Advanced connectivity platforms and the role of AI in ensuring operationality and regulatory compliance are increasingly crucial in complex industrial sectors such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare and logistics, as well as in the management of essential public services. In this context, Edge computing is established as a key enabler for distributed data processing. This is stated in the study titled “The Next Operating System”, prepared by Foundry with the collaboration of Kyndryl and Nokia.
Efficiency is no longer focused on improving individual components, but on the value of connected systems. Thus, in sectors such as Utilities, the benefits of advanced connectivity platforms, together with Edge computing and AI, provide tangible improvements in the supervision and control of critical infrastructures.
In projects already carried out in companies in the energy sector, sensorized assets detect early signs of failure and drones expand visibility in networks thanks to the use of Edge computing near the point of operation. If this is combined with augmented reality tools, maintenance becomes faster and safer. Drone inspections alone can reduce costs by 70% and reduce downtime by up to 90% in offshore wind.
In the case of Spanish ports, the implementation of digital asset management strategies, supported by Edge computing, and digitalization have already generated a 15% increase in operational efficiency and a 10% reduction in maintenance costs in the last five years.
Industrial sector and essential services
This approach is ideal for the industrial sector and essential public services, allowing real-time decisions, optimizing operations, reducing costs, increasing resilience and accelerating innovation through architectures based on Edge computing.
However, this type of project requires multidisciplinary teams, as pointed out by Enrique Abero, Network & Edge Practice leader for Spain and Portugal at Kyndryl: “Organizations operate today in increasingly complex contexts, with distributed infrastructures, highly regulated processes and increasing risks. In this scenario, private 5G networks and Edge computing make it possible to reduce accidents, improve processes and reinforce operational continuity, especially in hostile environments. Kyndryl’s contribution consists of integrating advanced technologies with multidisciplinary teams that understand the problem. business and design real solutions to solve it.”
Abero also highlights Kyndryl’s experience in mission-critical projects such as the one developed for Dow Chemical, where the company worked together with Nokia on an Edge computing platform with private 5G to eliminate the use of paper in the plant, automate processes and increase operational security.
Private 5G networks and Edge computing make it possible to reduce accidents, improve processes and reinforce operational continuity
The report concludes with a set of practical guidelines for launching the platform model. These include prioritizing reusable use cases, ensuring data is captured and shared correctly, using edge computing to accelerate innovation, and building a unified connectivity framework that integrates private 5G.
