Lexmark announces Optra Edge

March 23, 2022

Lexmark announced the latest addition to its Optra IoT Solutions portfolio.

Lexmark Optra Edge executes AI applications closer to the point of data generation at the edge without necessitating the transfer of data to the cloud, providing organisations with speedy AI insights to increase efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Optra Edge allows organisations to sense, analyse and act on real-time digital and physical data generated by IoT devices such as cameras. Lexmark explained that this results in cost savings, increased productivity and competitive advantage. The launch of Optra Edge comes as spending on edge is forecast to reach nearly $274 billion (€249 billion) in 2025, according to IDC.

“While the convergence of 5G and IoT is creating greater demand for computing power at the edge to fuel business transformation, it is also exponentially multiplying the amount of data available,” said Vishal Gupta, Senior Vice President, Connected Technology and CITO of Lexmark. “We’ve designed Optra Edge so our customers can run innovative AI applications on the edge while still enjoying enterprise grade management, holistic security, open standards, and ability to leverage their existing infrastructure.”

Optra Edge can limit or eliminate latency for data processing and accelerates AI-driven insights from IoT devices. To that point, AI and machine learning (ML) applications deployed on Optra Edge devices analyse sensory data such as sight, sound, vibration and temperature and enable real-time decisions, without delay.

To protect sensitive information, the solution keeps data local and takes advantage of containerized applications. In addition, it uses secure-by-design techniques that protect millions of Lexmark print devices globally.

“Lexmark’s own success in identifying real-time insights at the edge through advanced analytics and anomaly detection for our core business served as the catalyst and inspiration for Optra Edge,” said Sudhir Mehta, Global Vice President for Optra Engineering and Product Management at Lexmark. “We can share and relate our own experiences, as we aid other organizations with their edge AI strategy.”

Manufacturers, in particular, stand to benefit because they often face human or machine errors, leading to critical parts being misplaced or out-of-spec parts making it through the production line.

“The Optra Edge vision solution vastly enhances quality control on the manufacturing shop-floor,” Mehta said, while describing it as a “gamechanger” that will mitigate business challenges and secure financial goals.

Lexmark Optra Edge is available in the United States and Canada.