The rise of mobility and IoT can be daunting as you take the next steps to drive your digital transformation forward. The good news is that through the Intelligent Digital Edge, companies can secure a path to a scalable and streamlined digital transformations that taps into all that these technologies can offer; however, long-term success is contingent upon looking beyond the must-needed technologies and system implementation. It’s simply not enough to design and deploy an intelligent solution at the digital edge.
Once a system has been deployed, this is just the beginning in what is possible. To fully take advantage of what the Intelligent Digital Edge can deliver, companies must adhere to ongoing and proactive management with the tailored expertise that takes the burden of IT and operational challenges off the table. By alleviating these burdens, businesses can focus on what’s most important and what they do best – their business.
Consider the architecture necessary to succeed at the digital edge. There is foundational technology like mission-critical mobility with Wi-Fi, 4G/5G, and public safety. There is also the implementation of intelligent networking, featuring structured cabling and carrier/internet connectivity. Plus, robust network and physical security is essential.
But even after that’s in place, an additional layer of enabling technology aimed at fulfilling specific business outcomes must be ingrained into the design. This layer can include location solutions to permit in-store wayfinding and inventory optimization, unified communication and smart board solutions that enhance team collaboration, or specialized IoT devices that drive new outcomes.
The upshot is that even once installed, the job is nowhere near over when it comes to ensuring that an Intelligent Digital Edge performs smoothly and consistently over time. To do that, proactive managed services are vital, and to get this right means tailoring support to unique needs – needs that can include handling day-to-day operations like service desk, monitoring, maintenance, and trouble shooting. This also requires the transparency of best-in-class service level agreements.
In addition, reaching these management goals necessitates a large staff of technicians with a depth of knowledge and experience. For most businesses, this means going outside the organization to align itself with a partner who can deliver support regardless of the region. Whether in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, or Asia, the right management will make sure performance is consistent across all networks and devices.
Embracing the Intelligent Digital Edge isn’t just about a tailored design or installing the best solutions (albeit these two components are integral to the process), it’s about staying in front of changes and having the perfect team in place to anticipate evolving needs. For more information on how great management can support superior design and deployment, speak with a Black Box representative about making your Intelligent Digital Edge pain-free long after it’s deployed.
