5G for the Future of Business & Data-based Decision Making

Sankaranarayanan “Shanky” Viswanathan

Babu Unnikrishnan (Unni)

Businesses in every sector have been bracing themselves for the monumental changes being unleashed by artificial intelligence (AI), automation and other aspects of the fourth industrial revolution. One of the most significant enablers of these changes is 5G.

Across industries, businesses have been reaping the fruits of the industrial revolution, with 5G leading the charge. Unlike the mobile technology of previous generations that had brought huge advances in consumer-facing applications, the biggest impact of 5G will be in the business world – enabling machine-to-machine and machine-to-cloud communications, and intelligent edge analysis on an unprecedented scale.

Freeing up devices to share data that can be used for real-time and near-real-time decision-making will in turn set the stage for the development of smart factories, connected and intelligent products, smart logistics and much more.

Not only can data be transferred at higher speeds via 5G, but the latter can also handle greater volumes of data.

Everything from huge amounts of drone-supplied video data to a machine's ability to self-diagnose its own performance degradation will become eminently possible.

For telcos, understanding why this makes 5G more than just another milestone in the evolution of mobile technology is key to getting to grips with how to monetize the opportunities it brings.

Smarter than the average factory

While every iterative improvement in technology offers advances in efficiency or productivity, 5G promises so much more. This includes increased speeds, greater capacity and lower latency – but it’s the innovative solutions it will enable that will have a transformative impact. This is demonstrated in the evolution of the smart factory.

Rather than automate discrete processes, the smart factory will function as a single, connected entity able to flex and adapt on the fly, thanks to real-time data-based decision-making. This consistent flow of data across every aspect of the operation will empower the factory itself to determine the most effective blend of human, machine and materials.

It will also mean machines can, autonomously, transport materials from one part of the production line to another. It will also make it possible for them to monitor their own performance and, in the event of problems, self-diagnose and arrange maintenance. This reduces the chances of costly unplanned downtime, which can bring production to a halt.

In cases where further intervention is needed, 5G will also support the use of AI-based, high-quality visual inspection. Video and images from production lines will be analyzed and problems rapidly identified. This approach can be used to set and reinforce quality thresholds as part of a zero-defect operations model.

The ability for machines to communicate with one another, and just as importantly with cloud-based operations platforms, puts a great demand on the data network. Smart devices, part of the internet of things, connections to the cloud and so on – all made possible by 5G – will produce such volumes of data that would have been hard to comprehend just a few years ago.

Existing technology – such as fibre-enabled Wi-Fi – alone is unlikely to be able to offer the flexibility that 5G devices will provide, allowing machines to be relocated or even fully mobile while remaining connected.

Connected organizations

A smart factory will not exist as an island, either. It will be connected to all the other operations of the business – all of which will be feeding data, in real time, into a digital operations core.

That may include other manufacturing facilities in different parts of the world and will certainly include logistics functions, sales operations, business intelligence platforms and the supply chain. This will open the door to enhanced research and development, improved production planning, more efficient consumption of materials, optimized inventory stock levels, and better customer engagement based on mass personalization.

These are all possibilities that can only be realized through the effective deployment of next-generation digital technologies, with 5G acting as the glue that binds it all together, adding vital end-to-end security to accelerate the convergence of IT and operations functionality.

Collaborative futures

Telco businesses that work collaboratively with a wider ecosystem to develop a complete end-to-end solution for various vertical market scenarios could be the big winners in the 5G economy.

By 2034, 5G may have generated an additional $565 billion in global GDP, according to figures from the GSMA. And in the UK alone, almost two-thirds of manufacturing companies plan to implement 5G within two years of availability – making the potential benefits of collaboration clear.

We are only scratching the surface of the abundance of opportunities opened up by 5G. It is more than just technological infrastructure, it is a portal that can leapfrog us into the future of business and industry - and it will require a new mindset to leverage its promise.

About the authors

Sankaranarayanan “Shanky” Viswanathan

Vice-President & CTO, Head - Industry Advisory Group, Communications, Media and Information Services, TCS Shanky Viswanathan brings over 25 years of strong industry knowhow, domain expertise and technology innovation together to help CxOs drive and sustain business leadership. As CTO, Shanky explores how technology disruptions can be harnessed to power enterprises into the future. As the head of the Industry Advisory Group of TCS’ Communications, Media and Information Services (CMI) business unit, Shanky helps the C-suite navigate disruption and transformation in the age of experience economy, ecosystems and platforms. Shanky holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India, and has co-authored several patents.

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Babu Unnikrishnan (Unni)

CTO, Manufacturing and Utilities, TCS Responsible for technology leadership and strategic advisory services, Unni works closely with TCS Corporate Technology Research, industry partners and academia in defining the research and innovation (R&I) roadmap as well as emerging technology strategy for enterprises the world over. As CTO, he defines digital architecture and formulates differentiated industry solutions for areas such as smart factory, networked logistics and intelligent assets. Unni holds a Master’s degree in Technology from IIT Bombay and is a regular speaker at technology forums and customer panels.

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We’re in it for good, driving positive change for the benefit of all.

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Find the latest news about TCS in our Newsroom

Recent Press releases

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TCS works hand in hand with world-leading investors.

Smart factory, smart opportunities: How 5G is driving new models and markets for telcos

About the authors

Sankaranarayanan “Shanky” Viswanathan

Babu Unnikrishnan (Unni)

TCS is here to make a difference through technology.

We’re in it for good, driving positive change for the benefit of all.

Extraordinary expertise leads to remarkable results.

Want to be a global change-maker? Join our team.

Find the latest news about TCS in our Newsroom

Recent Press releases

Recent News

Recent recognitions

TCS works hand in hand with world-leading investors.

About the authors

Sankaranarayanan “Shanky” Viswanathan

Babu Unnikrishnan (Unni)

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