Late last year, prominent mobile carriers Verizon and AT&T both launched preliminary 5G services. The average American cell phone user likely shrugged and assumed this would mean eventually upgrading their current cell phone to accommodate faster data speeds. While that is true—though most 5G applications likely won’t appear until around 2022—5G is actually so much more than the chance to load the latest Snapchat story faster. It actually has some significant implications for business technology.
Breaking Down 5G
The “G” in 5G means this is the fifth generation of cellular wireless. Each generation has its own hallmarks: 1G was analog, while 2G brought first-generation digital cellular technology. Next, 3G gave us speeds of a few megabits per second, and 4G included LTE, which helped scale up to speeds as high as gigabit-level.
So what does 5G bring to the table? It boasts greater speed, which empowers the movement of more data; lower latency for better responsiveness; and the ability to connect to more devices at once. This last capability is especially notable for sensors and smart devices.
What 5G Means for Business
Many businesses—especially manufacturing—are already on board with the current cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) advancements to help their processes run leaner and grow revenue. IoT devices are key in providing real-time feedback, including shipping and storage conditions, repair and preventative maintenance alerts, and supply chain data. All this data is then stored in the cloud and some is even translated into ERPs and other database programs.
With the advent of 5G, access to high capacity performance, wireless flexibility, and low latency, support for gathering operational intelligence can only grow. As these networks grow, using machine learning to become smarter and leaner, they will produce even more capturable data that provides actionable intelligence for increased productivity. Additionally, the high reliability and low latency mean that equipment-to-equipment communication can occur even faster via wireless connections, enabling better response time to critical operations.
Get Ready for 5G
While 5G may take time to make it to your city and your business, there are steps you can take now to prepare. It’s important to implement technologies that support you right now while also preparing a bridge to future technology capabilities. AT&T, one of the first to publicize its 5G network, offers four areas of readiness to assess when preparing your infrastructure.
- Virtualization
- Cloud
- IoT
- Cybersecurity
5G and Accounting Solutions, Inc.
5G is likely one of the first cellular generations built with the business user in mind, specifically poised to alter how businesses experience digital data. If you don’t have the right pieces in place now, you could find yourself far behind the 5G power curve. Getting there requires the right technologies, but also the right partner.
Accounting Solutions Inc. has the software solutions and services you need to lay the groundwork for 5G. Whether you’re in the market to upgrade your accounting and financial reporting, or need to track and monitor manufacturing and distribution, ASI has the expertise to train, support, integrate, and customize so you get the solutions you need the way you need them. If you’re ready to lay the groundwork for 5G, we’re here to help.