Schneider’s latest AI research paper revealed that 7 out of 10 organisations across Australia and New Zealand are eager to collaborate with technology partners to drive their AI transformation. ‘Industry specialists’ are the first choice, closely followed by systems integrators and managed service providers.
It also unveiled their three key areas of need to successfully implement this transformation. The first – they need aid in linking the potential of AI to tangible business value. Where are their ’slam-dunks’? The second, they need support to build models that suit their specific needs. And thirdly, they need ongoing support with management of the applications.
When considering the path to optimising for AI, Edge computing solutions cannot be ignored. Edge computing brings computational resources closer to the data source, meaning reduced latency and real-time processing. By deploying AI algorithms at the edge, businesses can analyse and act on data locally without always relying on a centralised cloud infrastructure. This is valuable in scenarios where real-time decision-making is essential, such as in the industrial and healthcare segments. The combination of edge solutions and AI means we can get actionable insights from data at the point of generation, leading to improved operational efficiency and enhanced security.
Inspired by these research findings, and the market demand for AI and Edge synergies, Schneider has developed our ‘AI Edge Sales Playbook’. We’ve explored four key market segments including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and finance and banking and extracted their current challenges, the biggest wins AI poses for them, and the opportunities that exist for channel partners to sweep these businesses off their feet.
Segment insights:
In Healthcare, we’re seeing operational and customer experience technologies as the clear favourites for technology investment, and 29% say they are only just starting to invest in edge technologies. It’s revealed that the top reasons they’re pursing edge computing sites, is they recognise its benefits for a better customer experience (including increased loyalty), and its impact on the employee experience.
In retail it’s a similar story - customer experience is the number one technology investment priority for the next 12 months, followed by technologies to manage business. 39% of respondents say they don’t have a standalone edge computing strategy however other strategic initiatives encompass edge site planning.
Manufacturing is prioritising operational and business management technology investments for the next 12 months, and just under a quarter of them have only just started exploring edge computing stating “We are familiar with edge computing and are starting to invest in it”. They recognise the benefits of edge computing, specifically in respect of current bandwidth challenges with data, and that it addresses privacy and security issues.
Finance and banking will be investing their technology funds into operational and customer experience technologies, 28% of respondents in this sector noted that they are only just starting to invest in edge computing (33% have an established strategy). Interestingly, one of the edge drivers in this sector is the lack of cloud or service providers where they need them.
It’s clear that there’s an enormous opportunity here for Channel Partners to step in and drive these organisations forward to close the gap between their present and future positions. And Schneider Electric is primed and ready to help them do that. Their award-winning IT Channel Partner program gives you access to exclusive tools such as design portals and training modules, as well as access to rewards programs and certifications. Join the program today.
For more Edge AI insights into your industry, and for a look into how you can best use your expertise to help your customers get the most out of their AI journey download the playbook.
