Nokia Seeks to Deliver at the Industrial Edge

In October 2021, Nokia announced the launch of MX Industrial Edge, the company’s on-premises edge solution that enables customers to deploy applications and to manage devices and workflows. The company is integrating these capabilities with its 4.9G/LTE and 5G private wireless networks and industrial software applications. The suite also combines Nokia’s capabilities with those of its partners. One in partner in particular—Taqtile—has demonstrated how Nokia is combining its expertise in connectivity and edge computing with partners to support workers in manufacturing facilities.

Taqtile supports what the company refers to as deskless workers with its Manifest work-instruction platform that delivers task-relevant information to a user’s device. Manifest looks to help manufacturers improve their productivity and quality by blending Augmented Reality (AR), cloud computing, and LTE/5G networks.

AR-based solutions are being used in manufacturing facilities because manufacturers are struggling to train new staff and upskill their existing staff. This is due to COVID-19 restrictions that restrict staff in facilities and to manufacturers’ losing expertise when workers retire.

MX Industrial Edge incorporates compute, storage, wired, and wireless networking; industrial applications; and automated management in a single platform. Operational technology teams can combine their disparate edge deployments into a single on-prem edge platform via the edge application catalog. In addition to Taqtile, pre-integrated applications are already available from companies and products that include PTC’s Kepware, Linux Foundation’s Fledge industrial connectivity software, Smart Mobile Labs’ Edge Video Orchestrator technology, and Microsoft’s Azure IoT Edge services.

Taqtile—based in Seattle, Washington—was founded in 2017 and now has offices in Minsk, Paris, Sydney, and Tuscon, Arizona. Including the Manifest platform, the company’s solutions are being utilized by a wide range of customers (e.g., Jabil, SpaceX, UPS, Vodafone Group, Novartis) and partners (Microsoft, Magic Leap, AT&T, Verizon, and Unity).

MX Industrial Edge enables AR-capable or virtual-reality-capable devices (e.g., AR headsets, tablets, and mobile devices) to be connected via a private wireless network. The Manifest work-instruction platform is a software-as-a-service-based platform assimilating workflow information, support materials, onboard training, operator instructions, and support supervisors who provide users with real-time instructions (text, audio, or video). In addition, users can communicate in real time with remote experts. Manifest integrates with a myriad of back-end enterprise systems as well as connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors.

The combination of Nokia and Taqtile provides a seamless solution to help manufacturers optimize processes and improve quality levels.

In addition to providing contextualized advice and support to staff, other use cases delivered by Nokia’s MX Industrial Edge include asset tracking, video analytics processing, site security, autonomous vehicle or machine management, manufacturing defect detection, and predictive maintenance. The MX Industrial Edge is underpinned by the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud that enables customers to develop and then deploy applications across their entire organization.

Having the capability for on-prem deployments that encompass network infrastructure, industrial connectors, click-to-deploy industrial applications, device, and application management in a unified platform can accelerate operational technology digitalization. Nokia’s addition of Taqtile is recognition that operational teams require hands-free operation. Some jobs will benefit from the power and ease of use of a PC while the familiarity and portability of a tablet or smartphone may be perfect for other jobs. A company’s different procedures, environment, skill level, and equipment will dictate the right device choice for each specific job.

The partnership with Nokia provides a valuable revenue stream for Taqtile as it competes with the likes of TeamViewer, Arvizio, and Atheer. ABI Research expects that AR-based solutions will become more established inside manufacturing facilities with, for example, the installed base of industrial glasses expected to approach eight million in 2024 (see ABI Research’s Augmented Reality in Industrial Applications, AN-5125, for further information).

Nokia’s timing is critical as hyperscalers are moving into the on-prem space as a result of manufacturing and industrial firms’ not wanting their intellectual property to be housed outside of their networks—AWS is offering AWS Outposts, Snowcone, and Snowball; Microsoft’s Azure is offering Private Edge Zone; and Google has the Google Distributed Cloud (see ABI Research's “Google Distributed Cloud: Google Cloud Moves On-Premises,” IN-6330). Further, other telecom operators have begun to target enterprises with hybrid connectivity models.