August 1, 2017

Fueling Industry 4.0 With Automated IT

Service providers are looking to move BSS/OSS further from support and closer to smart automation.

The term Industry 4.0 signifies the fourth industrial revolution, encompassing emerging technology domains like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). It describes a more collaborative, software-driven industrial landscape in which analytics technology is used to increase automation and enable more efficient operations.

Supporting Industry 4.0 With AI and the IoT

Experts forecast significant improvements in productivity and costs because of Industry 4.0 automation. There is also potential for traditional industrial models to adopt a digital approach, like transforming traditional standalone products into subscription service offerings for durable goods like tractors and smart machines in factories.

At the heart of Industry 4.0 are smart machines that share information with each other and can organize themselves to coordinate processes and meet deadlines. These machines communicate directly with IT systems– including those from ecosystem and supply chain partners– to enable an uninterrupted flow of information across end-to-end processes.

The IoT will play an important role in Industry 4.0, though the two should not be conflated. IoT concepts are central to Industry 4.0 because of the large volume of connected sensors and autonomous devices inherent to it. Alongside cyber-physical and robotized systems, the IoT provides a way to combine software, sensors, processors and communications for Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Automating BSS and OSS

Further innovation in the form of AI and machine learning will augment the data flows collected from sensor networks. This will add to the role connectivity plays in supporting Industry 4.0. Enabling Industry 4.0 will require a new level of scalability, with billions of devices that need to be deployed, activated, configured, maintained, managed and billed for. And though data payloads may not consume massive bandwidth, the volume will be immense and will be coupled with data- and application-specific requirements like ultra-low latency or ultra-high resilience.

Because just a few cents difference in revenue per unit can determine a profit or loss, mass automation will quickly become a prerequisite for service providers. The traditional BSS/OSS stack must evolve to more of an automated platform, and in many cases away from its roots in systems that rely on manual processes.

Today's leading digital service providers are successful mainly because of their ability to provision and deploy services at scale. In a market that's expected to support billions of new connected devices, service providers need to adopt a new approach to software that leverages both automation and virtualization. As service providers transform, they have an opportunity to leverage an enormous Industry 4.0 market for their benefit.

Be sure to check out how Netcracker is enabling the IoT in order to propel service providers through Industry 4.0. 

Latest

Success by the Numbers: Nuuday’s Digital Transformation Results Speak Volumes

Read More

On Video: T-Mobile US Discusses Partnership With Netcracker and Plans for GenAI in Its Business

Watch Video

On Video: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Discusses Partnership With Netcracker

Watch Video

About Your Privacy

We use cookies on our website to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Necessary cookies (essential to make our website work) are always on. You can adjust your cookie preferences at any time by using the “Manage Cookies” link below. Remember, if you disable, reject or delete cookies, you may not have access to the full functionality of this website. If you continue to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies.