The digitalization trend across industries is accelerating at a dizzying pace. According to Statista predictions, it is estimated that in the next 10 years there will be 50 billion connected devices, generating and analyzing a massive amount of information, giving rise to the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT).
However, a considerable challenge arises: how to effectively leverage the data generated to drive business development. The colossal amounts of information that are being produced are practically impossible to analyze with current computers. This is where the importance of Quantum Computing lies for the future of Industry 4.0.
Although the concept of Quantum Computing is gaining more and more relevance, it is still perceived as something new for many. In essence, quantum computers are extremely powerful machines, capable of carrying out massive calculations and information processing that, using traditional methods, would take years or even centuries.
This technology is set to revolutionize the way we will live in the coming years, with applications spanning virtually every sector. Among the first industries to benefit are aerospace, chemicals, health, logistics and finance.
The applications are promising. In the field of chemistry, for example, Quantum Computing could be used to simulate the properties and potential behavior of new molecular structures. This would open the door to the exploration of solutions for substances with a lower environmental impact, such as refrigerants that do not contribute to global warming or innovative solvents for carbon dioxide capture.
In the field of healthcare and pharmaceutical development, this technology could significantly accelerate the research, development and production of new medical treatments, reducing the timelines and costs involved. If a new treatment currently takes between 10 and 13 years to reach the patient, with Quantum Computing the preclinical phase could be drastically shortened, which would mean significant savings in production costs, even reaching 2.5 billion dollars.
In the aerospace industry, the power of Quantum Computing could be harnessed to anticipate and solve complex problems before they occur, or to find the best solution for eventualities that may affect aircraft performance. For example, if a storm threatened an airline's operations, this technology could efficiently determine alternative routes to minimize the impact on scheduled travel.
Currently, there are algorithms on conventional computers that address some of the challenges of the aerospace industry, but they do not have the ability to consider all the variables involved in an airline's operations, or it would take years to do so. With Quantum Computing, simulations and calculations could be carried out in drastically less time, thus allowing emergencies to be dealt with effectively.
In addition, this technology could be essential to identify optimal airports to prepare aircraft spare parts, or strategic points to allocate resources in order to avoid delays in the itineraries of passengers, maintenance equipment or crew.
In the logistics field, Quantum Computing could enhance efficiency in storage, processing and delivery processes. Warehouses and distribution centers are increasingly integrating sensors and connected machinery, generating a huge amount of data. Quantum computers could optimally determine the placement of sensors to collect the most valuable information and accelerate the machine learning process to make better decisions. Likewise, they would help define the most efficient routes for workers or robots within the warehouse.
Although it may seem like a technology taken from a science fiction novel, Quantum Computing is already within the reach of companies and in recent years surprising advances have been achieved, turning this technological advance into an increasingly closer reality. Many companies have invested in its development and strategic alliances have been formed, such as Honeywell's with Microsoft, to make this technology accessible to researchers and scientists.
Quantum Computing is not a fantasy, it is a tangible technology that will transform our future and that of practically all industries. It represents a disruption that will address multiple challenges in the current business ecosystem.
