Author: Jennifer Goforth Gregory
Date published: October 24, 2024
Your organization's data informs everything you do, from creating personalized customer experiences to making smarter business decisions. Businesses with high latency in their network could soon be unable, at times, to provide the level of service your customers expect. Mobile edge computing (MEC), also known as multi-access edge computing, can help reduce network latency and improve application performance, which could help build a foundation for your digital transformation through intelligent logistics, analytics, automation and the Internet of Things (IoT). This could help enable your firm to deliver the experiences your customers want.
Verizon can help you transform your businesses into a near real-time enterprise with innovative 5G edge technology. We created this guide to help you understand what MEC is, how MEC can help your organization and how to get started.
Mobile edge computing (MEC) can help build a foundation for your digital transformation. By hosting applications at the edge of the network, MEC can help reduce response time and improve performance. Learn more about mobile edge computing, how it works and its key benefits.
With traditional cloud computing, processing happens in a data center, which can be far away from the physical location of the application that needs the data. The time needed for transit and processing can cause high latency and delays, which could interfere with the ability to deliver a near real-time experience.
Mobile edge computing hosts applications at the edge of the network, putting them closer to the user, devices and endpoints. By decreasing that physical distance, mobile edge computing can reduce application response time, which means faster performance. Mobile edge computing also can make it possible to support many applications across multiple locations, helping to enable innovation and market opportunities.
Businesses typically use mobile edge computing for a combination of mission-critical, low-latency applications and the regional cloud for general-purpose, latency-tolerant applications. The applications leveraging MEC are located nearest the users' devices and can send the data through the network at a higher throughput speed. Massive amounts of data travel even more quickly to 5G-compatible devices. With a thin client, which runs resources centrally rather than on the computer hard drive, the technology can help enable lower cost and longer battery life.
5G edge services, provides an integrated set of tools that helps your organization grow by building, deploying and managing the apps that can improve both your customer and employee experience. Because you can monitor performance across your infrastructure from a single dashboard, you have easy visibility into the analytics you need to ensure consistent performance for all users, while creating a simpler management experience for your team.
Adopting 5G and MEC can open up many possibilities for improved efficiency, productivity and experience. It can help optimize network performance by using edge discovery capabilities, which results in a lower cost with faster speeds. Organizations could realize the following MEC benefits:
MEC makes it possible for many organizations to digitally transform their experiences and operations. From retail to live entertainment to healthcare, learn how mobile edge computing can benefit your industry.
MEC's low latency and high speed allow retailers to use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in their stores and online to increase sales. In fact, 34% of U.S. consumers are interested in using AR and VR while shopping. Virtual dressing rooms can help shoppers see how clothes look on a visual representation of their body, so they can try on clothes that are not currently in the store. MEC can also help increase visibility into which products may be available on the shelf for customers with improved inventory management. Cashierless checkout can help reduce transaction time, improve customer satisfaction and increase productivity by reassigning cashiers to handle other tasks. In-store robotics that scan shelves for inventory monitoring or clean floors require the low latency provided by MEC.
MEC and Manufacturing 4.0 go hand in hand. It can help businesses improve logistics throughout their operations, reduce waste and inefficiency, reduce manufacturing and assembly line errors, and spearhead a new class of automation not possible at scale before. The lower latency of 5G networks can help automated robotics and machinery have faster reaction times to help make decisions that could help keep workers safe. Manufacturers can help prevent accidents and injuries by monitoring production with apps running on MEC. Through near real-time data, the apps can create alerts about potential safety issues before accidents happen. The low latency makes it possible to increase the use of automation throughout the manufacturing life cycle, from production to shipping. Additionally, manufacturers can improve product and output quality through the use of digital twins for comparative analysis. MEC's low latency can also help enable improved quality assurance monitoring in the warehouse, such as picking and packing precision.
Healthcare often requires split-second lifesaving decisions, and MEC gives providers the speed and data needed in near real-time. For example, it can enhance patient care by supporting the complex image processing needed for advanced medical imaging. Medical professionals equipped with insights from MEC-enabled, near real-time data are better able to support inpatient care. They can also use 5G-enabled IoT sensors to track and monitor assets such as wheelchairs and insulin pumps in near-real time to help ensure doctors and patients have the equipment and devices they need when they need them.
The high performance of MEC can help improve the way fans enjoy live entertainment, by making it possible to bring people together in safer, smarter and more immersive ways. MEC coupled with 5G-enabled cameras and sensors can capture and rapidly process physical event data, enabling venue operators to make faster and more informed decisions based on near real-time insights. Instead of using traditional ticketing systems, guests can enjoy seamless entry to the venue with opt-in facial authentication technology for accelerated access. By analyzing guest patterns in the venue, operators can use crowd analytics to reduce wait times at entrances, concession stands or restrooms. Advanced wayfinding information can also help improve traffic flow for safety, and help guests navigate through the venue.
With autonomous vehicles, the high bandwidth and low latency of 5G and MEC can make it possible for operators to process road and driving information in near real-time to help improve safety and performance. Materials could be delivered with semi-autonomous vehicles on a construction site, potentially helping to increase productivity, decrease costs and improve safety.
Many financial services customers expect real-time responses and digital self-service. With increased mobile offerings, 49% of banks view faster, more reliable connections to support apps as a high priority. By using MEC, financial institutions could turn traditional branches into smart branches, which use digital technology in partnership with human representatives to better serve customers. The lower latency of MEC can help enable the use of virtual assistants to help customers with many tasks, which helps improve accuracy and speeds up resolution. Additionally, MEC could help make it possible to speed up loan transactions and shorten settlement cycles. Because the markets change quickly, MEC gives financial services professionals the smarter insights and faster decision-making needed to help improve customer outcomes.
MEC can help make it possible for utility firms to track and manage their energy flow through a smart grid. By using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, organizations collect near real-time data and continuously monitor power transmission, or set alerts for loss of power. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can then be used to analyze usage and make energy optimization recommendations.
MEC could make it possible for organizations to offer enhanced training and improved collaboration to employees. By using augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) organizations can provide a level of immersive training previously not possible. Latency can severely interrupt the virtual training experience, but with MEC, the user enjoys a near real-time response that creates a very realistic simulation. Additionally, MEC could enable live video assistance for field reps or employees troubleshooting at a customer site. The ability to collaborate on video in near real-time helps employees learn how to resolve customer issues quickly.
Fraud happens quickly. Organizations often spot fraud after the fact due to a delay in receiving data. However, the near real-time performance of MEC means organizations can use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to help detect abnormal behavior patterns and take action while fraud is occurring. By preventing fraud, businesses save money and improve customer satisfaction.
After an organization decides to leverage mobile edge computing, it must decide between public or private MEC. The right solution depends on your firm's specific needs. Learn the differences between public and private MEC and the benefits of each. Then, turn to a trusted partner to help you put your best ideas into practice and give your employees and customers the experience they deserve.
With public MEC, the infrastructure is deployed on the public cloud and data is stored at the network edge. Because the computing resources are closer to the bandwidth-intensive applications' endpoints, backhaul costs can be reduced. MEC also can reduce computing costs for applications that don't require dedicated resources.
Organizations with a broad geographic footprint or lots of locations—such as retail stores or entertainment venues—could benefit the most from public MEC. Similarly, applications that support mobile devices and users, such as autonomous vehicles, will benefit from the broad coverage and availability offered by public MEC.
By turning to a partner with extensive experience in MEC, your organization can be up and running quickly with a near real-time operation. In addition to technical infrastructure, Verizon can provide ideas on how to use MEC to transform your organization and best use your near real-time data. Verizon also partners with industry-leading cloud providers to enable the creation of next-generation applications. With MEC as your foundation, your organization can put your best ideas and innovations into practice to give your employees and customers the experience they deserve.
Learn more about how to use mobile edge computing in your business.