As enterprises increasingly adopt Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and digital transformation strategies, the demand for processing data closer to where it is generated has grown significantly. This is the core premise of Edge Computing — bringing computation and data storage nearer to devices and sensors at the "edge" of the network, rather than relying solely on centralized cloud data centers.
SAP Leonardo, SAP’s digital innovation system, incorporates edge computing capabilities within its portfolio to empower businesses with faster decision-making, reduced latency, enhanced security, and optimized bandwidth usage. This article explores how SAP Leonardo enables edge computing and how organizations can leverage it to unlock new business value.
Edge Computing refers to the practice of processing data locally on devices or edge nodes (such as gateways or local servers) near the data source, instead of sending raw data to centralized cloud servers for processing. This approach is essential when:
SAP Leonardo integrates edge computing to complement its cloud services, enabling a hybrid architecture where critical data processing happens on-premises or at the edge, while leveraging the cloud for deeper analytics, storage, and orchestration.
Benefits include:
SAP Leonardo provides Edge Services to run containerized applications and IoT processing at edge locations. These services enable local data aggregation, filtering, and initial analysis before sending data to the SAP Business Technology Platform.
SAP Leonardo integrates with IoT edge gateways that connect physical devices to the cloud. These gateways run lightweight software for device management, data processing, and event handling.
Edge devices can run machine learning inference models locally, providing instant insights and actions. SAP Leonardo’s machine learning models can be deployed and updated to edge nodes efficiently.
SAP Leonardo supports hybrid deployment models where business logic and data processing span across edge and cloud environments seamlessly, allowing flexible architectures tailored to business needs.
Sensors on production lines analyze data locally at the edge, enabling immediate detection of defects. Only critical data and alerts are sent to the cloud, enabling rapid response and reducing downtime.
Edge computing processes sensor data from vehicles on-site, enabling real-time navigation and safety decisions, while aggregated data is uploaded to the cloud for fleet-wide analytics.
Edge nodes in remote locations collect and analyze sensor data from utilities infrastructure. They operate autonomously during connectivity outages, ensuring continuous monitoring and alerting.
Edge computing is a vital component of the digital enterprise, especially as the volume, velocity, and variety of data from IoT devices grow exponentially. SAP Leonardo’s integration of edge computing capabilities provides businesses with the tools to harness local data processing power while maintaining the advantages of cloud scalability and intelligence.
By leveraging SAP Leonardo for edge computing, organizations can achieve faster decision-making, improve operational resilience, and create innovative applications that respond to the demands of a connected, digital world.