WHAT’S BUZZING
Organisations unprepared for AI’s energy and data requirements
While more industries are embracing AI, many organisations face a hurdle. They lack the infrastructure to meet the high-performance data demands and energy requirements essential for maximising AI benefits. This challenge complicates the successful implementation of AI, especially in supporting crucial corporate initiatives, such as efforts to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint.
A recent Pure Storage study finds that 73% of IT buyers are unprepared for the energy needs of AI. This same percentage acknowledges the necessity of upgrading data management tools and storage infrastructure for effective AI support, leading nearly all to plan IT infrastructure upgrades. However, 89% struggle to meet sustainability goals due to these upgrades.
“In the age of AI, power and data demands will grow exponentially and investing in the right AI-ready data infrastructure is critical to give your project the best chance of success,” says Nathan Hall, Pure Storage’s vice president for Asia Pacific and Japan. With an energy-efficient, reliable and high-performance infrastructure, organisations will reap the full benefits of AI, keep energy costs in line, and stay on track with corporate environmental goals.
AI and cloud transformation are top IT investment priorities for 2024
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A study conducted by Rackspace Technology in collaboration with VMware found that, in the coming year, organisations are placing a high priority on deploying AI and undergoing cloud transformation.
According to the research, two-thirds of respondents are considering or planning to use generative AI. Additionally, the majority intends to incorporate generative AI into some processes or fully integrate it into all processes within the next 12 months. The anticipated benefits include improvements in cybersecurity, support for new product development, increased productivity, and enhancements to the speed and efficiency of existing work processes.
The survey also highlights an ongoing evolution in companies’ cloud strategies as workloads migrate away from within the organisation’s walls. When asked to compare their current infrastructure with their projected infrastructure composition over the next three years, private cloud rose by 4% while public cloud saw a smaller increase, with concurrent decreases observed in workloads running on other servers, including mainframes and on-premises data centres. Edge computing is also becoming a priority, with 30% of organisations saying it will be part of their IT infrastructure makeup in 12 months.
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As companies prioritise AI and cloud, securing and retaining talent remains challenging. Respondents identified a shortage of skilled workers as their leading concern and cited the rapid pace of technology advancement as the leading cause for higher IT labour costs.
“This challenge underscores the need for a different workforce strategy that prioritises adaptability, problem-solving, and continuous learning in addition to the latest technical skills to keep pace and drive innovation forward,” says Srini Koushik, president of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology.
IN PICTURE
Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore. Photo: Hyundai
Operating as a digital twin Meta-Factory, the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) synchronises the virtual and physical worlds in real time.
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Employees can simulate tasks in the digital virtual space (or metaverse) while robots physically move components on the production line.
Robots perform assembly, inspection, and production facility organisation, managing more than 60% of component process management, ordering, and transportation. This frees humans from repetitive and laborious tasks to focus on more creative and productive duties.
HMGICS can manufacture up to 30,000 electric vehicles per annum. It already produces IONIQ 5 and the fully autonomous IONIQ 5 robotaxi and will add IONIQ 6 to its portfolio of models built on-site this year. Thanks to its advanced manufacturing capability, the facility will serve as a testbed for developing future mobility solutions – including purpose-built vehicles.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMER
Qlik helps propel Japfa UD2 towards intelligent, data-centric operations
Photo: Pexels
Japfa, an Asian agri-food company, is utilising Qlik’s solutions to advance its mission of providing safe, nutritious, traceable protein foods across various Asian markets. These markets include Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.
The company first adopted QlikView to shift from manual reporting to dynamic, insightful visualisations. This provided Japfa’s teams with clear, regular insights from extensive data sources, accelerating crucial operational decisions in feed and livestock production.
Japfa (in partnership with SIFT Analytics) expanded its data analytics capabilities to scale these insights further. By integrating Qlik Data Integration, Qlik Sense, and cloud services such as Snowflake, Japfa created a robust information management system that streamlines data collection and analysis.
Qlik Replicate’s synergy with Snowflake has been pivotal in developing Japfa’s automated data processing, making information accessible and actionable. This transformative approach (supported by Qlik Sense’s intuitive visualisations) enabled Japfa to shift from labour-intensive monthly reporting to streamlined, daily automated insights.
“In our quest for efficiency, real-time, cloud-based insights are indispensable. Qlik enhances our decision-making processes and strengthens team collaboration and understanding, propelling us towards intelligent, data-centric operations,” says Kwang Chin Eu, Japfa’s chief digitalisation officer.
