Verizon and Deloitte are teaming up to advance 5G and mobile edge computing (MEC).

5G is a major upgrade to wireless tech, bringing speeds that are poised to revolutionize industries. One area where 5G stands to make a significant contribution is in the realm of edge computing. Edge computing involves processing data at or near the point of collection, rather than sending it to a faraway data processing center. As a result, edge computing is the ideal solution for low-latency applications.

Verizon and Deloitte are working on a number of MEC capabilities, including a smart factory solution that will use MEC-enabled computer vision and sensor-based detection to improve the manufacturing process. The solution will predict quality defects, alerting management before costly mistakes are made.

Similarly, the two companies are working on an edge compute environment that will improve plant efficiency by reducing waste, cutting down manual quality inspection and more.

“By bringing together Verizon’s 5G and MEC prowess with Deloitte’s deep industry expertise and track record in system integration with large enterprises on smart factories, we plan to deliver cutting-edge solutions that will close the gap between digital business operations and legacy manufacturing environments and unlock the value of the end-to-end digital enterprise,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “This collaboration is part of Verizon’s broader strategy to align with enterprises, startups, universities and government to explore how 5G and MEC can disrupt and transform nearly every industry.”

“In our recently published Deloitte Advanced Wireless Adoption study, over 85% of US executives surveyed indicated that advanced wireless is a force multiplier that will unlock the full potential of edge computing, AI, Cloud, IoT, and data analytics. Our collaboration with Verizon combines Deloitte’s business transformation expertise with advanced wireless and MEC technology to deliver game changing solutions,” said Ajit Prabhu, US Ecosystems & Alliances Strategy Officer and 5G/Edge Computing Commercialization leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP.