of its kind in the world, does its job effortlessly, as it can quickly process massive amounts of data transferred over a 5G network.

When 3D printing is synchronized with the speed and low latency of 5G technology, a four-bedroom house can be printed 95% percent faster and up to 90% cheaper. So, now there are no limits to the imaginations of the construction companies and architects. They are now free to design and construct buildings beyond traditional design-to-cost limitations.

5G Technology: The Central Nervous System of Industry 4.0

The emergence of 5G technology will transform how Industry 4.0 produces and distributes goods and services. The key features of 5G technology, such as lower latency, higher reliability, and increased speed, support emerging technologies and their innovative approaches and applications in smart factories.

CNBC reports that by 2023, smart factories, mainly because of their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, will contribute more than $2 trillion to the global economy.

Read next: 5G and AI: Ushering in New Tech Innovation

The post 5G and Industrial Automation: Practical Use Cases appeared first on IT Business Edge.

In 1992, the author of several mind-bending sci-fi novels, Neal Stephenson, gave this concept a name: Metaverse. Companies like Valve, Oculus, and now Facebook (rebranded as Meta) have chased this dream with mixed success, and in the latter’s case, some controversy.

One of the limiting factors of virtual reality’s (VR) success has been its technological maturity; however, with recent development of 5G and the metaverse, VR seems to be following a similar path as the iPhone.

While it wasn’t the first of its kind, Apple’s flagship smartphone offered an attractive and overall useful package to consumers, making it a success, especially in its second generation with the support of the 3G cellular network. The drive toward mobile data usage and the technologies deployed by major U.S. telecommunications companies pushed smartphones into ubiquity.

Similarly, recent telecommunications technologies seem to be pushing virtual reality into rising popularity. With 5G hitting the airwaves, brand new bandwidth is opening up, leaving the telecommunications industry wondering what the next app that will take advantage of this new capacity is. Their answer is the metaverse.

Also read: What is the Metaverse and How Do Enterprises Stand to Benefit?

Virtually Everything

Verizon foresees a future where virtual reality and augmented reality (AR) are as commonplace as smartphones are now, enabled by a massive increase in data transfers from a nationwide 5G network.

As they describe it, metaverse will transcend beyond gaming and open up new possibilities, such as allowing shoe shoppers to use AR to try on a pair of virtual sneakers or cosmetics before buying the real thing.

The trick is, they don’t just want to deliver the experience; they want to sell the experience, too. As such, Verizon is putting real money behind this, launching metaverse experiences such as a fully virtualized Super Bowl.

And they aren’t alone. China Mobile kicked off its Mobile Cloud VR last year, which is a virtual socialization and shopping app supported by 5G. In addition, SK Telecom recently launched its own metaverse platform.

These companies saw the profits Apple and Google swept by leveraging 3G and 4G advancements, and they seek to get ahead of everyone else by planting their flags in the VR/AR space with their own apps.

How to Experience the Metaverse

High-quality virtual reality and augmented reality experiences can be had right now, but they come with significant limitations. An Oculus Quest 2 is a powerful device that costs less than what people pay for cell phones every year, but all that hardware is packed into an awkward, weighty package that can cause discomfort during prolonged play sessions.

The ill-fated Google Glass promised to bring maps, your calendar, the weather, and a host of other augmented reality services right before your eyes wherever you go. Despite an interesting premise, the product never found its footing, though Google hasn’t given up on it yet.

The right formfactor to experience a metaverse has yet to emerge, it seems.

Also read: The Metaverse: Catching the Next Internet-Like Wave

What’s the Real Vision Here?

Nevertheless, 5G providers like SK Telecom remain optimistic. The company’s vice president Cho Ik-hwan has even commented that the metaverse will become their core business platform as they develop first-party applications meant to occupy what they see as a wide-open space.

“We want to create a new kind of economic system,” said Ik-hwan. “A very giant, very virtual economic system.”

It’s unclear how SK Telecom will achieve that goal. At present, the company and others like it are investing in the development of VR/AR smartphone apps, but a cell phone with a 6-inch display screen doesn’t seem like an attractive formfactor to experience a transcendent metaverse adventure.

Further, the concept of a metaverse is still vague and formative, and even a $10 billion investment from Facebook has yet to give it focus or profit.

Similarly, Verizon’s approach seems unfocused, even self-contradictory. The company promises their metaverse experience will be without limits in a sentence immediately following a statement that you will “be required to abide by rules and regulations just like you would in the real world.”

That type of thinking exposes the real challenge telecommunications faces on this frontier. In this endeavor, they are stepping well outside their existing business models of steadily building infrastructure and entering into a field that demands artistic creativity and dynamism.

That field is more compatible with the “move fast and break things” mentality of Silicon Valley, and even Facebook is fighting an uphill battle.

Read next: Emerging Technologies are Exciting Digital Transformation Push

The post Is 5G Enough to Boost the Metaverse? appeared first on IT Business Edge.

(Image source: Polaris Market Research)

Another recent study by Economist Impact and NTT that surveyed 216 C-Suite level executives found that half of the companies surveyed plan to deploy a private 5G network within the next six months to two years.

(Image source: Economist Impact 2021)

But why are the driving factors and conditions? How will companies go about building these networks? What is needed? What are the benefits and potential roadblocks?

What is Private 5G?

Private cellular networks have been around for a long time, but they are usually only used by large organizations like the military or enterprises with critical infrastructure. These private networks are designed to be isolated from the public network and offer a higher level of security and control.

Telecom operators are rolling out Public 5G for users worldwide. In contrast, Private 5G is a specialized network that businesses use to take advantage of its low latency, high availability, complete control, and enhanced personalization to promote Industry 4.0 adoption more quickly.

Private 5G Market Growth Drivers

The arrival of the Covid-19 epidemic and its subsequent recurrence in the form of second-wave and third-wave across parts of the globe compelled firms to embrace private 5G adoption because of the network’s inherent advantages. Private 5G enables low latency, high bandwidth, improved video quality, and remote sensing for virtually all verticals, effectively utilized in remote working.

As a result, businesses use private 5G to fulfill the criteria established by the post-pandemic new normal scenario, which sped up the global adoption of private 5G.

Organizations with critical communications and industrial IoT (Internet of Things) needs—such as national security organizations, the military, utilities, oil and gas businesses, mining associations, train and port operators, manufacturers, and industrial behemoths—are investing heavily in private LTE networks.

Industry 4.0 has given rise to a new generation of industrial robots that are smarter, more adaptable, and increasingly automated. Various primary industrial operations such as Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., and Mercedes-Benz AG have made significant use of sensor-based technology and industrial robotics to improve operational efficiency and productivity. The private 5G network is essential for delivering seamless and secure Internet access to Industrial IoT (IIoT) devices.

Also read: 5G and AI: Ushering in New Tech Innovation

Benefits of Private 5G

Private cellular networks offer many advantages over public networks, the most important being security, control, and customization.

• Security: A private network is designed to be isolated from the public network, which offers a higher level of security. This is because a private network can be designed with security features that are not possible on a public network. For example, a private network can be designed so that only authorized devices can connect to it.
• Control: Another advantage of a private cellular network is that it offers complete control to the network owner. The network owner can decide who can access the network and what type of traffic is allowed on the network.
• Personalization and customization: A private cellular network also offers enhanced personalization and customization options. For example, the network owner can choose to allow only certain types of devices to connect to the network or create a custom profile for each user.
• High speeds, ultra-low latency, and application support: Private cellular networks offer high speeds (1-20 Gbit/s) and low latency (1 ms), essential for applications requiring real-time data. In addition, private 5G networks can be designed to support specific applications. For example, a private network can be designed to support video conferencing or VoIP calls.
• Increased number of devices: Private 5G networks can support a high number of devices on the network. For example, due to the enhanced bandwidth, spotty Wi-Fi service in a crowded office will become a thing of the past.

Potential Roadblocks of Private 5G

The cost associated with building and maintaining a private cellular network is one of the main roadblocks companies face. To build a private 5G network, businesses must buy spectrum from the government, mobile network operators, or third-party spectrum vendors. In addition, they must obtain 5G equipment such as base stations and mini-towers from network infrastructure vendors. They also require edge devices such as routers, smartphones, embedded modules, routers, and gateways.

In addition, building out a private 5G infrastructure comes with some technical challenges. Businesses need to have expertise in-house to design and manage the network. One of the main barriers is integrating 5G with legacy systems and networks.

Another potential roadblock is that businesses may not be able to get access to the same spectrum as they would on a public network.

Proprietary technologies and the lack of standards can also be a challenge for businesses when setting up a private network. This is because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for setting up a private network. Instead, each company will need to tailor its solution based on its specific needs. 

However, even with these challenges, a private 5G network is the best option for businesses that need high security, ultra-low latency, control, customization, and need to support numerous devices.

Getting Started with Private 5G

Getting started with a private cellular network requires careful planning and execution. Organizations need to carefully assess their requirements and objectives before embarking on this journey. They also need to partner with experienced vendors who can help them navigate these challenges successfully.

Due to the challenges of rolling out and managing private 5G networks, many organizations prefer to use a managed services provider. A managed services provider (MSP) can help businesses with end-to-end planning, design, deployment, and private network management.

Companies like Cisco and Ericsson are blazing the trail in this regard. In addition, such managed private 5G services take the complexity out of building and managing a private network. This is good news for businesses that want to reap the benefits of private cellular networks without investing in the necessary resources and expertise.

Read next: Best Enterprise 5G Network Providers 2022

The post Building a Private 5G Network for Your Business  appeared first on IT Business Edge.

A decade from now, the combination of AI and 5G networks will have revolutionized how business gets done in our everyday lives.

Consumers will interact with companies through their personal AI assistants and 5G-enabled devices, physical and virtual, and demand information quickly and efficiently. They’ll receive this requested information almost instantaneously due to the vast bandwidth provided by 5G.

This high-speed data connection will open up new opportunities.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth-generation mobile network. It is a set of standards for telecommunications and wireless communication protocols. In addition, it can provide higher speed, ultra-low latency, more comprehensive coverage, and more capacity than previous network generations.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence, sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. It’s a broad term referring to computer systems that mimic human thought processes. The cognitive processes replicated by these computer programs include learning, reasoning, and self-correction.

Also read: Labor Shortage: Is AI the Silver Bullet?

Potential 5G and AI Uses

While it’s still early, there are already a few applications for combining 5G and AI technologies.

5G-enabled autonomous vehicles

Having connected cars on a single network would help eliminate the issue with dead zones. If your phone drops a call when you drive under an overpass or through specific tunnels, imagine how much worse it would be if you were driving an autonomous vehicle.

The combination of fast network speeds with onboard sensors could enable self-driving cars to communicate with each other in real time about traffic conditions, potholes, accidents, or other road hazards.

Additionally, cities and transportation agencies could use that data to improve infrastructure and optimize traffic flow—for example, by identifying areas where adding new lanes or rerouting traffic might make sense.

AI-driven tools for service operations

AI-driven technologies help network engineers automate and optimize network activities and business continuity planning, from reporting issues to reacting to events and incidents.

For example, mobile networks and AI are merging in a new form of automation called AIOps. This approach is already being used by telecommunication companies to empower software tools to act quickly and respond immediately in the event of any operational events or incidents, security issues, or both, all without the need for human intervention.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)

Both VR and AR rely on high-speed networks to deliver realistic images and sounds. With better connections, we’ll see higher resolution graphics and faster response times, which will lead to better experiences overall.

For example, a low latency connection won’t matter if your VR headset lags behind your head movements because it won’t take as long for image updates to reach your eyes. However, some industry experts believe 5G’s ultra-low latency may be critical to making VR and AR mainstream.

Also read: How Will 5G Change Augmented Reality?

Analyzing logs of data with AI

There will be a massive increase in the amount of data generated by IoT (Internet of Things) devices, servers, apps, network controllers, and other equipment due to the deployment of the 5G network. Unfortunately, there is little accessibility with conventional methods used to collect data in logs.

However, it is now possible for network management systems to be automated to analyze data, get results, and extract insights to improve network performance regularly, thereby decreasing downtime.

Utilities and energy

We’ve already seen a lot of interest in 5G-connected home appliances, including refrigerators and washing machines. Imagine a smart refrigerator that lets you know when your milk or eggs are going bad, so you don’t waste food.

Add AI to that mix, and suddenly your fridge will be able to order replacement items. Likewise, that same AI could tell your washer/dryer combo to run only after electricity rates drop to off-peak levels, potentially saving money on utility bills.

Also read: IoV: The Pioneering Union of IoT and the Automotive Industry

How Does 5G Help AI?

Advances in network technology like 5G could lead to greater speed and increased power efficiency for connected devices, which is crucial for developing self-learning systems.

As more and more devices connect to autonomous networks, more data will be created. The speed at which we can transfer data from one device to another has been a significant factor in how machine learning (ML) algorithms have evolved, helping them learn faster.

These advancements might even help us progress on some of AI’s biggest challenges, such as making it easier for machines to understand natural language and creating systems that can identify objects without being fed information by humans independently.

Here are three ways 5G could improve our future with AI:

Increased speed

Networking speeds determine how quickly computers can communicate with each other. This affects everything from latency times to processing speeds and energy consumption. In an age where connected devices are becoming increasingly common, these factors matter more.

Today, data transfer speeds over 4G networks average around 100 Mbps, while 5G promises up to 10 Gbps—an improvement of about 100 times faster. For AI, faster communication between devices means faster data transfer between processors, which translates into better responsiveness and higher levels of interactivity.

Additionally, faster response times allow for quicker feedback loops during training, meaning ML models can adapt to real-time changes rather than wait until their next scheduled session. It also makes it possible for machines to respond much more quickly if something goes wrong.

Reduced power consumption

Today’s mobile devices typically use two different kinds of wireless connectivity: cellular and Wi-Fi. Cellular connections are usually high-speed, but they consume more power because your phone needs to connect directly to a cell tower. On the other hand, Wi-Fi consumes less power because you can connect wirelessly to any available router, but its connection speeds tend to be slower.

5G networks promise lower latency times and longer battery life. One way this works is through beamforming, which allows 5G devices to transmit signals directly toward receivers rather than broadcasting them out in all directions. This reduces power consumption, allowing devices to be more efficient and get more out of a single charge.

Improved security

As 5G networks become more widespread, cybersecurity will become a bigger concern for consumers and companies. A recent report from Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that cyber crime will cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, so it’s no surprise that companies are starting to invest more in security.

5G networks will offer several benefits for cybersecurity, including faster data transfer speeds and improved encryption. For example, with 5G, it will be easier to transfer data from one connected device to another, making it faster and more secure for companies to share data between their employees. Likewise, 5G networks include an additional layer of encryption that protects data from hackers.

Also read: The Future of Natural Language Processing is Bright

AI and 5G are Enhancing Each Other’s Capabilities

Many envision a future where AI services work in conjunction with 5G networks, ensuring enhanced network speed doesn’t get bogged down by traffic. As companies become more reliant on cloud-based apps, they won’t have to worry about latency or service hiccups.

AI can analyze data gathered from 5G networks, providing valuable insights for businesses looking to improve their offerings. These two technologies are inextricably linked. Applying AI to both 5G networks and devices will increase efficiency and productivity across industries.

Millions of devices rely on speedy connections to receive information in today’s connected world. But 5G isn’t just speed—volume is about volume. The IoT devices worldwide are projected to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025. Traditional network speeds won’t be able to handle them.

That’s where artificial intelligence comes in. Thanks to AI, networks can learn how best to deliver data to individual users based on their unique preferences and needs. So, while 5G provides a fast lane for massive amounts of data, artificial intelligence helps ensure every single piece of data gets where it needs to go as quickly as possible.

It’s an ideal pairing; by working together, these two technologies deliver better experiences for enterprises and consumers alike.

The Future Convergence of AI and 5G

As we think about how AI converges with other disruptive technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, blockchain, robotics, and IoT, converged systems have a distinct advantage over isolated systems.

The convergence of these two disruptive technologies can help businesses optimize their operations by making better decisions faster than ever before possible. These trends are already beginning to impact our daily lives through applications such as digital assistants, self-driving cars, and smart cities.

Combining artificial intelligence and 5G has many benefits in enterprise scenarios, including improving real-time analytics using ML techniques that enhance cybersecurity monitoring and protection, decision support for real-time actions and initiatives, predictive maintenance, and reducing network latency in business-critical applications.

Read next: Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Software 2022

The post 5G and AI: Ushering in New Tech Innovation appeared first on IT Business Edge.

A sustainable business looks forward to a broader horizon that includes present and future generations. Additionally, it devises innovative business strategies to bring positive social and environmental impact while accelerating business performance.

With 5G and other data-driven technologies, organizations can begin moving toward both environmental and enterprise sustainability.

The Rise of Sustainability Efforts

Today, preserving nature and fighting environmental issues like atmospheric pollution and climate change has become a business imperative rather than a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity.

There is no doubt that risks and opportunities associated with environmental issues pose challenges to the strategies and operations of all enterprises in all shapes and sizes. But on the positive side, the ecological sustainability strategy on a broader scale will define an enterprise’s prospects in the current competitive marketplace.

Environmental challenges are plenty, and it stands among the top five risks for a business. So, these days investors and entrepreneurs can’t shy away from implementing sustainability ideas and strategies in their organizations.

In 2020, Blackrock, the largest fund manager globally, declared sustainability as their new standard for investing, and it embarked on a mission to make their customers and employees more environmentally conscious.

In addition, 80% of respondents in a recent IBM research study personally favor environmental sustainability, while 60% are ready to change their consumer behavior to bring down environmental impact.

However, while it is easy to talk about environmental sustainability efforts, putting them into practice is much more difficult.

Digital Transformation and Sustainability

Luckily, today’s digital transformation (DX) initiatives by most enterprises worldwide will make a huge difference in environmental sustainability. This is because there are several innovative technologies like the fifth generation of cellular networks (5G), artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, and blockchain that drive DX. 

These technologies accelerate sustainability in three ways:

• They utilize data to attain new insights and reach new solutions to existing problems.
• They transform business practices and operations, creating a sustainable enterprise.
• They create a new enterprise governance model forging public, private, and non-profit collaboration with environmental sustainability.

In short, since all these technologies are data-driven by nature, DX brings greater transparency and insights into business operations.

It transforms the way enterprises, investors, consumers, and governments buy, sell, produce, consume, transform, and operate businesses. This transition can even positively influence how economies function all over the globe and, in turn, bring improved environmental sustainability.

Also read: Top Digital Transformation Companies & Services 2022

Ways 5G Influences Environmental and Enterprise Sustainability

Energy efficiency

It is proven that fourth-generation cellular network (4G) stations consume more energy than the 5G base stations. Telecommunications giant Huawei reports that nearly half of the energy consumption of 4G base stations is used to cool down the transmission equipment.

Another recent research reveals that 5G technology brings down carbon emissions by nearly 80% and reduces operating costs by almost a third.

Streamlined water management

With just 3% of the water resources being consumable and just two-thirds of it being accessible makes water a valuable resource. Moreover, the lack of streamlined water management can lead us to face water shortages by 2025.

The World Bank found that the agricultural sector consumes an average of 70% of the world’s freshwater per year. But unfortunately, farmers worldwide use obsolete irrigation systems that use water inefficiently and impact climate change.

IoT devices paired with 5G technology helps transfer, monitor, and analyze agricultural data like soil moisture levels, pesticide levels, weather conditions, and other valuable information at record speeds. In addition, 5G grants farmers access to multiple technologies like GPS systems, chlorophyll sensors, and sprayer control to manage crops and water resources more efficiently.

The technologies leveraging 5G help farmers and the field of agriculture streamline water management. And, it can also do the same in cities.

5G technology set the ground for large-scale IoT sensor deployments that streamline water management. These inexpensive IoT devices detect dangerous chemicals, manage leaks in the water supply, alert people of possible health hazards, early flood warnings, and transform the agriculture industry.

Enhanced traffic management

As per a recent WHO report, the environmental pollution from vehicles kills over 3 million people globally every year. With 5G technologies, we can monitor traffic operations and devise more effective and scalable traffic designs to reduce carbon emissions.

Another 5G-enabled innovation that reduces carbon emissions would be driverless, or connected, cars. These fully automated cars connected over a 5G network, with streamlined cruise control and automated driving features, can improve energy efficiency up to 20–30%.

Energy efficient smart buildings

The heating, lighting, cooling, and other operations of buildings use up to 40% of the energy consumed globally. Smart buildings connected with 5G networks using automation will save energy, bring down carbon emissions, and fight climate change.

IoT sensors over a 5G network automatically turn lights off when not needed and adjust the lighting per the natural lighting. As a result, it reduces energy consumption by up to 70%.  

Beyond lighting, automated temperature control will also reduce energy utilization. Sensors connected to a high-speed 5G network monitor temperature levels, ventilation, and air conditioning automatically adjust the temperature.

A real-life example of a smart building is the Empire State Building in New York City. It has implemented sensors and meters that measure each tenant’s energy usage, letting them optimize energy utilization. These automated meters and sensors bring down energy costs by nearly 40% and cut the building’s carbon emissions by more than 100 thousand tonnes within a year.

Challenges of Implementing 5G for Sustainability

While 5G technologies offer several benefits to environmental and enterprise sustainability, there are still a few challenges for the effective implementation of the technology in our daily lives. 

Information technology (IT) is currently accountable for roughly 4% of global electricity consumption and nearly 2% of global carbon emissions, according to the 2020 report of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. And it has been anticipated that the rollout of 5G technology and devices can increase the current rate of IT energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Another 5G challenge is associated with the increased electronic waste, or e-waste, generation with the increased adoption of 5G devices and networks all over the globe. However, solutions like decarbonization, implementing more efficient cooling systems, recycling, and network sharing can overcome these challenges.

It is doubtless that 5G technology has the capability to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to a more significant extent and to efficiently streamline business operations at any level.

From a futuristic point of view, every business leader must take responsibility for their enterprise’s environmental impact by embracing 5G technology as a positive change. The businesses that leverage 5G technology to bring sustainability will definitely become trendsetters in this age of digital transformation.

Read next: Best Enterprise 5G Network Providers 2022

The post The Role of 5G in the Sustainability Fight appeared first on IT Business Edge.

History of the Hologram

In the late 1940s, Dennis Gabor, a Hungarian-British physicist accidentally discovered holography while trying to improve electron microscopes. However, the optical holography we think of today didn’t really come about until the laser was invented in 1960. 

A hologram is basically a recording of a 3D image that can be reproduced with the same amount of depth and detail as the original. Viewers can see the image from different angles, the same way they’d be able to see a real object. Holograms don’t require special equipment, like glasses or headsets to view, unlike similar technology.

Also Read: Cisco And AVA Robotics: Getting Closer to Teleportation

Business Benefits of Hologram Technology

Business travel isn’t always feasible, and it’s very expensive, especially when you factor in flights, hotels, and meals. However, video calls can’t replace all forms of business travel. Conferences, for example, would have difficulties hosting their presenters over web conferencing solutions because of lag, unstable internet, and the inability to incorporate body language.

Instead, holograms allow subject matter experts to virtually be in several places at once to give their presentations and answer questions in near real-time. The technology is interactive like a Zoom call would be, but viewers get the experience of having someone actually on stage or in the same room as them. Plus, the audio and video quality is likely much higher. 

It sounds like something straight out of Star Wars, but ARHT Media is providing impressive hologram projections with a latency of .3 seconds or less. They’re able to project individuals all over the world with consistently high visual and audio quality. 

“Of the primary reasons why people use the technology, one is to get people to meetings that they can’t get to otherwise,” says Larry O’Reilly, CEO of ARHT Media. “And that could be a big conference, or it could be an important sales meeting with clients.” He also explains that it helps organizations reduce their carbon footprint by lowering the number of times they have people fly or drive throughout the year for business events.

Also Read: 3 Things We Need for Businesses to Reopen and Stay Open: Anticipating the Next Pandemic

Business Use Cases for Hologram Technology

For the most part, hologram technology is best for large conferences or meetings that require subject matter experts. Pharmaceutical companies sometimes use it to present to several doctors at once without making them come to a big conference. 

On using the technology for everyday sales conversations, O’Reilly says, “For individual sales calls, it might be too, prohibitively expensive. However, it depends on who the sales call was with. If you are Federal Express, and you are having a sales call with senior executives at Amazon, you can imagine what they spend flying around in the air, right?” In these cases, the technology could potentially pay for itself several times over.

Holograms are also really helpful when you have collaborative presentations. O’Reilly explains, “Where the real value add on the virtual global stage, as compared to the streaming services, is when you have more than one person who’s presenting at the same time. If it’s just a one-to-one communication, the streaming services work great. But if you put more than four people on a Zoom call, it’s a little bit chaotic.” Body language is important for group conversations, signaling when someone has something they’d like to say, but you don’t always get that with web conferencing software.

Can Holograms Replace Business Travel for Your Organization?

For low-level sales calls and one-to-one internal communication, hologram technology is just too expensive right now to replace business travel. However, if your business has subject matter experts that travel multiple times a year or you put on large conferences where you have to pay for lodging and travel for presenters, hologram technology could quickly pay for itself. 

The best way to determine whether or not hologram technology is right for your business is to take a look at all of the travel your organization has sponsored in years past. Compare the yearly total to the cost of the technology and determine if the cost is worth switching. 

Additionally, consider what you stand to gain from big sales meetings. Hologram technology typically costs several thousand dollars, but if you stand to make several million from a contract, it’s probably worth the investment.

Read Next: Can Immersive Technology Remake the Workplace Experience?

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As we’ve moved from in-person to remote events, the effectiveness of a scripted keynote has been significantly reduced because, with the distractions we all have at home, an executive reading a script doesn’t seem to hold the audience’s attention. To keep the audience interested, you need more.

Dell went from a traditional keynote to a panel format that was well moderated by Dell’s SVP of Corporate Affairs, Jennifer “JJ” Davis, who is a legend at the company. On her panel were Dell’s CEO Michael Dell, Chairman and Co-COO Jeff Clarke, Co-COO Chuck Whitten, and Allison Dew, Dell’s CMO. 

Let’s talk about why a panel works better than a scripted monolithic keynote for an online event.  

Also read: Dell Makes Strong Push Towards Autonomous Operations

Building Trust

Dew spoke to this during her interaction on the panel. As CMO, she gets that the impression and effectiveness of any executive team is a mix of company priorities and company personality. While the priorities, at least the stated ones, can be stated in a monolithic executive keynote, that format doesn’t convey the company’s personality.  That personality is more easily conveyed when you see the executives interact.  Do they like each other? Do they get along? Is the executive team looking for ways to undercut their peers, or do they have each others’ backs?

For someone considering working with a company, you want to see if its management is dysfunctional. That will directly relate to how well they can execute the plans and priorities they articulate. A few years back, I was at an event held by a Dell competitor. At that event, two critical executive team members demonstrated their hatred for each other, which predicted the firm’s later massive and more obvious inability to execute. I would argue it is at least as necessary to know the odds a vendor can execute their plans as it is to know those plans in the first place because, if you use them and can’t execute, their dysfunction will become your problem.  

When I watched the executives’ body language, I could tell that they liked and supported each other, which helped me trust what Michael Dell and his executives said and made me believe that infighting was unlikely to derail their plans. A well-moderated panel like this one can establish a natural empathy and depth in the executive team and better allow you to see if interpersonal problems in the firm might become your problems later.

Also read: Facebook’s Unique Ownership Structure Might Be its Downfall

Creating Interest

When you are at a venue listening to a speaker with full audio/video support, it can hold your interest if it is well-staged, scripted, and performed. At home, much of what is typically staged — product demos, slides, and videos — don’t seem to be done as well because you need a full-on TV studio to make all of that work, and most companies don’t have that. Microsoft often does far better in this regard because they have funded a full studio and thus can better professionally produce a show or event.  

The panel approach,  if done well, provides interaction that is more interesting to watch. Television networks use panels to discuss news items on news shows because they work better when conveying a complex topic like Dell Apex, Dell’s big “everything as a service” push.  The variety and interaction between the speakers tend to hold interest better. The speakers are better positioned to speak up to fill information gaps or better explain a topic.  

The key to doing this, however, is having the panel well moderated. A poorly moderated panel can be worse than a monolithic speaker because it often devolves into a linear progression of poorly linked talks with little preparation or rehearsal. Ultimately, what made the Dell panel work was Davis’s preparation and her execution as moderator. In addition, she was the best prepared on the stage, which tended to pull up the performance of the other panelists, further improving the overall quality of the effort.  

Notable Observations

I’ve noticed during vendor events the main focus is more about surviving the event itself.  However, events are supposed to convey information, drive sales, and improve a company’s image. Executives often change slides until the last minute, resulting in unforced errors by the support staff and speakers, all of which reflect poorly on the image and perceived quality of the company.  

A well-moderated panel can mitigate this because you don’t need as much rehearsal. The moderator owns the flow and can be brought in as a professional. And, from my perspective, a panel better conveys the company’s personality than a monolithic keynote.  

Here’s an additional observation. Michael Dell opened with his new book Play Nice But Win, which is about the birth of Dell and the management practices that turned Dell Technologies into the powerhouse it is today.  The book provided a solid foundation to who Michael Dell and his namesake company are and what the company’s lasting priorities will be in a believable context. 

Read next: The Overlooked and Undervalued Importance of Marketing

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This week I met with Dawn Jones, Intel’s Chief Inclusivity and People Officer, to discuss the company’s efforts to bring DE&I to the forefront as well as key moves that have underscored that effort in the last year.

Setting a Bad Example

When I started working with Intel in the early ‘90s, they were often defined by bad behavior, including anti-competitive policies, affairs among company leadership, and stymied advancement for women. Intel was a showcase for the male-dominated technology industry.  A few years back, Renee James joined Intel as a co-CEO, but she was driven out of the company by her male co-leader Brian (BK) Kerzanich, making the effort appear disingenuous. 

James’s short tenure underscored a company culture rife with backbiting, inappropriate liaisons, and lawsuits brought about by wrongfully terminated employees. This kind of  corporate drama creates substantial distrust between employees and management. 

Intel’s current CEO, Pat Gelsinger, is cut from very different cloth. Instead of paying lip service to DE&I and Intel’s fraternization policies about senior executives, he has aggressively turned Intel into a company known for treating employees fairly and well.  While the job is far from done, the progress is impressive. 

Raising the Bar

According to Dawn Jones, Intel’s HR department has moved away from being a compliance department focused on covering up problems to one that has trained a laser-like focus on creating a safe and fair workplace for all of its employees. This includes surveys to ensure that employees understand how their programs work and to motivate and activate the workforce appropriately; and, employment measurement systems underpinned by DE&I policies to ensure that 80% of all job requisitions are posted. 

While some employees may be chosen, most jobs are available to anyone qualified by background, experience, and education. Job descriptions are reviewed to assure the description doesn’t set unreasonable requirements and prevent a woman or minority from applying and getting the job. The policy also requires the interviewing panel to be diverse and that every effort is made to ensure a diverse pool of potential employees.  

Jones shared that one of the exciting initiatives Intel has driven is the Alliance for Global Inclusion. I’ve mentioned Micron as a diversity leader in previous columns, and they have joined this group, which recognizes that no firm can do this alone, and that progress can be accelerated if companies address DE&I as a group. This effort can be far more effective in driving interest in technology into education so that the availability of women and minorities for tech jobs improves over time. In addition, Jones told me that currently, the Alliance for Global Inclusion’s efforts are positively impacting 100K high school students in 30 countries, with plans to expand significantly in the future to better ensure STEM readiness.    

Finally, Intel has significantly diversified its board by adding more women, which should significantly weaken the firm’s glass ceiling.  

Setting a Better Example

Diversity and inclusion in an industry that has been anything but for much of its life isn’t easy. It takes focus and determination, it takes more than one company, and it takes a willingness to fight through the pain of change for a better place to work. A place you’d be proud to send your mother, sister, or daughter in the future, knowing they’d be treated fairly and well.  

Intel’s changes are nothing short of amazing. Still, their most significant impact may be their Alliance for Global Inclusion which is driving changes that go far beyond Intel’s corporate reach and has a decent chance of fixing an industry that desperately needed to move away from the Old Boy’s Club mentality that was crippling it.  

Given that technology increasingly defines our world, having the leading tech companies get behind an effort to substantially improve DE&I is a critical milestone on the path to building a better world.  

Read next: Why the Tech Industry Struggles with DE&I

The post Intel Makes Strides in its DE&I Efforts appeared first on IT Business Edge.

To find out why this is, we talked to human resources experts about DE&I issues they see and how technology companies can address them moving forward.

Problems with DE&I in Tech

• Why tech companies struggle with DE&I
• Where solutions need to come from
• Addressing DE&I in your own company
• DE&I have to come from the top

Why Tech Companies Struggle with DE&I

Tech companies can often struggle with DE&I because their hiring processes aren’t inclusive. This isn’t often intentional and can stem from gendered language and outdated requirements. Shayleen Stuto, VP of HR for TechnologyAdvice says, “Job requirements can create a barrier to entry. For example, requiring a four-year college degree for roles where transferable experience or an associate’s degree can suffice.” 

Requiring a four-year degree automatically knocks out anyone who doesn’t have the financial means to afford one, although they may have knowledge, experience, and passion for the job. Instead, tech companies might consider hiring applicants with relevant certifications, whether or not they have a degree to go with them.

However, some organizations blame their recruiting pipelines — the applicants that they already have in some stage of the hiring process (e.g. just applied, interviewing, etc.). Amiee Sadler, education and research manager at people3, a diversity training, coaching, and consulting firm, explains, “There are perceived issues about pipelines. We hear all the time that there’s no one in the pipeline, but what are you doing to change the pipeline?” Just because you haven’t had diverse applicants in the past, it doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in the roles you’re offering. 

Referrals often get preferential treatment in the recruiting space, which can lead to positions getting filled before diverse candidates have time to search for them. Referrals are great for a quick hire, but your treatment of referred candidates could be contributing to your diversity problem.

“When asked to refer potential candidates, the usual response is to look at friend groups and networks,” Sadler says. “If your friend groups and networks look like you, the people you end up recommending look like you too.” 

Where Solutions Need to Come From

Sadler notes that DE&I initiatives have to come from the top.  No one stumbles onto diversity; executives must consciously create a welcoming, inclusive environment. 

“Leadership has to buy in and make it a priority for the company,” Sadler says. “It has to become the culture of the organization and it has to be intentional.”

Additionally, Sadler urges companies to make an actual investment in their diversity. “The reality is you can’t put a price on culture, but you can absolutely define the value,” she says. That value comes from increases in revenue thanks to new ways of solving problems and higher engagement among all of your employees, leading to lower turnover.

“The reality is you can’t put a price on culture, but you can absolutely define the value.”

Amiee Sadler, education and research manager at people3

Organizations have a big part to play in increasing their own diversity, but the change has to start early, as well. Andre Fomby, an IT manager in Lexington, KY, says, “It needs to start in high school, college, and at home. For younger adults, parents need to make sure their children are prepared for an interview. Young adults who don’t have a mentor/close parent with knowledge need to search the web for what to do to prepare.”  

Mentorship opportunities have to be available through public schools with no cost and low barriers to entry, so they’re open to as many students as possible. Otherwise, only students with means will be able to participate, and we’ll end up with the same issues. Local business owners or executives, college professors, or even passionate teachers can all run these kinds of mentorship programs, and they might consider offering them remotely to capture a wider audience of interested students.

For example, a recruiter for a local software development company might start a mentorship program teaching high school students about the type of degrees they might want to pursue if they’re planning to attend college, certifications they can earn, and even basic job application tasks, like how to write a resume and what belongs in a cover letter. Once they’ve got the curriculum together, they can speak at high school job fairs and similar events to identify interested individuals and invite them to join the program.

Addressing DE&I in Your Own Company

For DE&I to become mainstays in your own organization, there has to be a culture shift towards celebrating diversity. Tom Parker, CEO of Hubble, notes, “There’s a lot of training that goes on for the sake of having training. What’s more important is day-to-day behavior and top-down messaging from executives. That’s really what’s going to change the culture and have people get into the right mindset.” But just talking about diversity isn’t enough.

Your approach to hiring has to reflect that commitment. Stuto explains TechnologyAdvice’s approach to diverse hiring. “As we work to grow our team with the best candidates possible, we post our jobs to a number of job boards specific to diverse communities and partner with organizations including HBCUs, veteran groups, women in tech/marketing networking groups, minority-owned/led organizations, and more to spread the word about our open positions.” Referrals sometimes lead to organizations remaining homogenous. You need to think outside the box when it comes to your recruitment activities to ensure you’re hiring the best people.

“DE&I is a journey, not a destination. Be adaptable, be flexible, be teachable, and never stop striving to create a truly inclusive culture.”

Amiee Sadler, education and research manager at people3

Consider promoting some of your own employees as well, rather than looking only at outside hires. Fomby gives an example of this. “Look for internal employees that might be in blue-collar positions to see if they aspire to do more. Sponsor them and help pay for education. Start an internal mentoring program and people groups so that folks have an internal sense of belonging.” These employees already have knowledge of the inner workings of your organization, and they’ll show higher engagement knowing that you value them as people.

Finally, remember that incorporating DE&I into your company is an ongoing process. “There is no magic action that will improve DE&I,” Sadler says. “DE&I is a journey, not a destination. Be adaptable, be flexible, be teachable, and never stop striving to create a truly inclusive culture.”

DE&I Have to Come from the Top

Your employees can talk about and support DE&I practices until they’re blue in the face, but unless the executive team is also onboard and championing these practices, your organization will likely never change. Executives have to make a conscious effort to examine their current job requirements, hiring practices, and internal and external messaging to ensure they aren’t incidentally excluding anyone. Training and discussions are great and important, but true change won’t come until executives enact policies that outline diversity as the only path to success.

Read next: Top Tech Job Opportunities You Should Know About

The post Why the Tech Industry Struggles with DE&I appeared first on IT Business Edge.

As we emerge from the life- and business-altering COVID-19 pandemic, how and where we work has also undergone rapid transformation. With new approaches developing to bridge the many hybrid work models to choose from, we spoke with Crestron’s Vice President of UC Enterprise Andrew Gross about how the company approached product development in the face of accelerated digital transformation, what the “equity of experience” means for the future of work, and how Crestron’s partnerships with Zoom and Microsoft are shaping how CIOs and IT administrators are integrating and managing unified communications systems. 

Llanor Alleyne: Crestron has been a big player in the home and enterprise tech space over the years. How has the pandemic reshaped your approach to product development, especially as it pertains to digital transformation, UC and UCC?

Andrew Gross: The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a workplace evolution, with the majority of companies moving their teams to remote seemingly overnight. Before the onset of the pandemic, most businesses averaged 7 to 15 percent of rooms with videoconferencing capabilities. By the end of March 2020, videoconferencing became the most critical communications tool for keeping businesses connected.

Now, 18 months later, we’ve learned a lot more about how to support the future of work and we continue to make changes and roll out new product updates and solutions. One example of a solution we developed using these learnings is the Crestron Flex Phones for Microsoft Teams, which we released a few months ago to address the surge in videoconferencing and increased reliance on Teams to support enterprise collaboration. By handling all audio, video, and content viewing, the Crestron Flex Phones free other devices, like a laptop or PC, to be used as a dedicated, purpose-built productivity tool for collaboration. This helps foster a collaboration experience that is more fruitful and less frustrating by minimizing inefficient task-switching, streamlining ad hoc communication, and allowing users to segment their schedule and workload more effectively.

The shift to work-from-home and now hybrid work models have pushed the needle on enterprise digital transformation across most industries. How has Crestron addressed this shift from a partnership standpoint, especially in your collaborations with Zoom and Microsoft Teams?

We believe workplace automation technology that not only comes loaded with seamless connectivity to software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, but also provides data analytics around room space and usage for decision-makers, are key to long standing success. Collaboration software has moved from a helpful feature to an essential enterprise tool to keep teams connected and productive. 

Our partnership with Microsoft and Zoom has blossomed into more than just a transactional “their software running on our hardware” relationship into one that is much more integrated, beginning at the design and development stage. Together, we work closely to ensure the next iteration of Crestron’s products better support the technology developments for the future of work that Microsoft and Zoom are creating. We work synchronously to create solutions for customers that deliver the best workplace experience, every time. From speech recognition technology that is optimized by the hardware it’s loaded on to camera support that enables the latest in Teams and Zoom software features to better democratize the meeting space, we are creating technology that best serve the way enterprise customers are working today.

With hybrid and remote work becoming a long-term workplace format, it is not enough for enterprises to only offer collaboration software for personal devices. It must be available natively through an array of enterprise hardware, easily accessible with one click of a button or by plugging in a personal device, in any meeting or workspace in an office. Our partnerships are essential to enabling these capabilities.

Also read: 5 Unified Communications Trends Defining a Post-COVID-19 World

In both of these partnerships, there has been a great focus on the “equity of experience.” Can you talk us through what that means and what that looks like in a hybrid work environment?

The equity of experience refers to the notion that any meeting participant, regardless of where they are physically opting to work, should feel fully integrated into the meeting’s collaboration and conversation.

Pre-pandemic, remote meeting participants were often unintentionally regarded as fringe attendees, with the focus being on the in-person group. After the shift to remote work, and recently, a hybrid model, the opposite is now true — in-person meeting attendees are now second-class in a virtual meeting. This is because video and audio are not dedicated to a single person as they are for virtual attendees, and the in-person group are all vying to be seen and heard. To create equitable meetings, employees need to be able to join any meeting, connect, and participate as efficiently as they would in person or virtually, every time.

any meeting participant, regardless of where they are physically opting to work, should feel fully integrated into the meeting’s collaboration and conversation.

Crestron, working with Microsoft and Zoom, are changing this. Using Crestron’s pioneering knowledge and innovation in audio and video solutions, we are bringing to market hardware that, when paired with the Teams and Zoom software features, democratizes the meetings experience, regardless of where you are, by creating individual streams of video per person and enhancing the audio functionality to be clearer and more personal.

There is also the experience of IT teams to consider in the future of hybrid work. On the surface, adding more devices to an enterprise network can be a burdensome task for IT departments, but IT teams can benefit from choosing a single vendor for a company’s UC technology as long as it is easy to deploy and manage in the cloud. Pre-pandemic, a mid-size office may have only had a small team managing IT needs for personal computers and laptops, along with a handful of meeting spaces that had less sophisticated AV or communication technology. This same IT team is now tasked with managing not only the IT systems, but communications technology that is likely being deployed across all the meeting spaces and offices.

We recognized that need at Crestron, even before the pandemic, as the digital transformation movement accelerated and developed XiO Cloud, a service that offers management, monitoring, and configuration of up to thousands of devices in the enterprise in the same time it takes to configure one.

What does Crestron bring to the table when trying to achieve “equity of experience” when integrating hybrid workspaces?

The reality is that the workplace of the future will need to be more than just a space for employees to come, do their work, and leave. It will have to be re-configured to become a space where collaboration and connection come first and employees can be transient, while also having the resources they need to effectively work and communicate together in-person.

A big component of supporting this change is creating meeting and huddle spaces that support equitable experiences — these changes must begin before a meeting space is even reserved. For example, in a Crestron workspace, remote scheduling capabilities allow participants to reserve and schedule rooms in advance to ensure availability and that the appropriate technology is present — this saves time and effort, boosting efficiency. Once in a room, cost-effective and easy to deploy occupancy sensors “turn on” rooms as participants enter, and initiate touch-free room and device automation. The meeting room is made up of the latest UC technology — a display (or two) that offer native support for Teams or Zoom, and a wireless presentation system that supports the latest video conferencing and collaboration technology, voice control, and allows for quick access for participants to present and share via their own devices efficiently. Each meeting participant, regardless of where they are located, can see and hear the conversation clearly, and share content within seconds — driving more productive and equitable hybrid meetings.

IT admins and CIOs should invest in technology that can be easily updated, managed, and configured as workplace dynamics continue to shift.

Behind the scenes, the meeting space is driven by data and high-performance networks. A cloud-based platform enables AV/IT departments and help desks to remotely deploy, manage, and monitor room and device usage. Sensors that collect occupancy data, send data and provide analytics to a cloud platform, help to ensure rooms are not overcrowded. This data also enables managers to understand the utilization of spaces to calculate real estate needs as changes continue post-pandemic.

UC and UCC have experienced a boom spurred on by the pandemic. As we reach the end of this global health crisis, how do you see IT administrators and CIOs further utilizing these tools to continue reshaping the nature of work and work environments? Where does Crestron position itself in continuing to shape that future?

Employees choosing hybrid work models will have little tolerance for an office environment that hinders their ability to easily connect and collaborate consistently. Therefore, the entire technology backbone of the hybrid office must work synergistically. Offices must be reconfigured and redesigned as not just a space with desks, computers, and meeting rooms, but a truly collaborative and dynamic place to meet and work together, from wherever employees are.

Having the ability to create flexible workspaces with scalable technologies in today’s office building is extremely valuable. IT admins and CIOs should invest in technology that can be easily updated, managed, and configured as workplace dynamics continue to shift.

At Crestron, we recognize that the way we work is still evolving. Our goal is to continue to listen to customer needs and industry changes, and develop solutions that make getting to work easier, more efficient, and impactful, to support more productive and equitable work environments.  

Read next: Best UCaaS Providers 2021

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