Smart technologies for smart working
Efficiency gains and cost-effective production are important drivers for SMEs to use intelligent technologies. After automating the manufacturing processes (smart manufacturing, smart production), the next potentials lie with artificial intelligence, big data, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), where networked machines and devices use sensors to independently generate and transmit data. Typical applications include automatic error detection, status monitoring, predictive maintenance, autonomous transport vehicles, as well as process control and optimization as the basis for a smart factory.
Smart working starts with an intelligent IT network as the basis for the many data transmissions that make smart industry possible in the first place. Good that this can be standardized and automated, too: An efficient basis for efficient, digital working.
NIS2 now also applies to SMEs
No company is too small not to attach importance to its own cyber security. In fact, this care will also be required by law in future as a result of the NIS2 directive. Companies with as few as 50 employees or an annual turnover of 10 million are affected in the defined CRITIS sectors. Failure to do so will be very expensive and unpleasant from October 2024 at the latest. Check now whether you are covered by the directive and which requirements you have to fulfil:
Digitalization in medium-sized companies – a process
The digital transformation of medium-sized companies is not an easy undertaking, but one that is worthwhile: Digitalized companies have a clear competitive advantage. A high-performance and secure IT network is the foundation for reliable business operations and future-proof growth, and it protects companies from damaging cyberattacks.
Digital platforms, services, and working methods (smart working) improve communication and numerous processes, thus increasing productivity and revenues. Those who cleverly use the digital world to their own advantage demonstrate strong brand awareness and bind customers to their own company in a more long-term and satisfying way.
Learn everything you need to know to go through this process safely and at your own pace and scale on our topic pages. Let's tackle your digitalization together!
Identify my digitalization potentials together with LANCOM now
No intelligent production without a powerful IT network
Digitalization is based on reliable device connectivity, real-time processing, and secure connections. Constantly increasing expectations of availability and bandwidth, an almost unmanageable number and variety of devices and sites, agile processes, and disruptive events – IT networks have to cope with all of this as background noise. There are no manual or individual solutions. Smart working needs a modern, powerful network infrastructure. The reasons for upgrading your own corporate network are as powerful as they are obvious:
Anybody wanting to use enterprise mobility, remote working, or big data analytics and employ technologies such as IoT, edge computing, and VR/AR to support their employees, retain customers, or create new business models has to deal with the topic of intelligent IT networks. Taking a closer look at your IT network and its efficiency is a genuine business opportunity.
Simplify processes, gain insights, make decisions: The basis for intelligent networks is cloud technology, which opens up smart ways to optimization. In this way, customers, employees, and partners are all on a single digital platform and able to perform numerous business processes by themselves – for example with invoice retrieval or supplier qualification, which are available as a self-service. Usage behavior and ratings are automatically processed as reports. The business intelligence acquired in this way enables well-founded entrepreneurial decisions, for example about whether to grow a business relationship. With its high potential for increasing efficiency and reducing costs, the cloud-controlled IT network is a true hidden champion.
IT network administrators are the secret heroes of digitalization, and they bear great responsibility: Selecting and maintaining hardware, installing and configuring software, solving problems and fixing errors – when IT infrastructures don’t work smoothly, the impact on business processes and their success is immediate. Intelligent technologies such as cloud-based network management provide significant support in everyday life and offer major relief for IT network managers. This is the only way to successfully implement data-hungry smart industry applications such as smart manufacturing, smart production, and digital working.
Network management
A comprehensive portfolio of remotely controllable IT network devices allows the rapid integration of devices. Intelligent routines detect anomalies and issue an alert; the error can be corrected remotely.
Automated network optimization makes use of metrics and algorithms to ensure continuous, data-driven improvement of the IT network.
Site connectivity
When connecting company sites to the main office, network automation based on intelligent technology is a key measure for improving security and reliability.
The optimization of Wi-Fi for the overall installation considers user behavior and quickly optimizes Wi-Fi coverage. Wi-Fi access points are controlled from the cloud and, for example, transmission powers can be adjusted by allowing for third-party network channels and interference.
Network security
Integrating employees who work from home or in the field, as well as external service providers demands modern security concepts such as zero trust. With complete end-to-end automation including license management and integrated usage statistics, the effort required for the setup is cut to a minimum.
Efficient working in an efficient network
The LANCOM Management Cloud is a clear demonstration of intelligent, efficient operations in the field of network administration. IT networks are faster and cheaper to set up and expand, new sites can be connected in a straightforward workflow, and network performance and security can be monitored in a structured manner. Because this is what smart working is all about: Avoiding redundant tasks, making effective use of skills, optimizing and automating processes, and being ready and able to act – anywhere, anytime.
Since its founding in 2002, LANCOM Systems has not only had to face the challenges of digital transformation itself, but above all has accompanied numerous other medium-sized companies in their digitalization in a spirit of partnership and trust.
We know first-hand how complex this task is and that it has to be solved individually. Get to know a partner who is in the same boat, in the same time zone, and in the same jurisdiction area! Together we will digitalize your company in a way that suits your purposes. We look forward to hearing your story and sharing ours with you.
