Edge Computing takes hold as global spending nears US$261 billion
Edge Computing is beginning to take hold in industries such as mining, energy, manufacturing and salmon farming to process information in the field.
Local data processing is gaining ground in industrial operations where connectivity and continuity represent critical challenges. Sectors such as mining, energy, manufacturing and salmon farming are moving toward more distributed technological models capable of processing information directly in the field.
This trend is driving the growth of Edge Computing, an architecture that makes it possible to analyze data close to where it is generated, reduce response times and improve the operational capabilities of industries that require continuous monitoring, automation and real-time processing.
According to IDC (2025), global spending on these solutions will reach nearly US$261 billion this year and will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.8%, surpassing US$378 billion by 2028. The advancement of artificial intelligence, industrial automation and advanced analytics is driving this growth.
Local processing gains ground in mining.
In mining, local processing makes it possible to optimize processes through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and operational automation, together with tools such as artificial intelligence, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and private 5G networks.
This contributes to improving productivity, increasing operational safety and reducing costs associated with failures or unplanned downtime.
In response to this demand, Schneider Electric has developed Edge infrastructure solutions that integrate remote monitoring, energy management and cybersecurity, as well as local processing capabilities, aimed at industries that require high availability and operational continuity in critical environments.
Operational continuity requires real-time decisions.
José Luis Leyva, Edge Computing and Partnerships specialist for South America at Schneider Electric: “industries need to make decisions in real time and operate with greater autonomy, especially in remote environments where connectivity can be limited. Edge Computing makes it possible to bring processing capabilities closer to where operations take place, improving responsiveness and operational continuity”.
Energy efficiency emerges as another challenge.
The development of this infrastructure also faces the challenge of moving toward more sustainable and energy-efficient operations.
“The exponential growth of data also increases the energy demand of digital operations. Therefore, industries now require more efficient, scalable and resilient solutions that make it possible to sustain digital transformation in a sustainable manner”, the executive concludes.
In practice, Edge Computing makes it possible to bring data processing closer to industrial operations, as they move toward increasingly automated and data-driven models.
As industries move toward increasingly automated and data-driven operations, this technology is beginning to establish itself as a strategic component for strengthening regional competitiveness, accelerating digitalization and responding to the growing demands for efficiency, operational continuity and sustainability in the country’s productive sectors.
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