12/01/24

In today’s world, digital innovation is the key to success. In general, it can lead businesses to reach new heights, ranging from evolution in organizational processes to different ways customers experience their brand.

But what, in fact, does this mean? And to what kind of company does digitalization apply?

First, it must be clarified that digital innovation is a journey, not a destination. It is, therefore, a continuous process that demands adaptation to an evolutionary and constant technological scenario. Secondly, it applies to organizations of all types, sizes and sectors.

This happens because those who do not advance in their improvement journeys based on the demands of new digital technologies will undeniably be left behind.

In this scenario, connectivity plays a key role, since it is an integral part of how we live our personal, social and professional lives, as well as it is at the heart of all digital innovation journeys.

Want to know more? Read below:

What is digital innovation?

At its core, digital innovation is the practice of applying modern digital technology to solving business problems, optimizing processes, improving the customer experience and developing new products, services or operational and commercial models.

It is essential to say that digital innovation is a continually ongoing process, that happens in waves. And that fundamental new technological advances drive each wave.

As an example, we can mention connectivity. If we think about the evolution of the internet, from the old dial-up models to 5G, which has recently been spread worldwide, this transformational process becomes more precise.

In this scenario, the initial waves were driven by the introduction of Web 2.0, smart mobile devices, and the expansion of high-speed internet connections. However, we already see Web 3.0 starting to impact our lives and technology as we know it. In other words, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence, wearables, chatbots, and metaverse; the fact is that we are already surrounded by digital innovation in our daily lives.

The role of connectivity in the digital evolutionary scenario

In fact, digital connectivity – including wireless and satellite technologies – is the utility of the 21st century. It can be said that it is responsible for promoting or advancing two business processes, the provision of services, two aspects of smart cities and two main components of current economies and societies.

Digital connectivity was also a crucial tool in response and recovery from COVID-19. Here, we include everything from medical care to the discovery of vaccines, the ability to teach and work remotely, electronic commerce and critical communications. As a result, digital services, supported by high-performance networks, became more integral to society in the post-pandemic world.

In this context, disconnected populations are at greater risk of exclusion from many online services that make life better. The mobile industry has been essential to extend connectivity to people worldwide. According to a study published by the GSMA, in 2021, mobile internet services are expected to reach 4.2 billion people around the planet.

It is not an overstatement to affirm that the Data Center is a fundamental element of the journey and needs to be considered in the context of a business’s broader digital innovation initiatives. Its structures are responsible for connecting communication networks so that their users can access information and systems remotely.

For this reason, the quality of network connectivity offered by the Data Center has never been that important for the growth of organizations.

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The 5G in the digital innovation arena

When we started to navigate our new life and return to work in hybrid days, it was clear that using connectivity to make the way we live viable would be permanent.

Since then, thousands of internet points will need to be implemented – not just because of the expansion in Latin America but worldwide. In particular, it supports distributed cloud computing and edge computing or enhances business operations to make digital innovation viable.

In this scenario, the Data Centers have been the main enabling components of the 5G infrastructure that, in turn, will make everything happen, with a focus on interconnection.

In order to create a network capable of connecting all devices and interactions, data needs to be transferred, stored and processed at high speeds. Therefore, not back-end, specific data must reside on a dedicated network, long of congestion from other applications.

Digital innovation is for everyone

In recent years, organizations have made an important discovery – using digital technologies to nurture innovative resources offers significant value to the business. And so, the innovators will not just stay active during the pandemic, but they will stand out. And they will be strengthened to advance in the post-crisis dinner.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) has been interested in seeking digital innovation by companies since the height of the pandemic. Likewise, they found that most organizations (69%) plan to deliver innovative digital products and services at the same pace, or faster, than in the last two years. Only 27% said that they would slow down.

As we delve deeper into the data, we see a comprehensive nuance: prominent companies are significantly more likely than smaller ones to accelerate the development of digital innovation.

IDC understands that those with fewer than 20,000 employees are more likely (52%) to provide innovative digital products or services at a faster pace than in the last two years. They are also less likely to slow down the rate of digital innovation.

On the other hand, organizations with fewer than 5,000 employees will be less likely to accelerate digital innovation than to deliver at the same or a slower pace. This behaviour unequivocally qualifies as a high risk to the continuity of the business since technology is a fundamental factor of difference and scalability of the operation.

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ALSO REED: Why regional Data Center network capillarity matters for your IT

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Connectivity in ODATA Data Centers

As we have seen, Data Centers have a fundamental role in the connectivity configurations used by companies. In particular, the network neutrality characteristic is a decisive factor since it confers independence on two services offered by telecommunications operators, making it possible to switch quickly and automatically in case of interruption.

By definition, the ODATA Data Centers are neutral in connectivity (Carrier Neutral), which means that they allow interconnection between various operators and internet providers. This characteristic, of great importance to the expansion of two businesses, guarantees total freedom to choose the best connection according to specific needs.

The entire infrastructure of its Data Centers distributed in essential locations in Latin America was designed to guarantee the traffic of a large volume of data and comprehensive connectivity, with various carriers and access to international routes.

With its own SDN (Software Defined Network) structure and logical connections, it provides speed, redundancy and financial competitiveness. Also, its high capacity and low latency local network (LAN) allows the assembly of an environment turned to cloud computing or mission-critical systems. 

It uses redundant underground fiber optic entrances, an ample hot and switched-off fiber supply, and two telecommunications rooms (MMR).

The company’s multi-service interconnection platform is a single portal for all its connectivity services. Furthermore, its full stack of ICT services helps to better serve your customers and their challenges – either by enabling a hybrid workforce model or by helping you develop a better customer experience.

In this way, the extensive experience of ODATA guarantees that all the elements of its clients’ digital innovation initiatives are connected from end to end.

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Want to know more about accelerating your operation’s digital innovation?