IT in Manufacturing


How the evolving cloud is driving growth

November 2023 IT in Manufacturing

Cloud technology has become a driving force for South African companies to adapt their IT infrastructure. However, they are not just sticking to one form of technology. They are blending cloud services with on-premises solutions to harness the best from a multi-cloud, hybrid world. The conversation now is not about choosing between the two. Rather it is about figuring out the optimal blend.

One significant trigger for this transition, especially in Africa, has been the arrival of new undersea cable systems. The access to bandwidth these cables provide has been a game-changer for connectivity on the continent. We have witnessed a significant shift, with numerous businesses moving from on-premise environments to hosted data centres. The large-scale investments by new entrants like Google Equiano have substantially amplified the undersea bandwidth capacity available to South Africa and other African landing points.

These hyperscale data centres, partnered with content delivery nodes from giants like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and AWS, have ushered in a new era. The Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is no longer a distant dream, it is a tangible reality in South Africa. This transformation means that businesses in neighbouring countries can now easily access these large-scale investment data centres due to the increased connectivity speeds available.

The growth we have seen in this sector has been significant. Most of these services − from firewall provisioning to software applications − are now cloud-based. The integration of content with undersea cables is a significant driver of this trend. It is hard not to mention Teraco and its NAP peering environment, which has been a huge driver for businesses to connect to major content delivery nodes.

The consumption trend is shifting too. Consumers and businesses alike are embracing the ‘everything as a service’ model. The affordability, accessibility and proven business cases of these services have reduced the initial resistance. There was a time when businesses hesitated, taking cautious steps towards the cloud. Now the gates are wide open, thanks to the investments from the content providers and data centres.

However caution is still important. Businesses are diligently trying to understand their workload for cloud investment. While there might be instances where they pay more for these cloud strategies in the long term, the access to flexible resources and scalability is unmatched. Yet some prefer a physical or virtual self-deployed environment within a data centre, particularly when considering cost and transactional service usage. Managed virtual platforms have emerged as a solution to this challenge.

The future seems to be tilting towards a hybrid approach, with not all investments pouring into hyperscalers. Application providers have come of age, and we are likely to see a future dominated by application holders. The vision is clear: subscription services will reign supreme, with OEMs renting out services. The end clients will not even need to deliberate where to host services and data. The landscape is evolving, and inq. is excited to be part of this journey.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Optimising the product design process
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
OPmobility is partnering with Siemens to adopt its Teamcenter X Product Lifecycle Management software. OPmobility’s increasingly complex products now include electronics and software, to create energy storage systems, which include battery and hydrogen electrification solutions and fuel tanks.

Read more...
Smart milling for resilient, sustainable food production
IT in Manufacturing
As the global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing urbanisation, the milling industry faces the challenge of balancing efficiency with sustainability. Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high operational performance. Its solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability.

Read more...
The evolving landscape of data centres in the age of AI
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven primarily by the explosive growth of AI. It’s clear that the demands of AI are reshaping the very foundations of data infrastructure. This isn’t merely about incremental upgrades; it’s a fundamental shift in how we design, power and operate these critical facilities.

Read more...
SA Food Review
IT in Manufacturing
Food Review is a monthly trade journal for South Africa’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, for industry professionals seeking detailed information on trends, technologies, best practices and innovations.

Read more...
Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo
ifm - South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.

Read more...
AI accelerates energy transformation
RJ Connect IT in Manufacturing
With the rapid expansion of generative AI applications, data centre power demand is reaching unprecedented levels.

Read more...
Revolutionising mining operations with MineOptimize
IT in Manufacturing
Now more than ever, mining and mineral processing companies need to boost productivity, ensure safety, and protect the environment. ABB’s comprehensive electrification, automation and digital solutions portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these challenges across all mining processes, from mine to port, transforming performance in a digital world.

Read more...
Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.

Read more...
TwinCAT Vision functionality extended
Beckhoff Automation IT in Manufacturing
The image processing and camera integration capabilities of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT 3 Vision software have been expanded.

Read more...
Automation software to future-proof your operations
Adroit Technologies IT in Manufacturing
As the official partner of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, Adroit Technologies empowers businesses with cutting-edge solutions that reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity.

Read more...