Research report
Powering reinvention with private wireless networks
5-minute read
Research report
5-minute read
The business climate continues to generate new and unexpected challenges for all industries.
Industrial companies need to change faster – and on a greater scale – than ever before. To keep up, they need to embrace Total Enterprise Reinvention by harnessing the power of next-level capabilities like robotics, digital twins, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Leaders know this rests on having fast, resilient, reliable, secure and predictable connectivity that can adapt with the needs of the business. It’s why modern operational technology (OT) networks are the key enabler of Industry 4.0.
There’s a catch. Industrial sites and facilities are very different to typical offices and business premises. And so are their networking requirements.
Why? Because connectivity in these locations is often challenged by their physical scale, remote location, and/or construction materials. This is exacerbated by cumbersome legacy technology that was built many years ago and is increasingly expensive to maintain.
The result? “Shadow IT” often arises, reducing central oversight and control. And companies often end up with a costly and underperforming “cocktail of connectivity” across both IT and OT, comprising thousands of gateways, routers and endpoint devices from a wide range of different providers.
A new kind of solution is now possible. Advances in private wireless networks provide new ways for industrial companies to upgrade, extend and modernize their connectivity. Powered by the same cellular technology used by public carriers, these networks unlock new digital innovation across the Cloud Continuum, while providing a new fabric for reliable IT and OT service delivery.
By developing an end-to-end vision, industrial companies can drive a successful network transformation across both IT and OT.
The priorities? To understand the current landscape and map the technology to fit the vision. To align the network with business needs and deliver value end-to-end. And to plan how to integrate the private wireless ecosystem across the technology stack—including hardware, software, and physical infrastructure.
To do this well, companies need to orchestrate an ecosystem that includes global telcos, cloud and edge platform providers, IoT specialists, device and application vendors, system integrators, operations outsourcers and strategy and transformation advisory experts.
The key point? Collaborating with the ecosystem helps ensure fast, efficient, and successful results by using best-in-class skills to solve complex business problems.
Private wireless networks allow industrial companies to reliably upgrade and extend their connectivity, while unlocking new digital innovations across the Cloud Continuum.
The best way to begin? Accenture recommends addressing several key considerations up front:
Today’s industrial companies need a strong digital core to power total enterprise reinvention.
Networks are a critical component of that core, allowing companies to take advantage of the Cloud Continuum, helping them operate faster and smarter, leveraging next-generation AI and ML automation.
It’s why this is the time to plan for a private wireless future for mission-critical OT networks.