Latency software is any software that focuses on enhancing and lowering the latency for its users. Normally low latency is associated with a positive user experience while high latency is associated with poor performance or bad user experience. Especially for real time communication applications, the lower the latency is, the faster the data is transferred and information can flow. For example, a Zoom call needs data to be sent in real time, so having a higher latency will directly impact the user experience for the digital workforce by freezing the call or temporally losing either audio or video.
The Importance and Practical Uses of Latency
All real time communication applications can benefit from latency software due to the crucial need to have real time data. For example, sending an email can take 3 or 5 seconds to reach a recipient and ultimately won’t have an impact on their workflow. On the other hand, if you are on a zoom meeting trying to relay important information and your audio is lost or delayed, there is a direct and immediate impact on the digital workforce in the meeting. The use cases are diverse in today’s workforce as more internet interaction demands real time communication. Consider a marketing agency who will rely on better connectivity for communication with a worldwide remote team or financial institutions who can use lower latency to empower real-time stock marketing operations. Even IoT and medical companies who rely heavily on broadband use for consultations or, in the future, remote surgeries and procedures can greatly benefit when latency software is integrated into their programs.
Global Events That Have Demonstrated the Growing Need for Latency Software
As technology and the workforce have continued to evolve, the need for latency software has been consistently displayed throughout. When we think about how we got here, and what has led to such events, we look at the demand growth for real-time applications such as online gaming, live video streaming services and collaborative virtual environments. Additionally, we must take into account major outages and cyber-attacks that affect the internet’s performance daily.
In 2010, the financial markets suffered a turning point known as the 2010 Flash Crash which demonstrated just how critical latency is where a $4.1 billion trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average to drop over 1,000 points and then come closely back to the original value all in a matter of 36 minutes. Similar events include the Dyn cyberattack in October 2016 where a plethora of users in Europe and North America faced widespread internet outages, and Amazon’s S3 outage in February 2017 that was caused by a typo.
Overcoming Challenges Facing the Digital Workforce
The Digital Workforce comes with a multitude of challenges unique to their online office setting. With every employee on a variety of different networks, the process and delivery of data can be slowed, leading to slower response times. This can not only be frustrating but can impact productivity and experience. Video conferencing and collaborative tools affected by high latency can disrupt interactions and hinder effective communication and collaboration. Moreover, high latency can degrade the performance of software applications and systems. This is especially critical in industries like finance, where trading algorithms rely on real-time data and require low-latency execution. Latency issues can lead to inefficient utilization of computing resources. For example, if a server experiences high latency, it may take longer to process requests, leading to underutilization of available processing power.
Every one of those problems, as trivial as they sound, can shred thousands of dollars at the end of the month, whereas latency software can mitigate and improve the quality and flow of work. The software can optimize data delivery with intelligent routing algorithms to optimize the delivery of data. Latency software incorporates network optimization as data compression, communication protocols and traffic prioritization tools. It can also be used to monitor systems and generate latency metrics in real time. By continuously monitoring latency levels, identifying performance bottlenecks, and providing insights into system behavior, organizations can proactively address latency issues, optimize their infrastructure, and improve their digital workforce’s overall performance.
Integrating Latency Software into the Digital Workforce
When implementing latency software for a globally scattered digital workforce, organizations must assess the latency requirements of their applications and services. They need to select a suitable latency software solution with features like global network optimization and real-time monitoring. Establishing strategically located Points of Presence (PoPs) is crucial to minimize distance and improve performance. After selecting the software that works best for your needs, it’s important to integrate it with existing infrastructure, complete thorough testing, educating employees on how to use the software, and provide software support when needed.
Implementing and Maintaining Latency Software in the Digital Workforce
If your business has no latency software to support your workforce, now’s the time to evaluate your operation and invest in software that suits your company’s needs to ensure you’re operating as efficiently as possible. Companies that are willing to adopt news software and practices are better equipped to withstand major outages, allowing employees to work seamlessly. Taking the time to revisit and invest in software to meet your team’s needs will set them up for success.
