NTT DATA’s latest announcement covers the launch of its new Edge AI platform, which is designed to enhance IT/OT convergence by enabling AI processing at the edge.
This fully managed solution processes data where it is generated and integrates diverse IoT devices, systems, and data, allowing for real-time decision-making, improved operational efficiencies, and secure AI deployment across various industries, thereby advancing Industry 4.0 technologies.
Although GenAI and Large Language Models (LLMs) have garnered much attention, the company thinks they are not practical for industries requiring real-time, local decision-making. Therefore, this new Edge AI solution addresses this by processing large data sets on compact computing platforms using smaller, more efficient machine learning models to provide real-time AI insights.
NTT DATA’s Edge AI is an all-inclusive managed service platform that includes the necessary systems, tools, and capabilities for AI at the edge. It covers data discovery, collection, integration, computational power, seamless connectivity, and AI model management – all within a cost-effective small compute box.
Manufacturing operations can benefit from improved predictive maintenance by accessing IT/OT data from sensors, machinery, cameras, and applications to anticipate and address failures. Additionally, NTT DATA’s Edge AI can monitor and optimize energy consumption in real-time, predict energy spikes, and optimize machine usage, reducing costs and CO2 emissions through renewable energy.
According to IDC, global spending on edge computing is expected to reach $232 billion in 2024, a 15% increase over 2023, driven by the growing number of connected IoT devices, projected to exceed 41 billion by 2025. NTT DATA is well-positioned to capture significant market share with its dedicated IoT consulting and services business, which includes 1,000 industry experts, numerous use cases such as predictive maintenance, fleet management, connected factories, energy consumption monitoring, and sustainability, and over 500 trained sales experts globally to boost its Edge AI market efforts.
NTT DATA’s Edge AI deployment approach offers clients a free 30-day discovery and diagnostic of their IT and OT environment. The software auto-discovers assets using a vast library of pre-built OT interfaces. After this initial stage, Edge AI software generates a comprehensive diagnostic report inventorying assets and data streams, and identifying security risks and vulnerabilities.
On the other hand, the company’s managed services for Edge AI offers a unified view and management of devices, sensors, and assets. With expert support and advanced technologies, NTT DATA helps businesses simplify complex processes, reduce costs, enhance performance, and accelerate digital transformation.
As the industry’s first fully managed IT/OT convergence platform, Edge AI transforms physical assets into software assets for data-driven insights, regardless of the manufacturer. Operating at the edge, managed services integrate OT assets with IT applications, boosting operational efficiency. Edge AI also provides a view of the firmware version of all connected devices to facilitate vulnerability patching and enhance device security.
All in all, Edge AI completes NTT DATA’s comprehensive Edge as a Service portfolio, which includes Enterprise IoT, Edge Compute, Private 5G, and Device as a Service.
Here are the statements given by NTT DATA and other prominent figures in the industry:
“Our Edge AI platform represents a significant advancement in driving AI at the edge securely and cost-effectively, by harmonizing data from diverse sensors and devices with lightweight AI models, powering various automation use cases, NTT DATA’s Edge AI is pioneering industrial AI adoption as the first fully managed offering, helping organizations modernize with tailored, industry-specific solutions.” – Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA
“A key challenge for enterprises is reliably capturing and aggregating operational data securely across a fragmented landscape of devices, platforms, and data sources and turning it into actionable insights, NTT DATA’s ultralight Edge AI addresses these issues and simplifies the deployment and adoption of a data-driven enterprise strategy, reducing risks and timelines and optimizing total cost of ownership and value for the enterprise.” – Alejandro Cadenas, Associate Vice President, Telco Mobility & IoT Research, IDC Europe
“Computing and AI must occur where they create the most value for the enterprise; for many industrial enterprises, this is where the data is generated. By ingesting IT and OT data and leveraging AI models to drive use-case-specific results, the NTT DATA solution advances the industry 4.0 vision, additionally, using task-specific small AI models will help drive AI democratization by making it easier for enterprises to introduce AI where and when needed, without extensive infrastructure overhauls.” – Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst, Private Network, Omdia
