This post first appeared on ClearBlade Founder & CEO Eric Simone’s LinkedIn newsletter, Eric on the Edge. Subscribe on LinkedIn. 

Welcome to the first edition of my personal newsletter, Eric on the Edge! I am beyond excited to dive into all of the topics, trends, and practical case studies that are forming the current state of the IoT, Edge and connected Digital Twins space. 

Recently, I was asked what the key benefits of edge computing are for companies. Edge computing enables companies to distribute compute workloads from centralized data centers to edge devices. As a result, there are a multitude of benefits. Here are my favorites:

• Security – company data stays local behind company firewalls and not shared in a central repository

• Optimization – much more data can be streamed locally enabling more efficient use of real-time data to power AI solutions

• Resiliency – if a network becomes unavailable the Edge can still run independently guaranteeing resiliency of the solution

• Cost Optimization – less data shared over network into the cloud enables companies to tune their systems for cost optimization

• Enhanced Capabilities – more data streaming into Edge devices with specific capabilities enables the creation of enhanced computing solutions

• Privacy – Keeping that kind of data out of the cloud in the first place is key to protecting individual privacy in society

We’re seeing a wide array of interesting use cases in Edge from retail to oil and gas. With the explosion in AI, those use cases only stand to grow exponentially in 2025 and beyond. Last year PYMNTS asked Aaron Allsbrook his thoughts: 

“AI and Edge Computing have created some fascinating use cases for businesses with brick-and-mortar operations that need to be monitored. For example, intelligent video analytics can flag onsite issues like low stock, customer dwell times, or occupancy rates.”

This is truly the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to AI and Edge computing. I hope you’ll join us on this journey by subscribing to this newsletter as well as The ClearBlade Newsletter. 

In the wise words of Neil DeGrasse-Tyson, “I love being wrong because it means in that instant, I learned something that day.” In that spirit, this week I took a close look at my 2024 predictions for the future of IoT, EdgeAI and connected Digital Twins. Check out the recap on our blog and let me know if you agree! 

If you’re looking to gain an edge on the competition in 2025, reach out to our team to learn more about how ClearBlade can drive efficiency, safety and sustainability in your business.