It’s undeniable that technology is evolving faster than ever. New technology can develop from concept to commercial use in a matter of years. A year ago, ChatGPT didn’t exist. Its introduction has made AI a must. Ten years ago, 5G was in the early design phase. Today it is leading a global communication revolution. Five years ago, quantum computing was firmly in the experimental stages. Now it is shaking up the commercial space with advanced processing speeds to the point where 65% of business leaders and technology decision-makers believe that it will be important to their organizations. All these rapidly developed technologies are changing the way we work and the way we live.
So, what are the next disruptive technologies businesses need to prepare for?
What impact are 5G and quantum computing having on businesses?
Big data has already made waves, from personalized advertising campaigns to predictive maintenance of manufacturing assets. Its potential is elevated by the development of complementary technologies. 5G and quantum computing are two such technologies that are changing the way we process and use data. As of now, the standard system starts with identifying use cases, the data needed, the data available and then defining the necessary deep learning algorithms.
The next generation of data processing starts with data acquisition from sensors and other data sources across departments. For example, managing the manufacturing process is becoming increasingly challenging for businesses due to the unpredictability of the various influencing factors in any given value chain. By collecting end-to-end data from installed sensors and third parties, a clear and accurate picture becomes available in real-time, supporting agility and adaptability in uncertain times.
However, in order for data to be reliable, it must be processed, a process which involves cleaning the data, checking for consistency, organizing it into coherent sets and then checking the consistency between data sets. Data is processed in real-time, enabled by the emerging technology of 5G as it eliminates the previous barrier of limited bandwidth.
With the data stored and processed, deep learning ensues. For this to be effective, there has to be a clear goal. What do you want to learn from the data? Otherwise, valuable insights can’t be extracted. Previously, this has been challenging due to limited computer power. That barrier has been overcome by quantum computing which gives capacity for real-time processing. It ushers in a new era of advanced algorithms and tangible improvements.
Finally, this will enable real-time implementation of use cases aimed directly at market impact, going beyond reporting and operational excellence. This new ecosystem will be made possible by increased computing power enabled by the introduction of quantum computing and the increased bandwidth due to the rollout of 5G.
Why invest in 5G and quantum computing
The expanded capacity and increased speed 5G and quantum computing create will forge a competitive advantage for early adopters. They are changing the way industries operate for good.
Reduced cost
As this new generation of data processing produces richer insights faster, businesses are more likely to discover opportunities to leverage and issues to avoid. Essential assets will be better maintained and therefore last longer. The current value chain problems with too many variables will become optimized for even better output at minimum cost. Future changes can be predicted, allowing businesses to reroute ahead of time.
Improved efficiency
Previously, the collection, processing and interpretation of data was lengthy and laborious. 5G and quantum computing have streamlined processing by removing barriers such as a lack of collaboration causing an obstructed data flow. The level of efficiency is partly due to the speed of quantum computing. Quantum computers are 158 million times faster than the most advanced supercomputer. Consequently, businesses can be highly responsive with real-time insights directing decision-making even at a day-to-day level. Resources aren’t wasted on initiatives that are out of date and no longer relevant by the time they are solved.
Sustainability
The more efficiently a business is run, the more sustainable it can be. Energy and resources are optimized. New resources and ways of working can be explored through advanced algorithms and detailed data. As 5G and quantum computing have been developed in recent years, their environmental impact has already been considered. In fact, a faster transition to 5G could save 0.5 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
One business that is known for being an early adopter of new ideas and working on the development of future technologies is Tesla. Considering how they already run their business, they are a great example of how businesses can benefit from the developments in 5G and quantum computing. Although still mostly on traditional technology, they have integrated car data collection with machine learning into their complete ecosystem.
Sensors in cars collect real-time data which is sent to their centralized data storage. Using machine learning, they are developing an intelligent algorithm to improve the reliability of self-driving engines. As progress is made, updates are transferred to the cars already sold to customers and on the road at an almost daily rate. Quantum computing will support the development of such a complex algorithm and 5G provides the bandwidth for the processing of so much data with speed.
The future is here and unfolding faster than most businesses are ready for. Those in tune with the pace of change won’t miss a beat in recognizing the impact of 5G and quantum computing and therefore the necessity of integrating it into current business strategy. The opportunity to be an early adopter and establish a competitive advantage is closing with the IMB Quantum Networking growing from 40 members in 2019 to now over 210 Fortune 500 companies, universities, labs and startups. This isn’t the last you’ll hear about the disruptive technologies of 5G and quantum computing.