Why businesses can't afford to wait on slow data

Data doesn’t just power Australia’s businesses — it defines their potential. But for many organisations, that potential is stuck in neutral, hindered by outdated infrastructure that forces data to crawl instead of sprint.

Here’s the acronym-laden problem: traditional systems route data through central processing units (CPUs), creating a chokepoint in environments where graphics processing units (GPUs) — specialised for high-speed processing — should be in the driver’s seat.

It’s an approach that worked in the past, but today it’s akin to running Formula 1 cars on a bush road. GPUDirect storage (GDS), pioneered by NVIDIA, could see this change, bypassing the CPU entirely and allowing data to flow directly between storage and GPU memory. The result? Faster, more efficient operations that redefine what’s possible in AI, machine learning and real-time analytics.

Stuck in the data slow lane

The brilliance of GDS lies in its simplicity. GDS cuts out the middleman (your CPU) and allows data to flow directly between storage systems and GPU memory. No detours, no delays; just faster, smarter, cheaper data movement.

This matters because GPUs are the workhorses behind AI and machine learning, and they thrive on speed and efficiency. But traditional data pipelines force them to wait for the CPU to play traffic cop, slowing down everything from model training to real-time decision-making. GDS eliminates that bottleneck. It’s like building an express train that skips all the stops, delivering data exactly where it’s needed, faster and with less energy wasted.

For Australian enterprises, this isn’t just about keeping up with the tech curve: it’s about survival. High-performance computing (HPC) applications, from climate modelling to genomics, need faster data access to make discoveries that save lives. In finance, milliseconds can mean millions in algorithmic trading. In telecommunications, real-time analytics determine who stays connected and who doesn’t. The question isn’t whether businesses need faster data, but rather why they aren’t investing in it already.

The level of data storage, processing and management within the realm of AI compared to the pre-AI era changes the economies-of-scale equation too. Many companies have been apathetic on leaving data stored in an environment slightly more expensive or less ideal in another way — the juice of the migration just might not have been worth the squeeze. The exponential data footprint of AI also exponentially changes those equations.

Waiting to modernise comes at a cost. The longer businesses rely on CPU-bound systems for this use, the harder it will be to compete with those embracing technologies like GDS. It’s not just a technological edge, and companies that adopt GDS aren’t just futureproofing; they’re unlocking capabilities that were previously out of reach.

Outrun the competition or get left behind

The beauty of GDS is that it doesn’t require businesses to start from scratch. It integrates seamlessly with existing data storage infrastructures, making the transition relatively painless. Think of it as upgrading from Fibre to the Node to Fibre to the Premises: the infrastructure is already there; you just need to make the switch.

And the gains aren’t just theoretical. Benchmarks show that GDS is able to provide faster processing times, reduced costs and less energy consumption. For businesses trying to meet sustainability goals while improving performance and reducing budget, GDS offers a rare triple-win scenario.

The real story here, as it always should be, isn’t about the technology; it’s about the opportunities it creates. Imagine a future where data-intensive industries aren’t held back by the limits of their infrastructure. Where research breakthroughs happen faster, financial insights are more precise, and innovations reach the market in record time. GPUDirect Storage isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for change.

In a world that runs on speed, there’s no excuse for being stuck in the slow lane. Australian businesses that continue to tolerate inefficiency are making a choice — and it’s the wrong one.

*James Wright is Managing Director – Asia Pacific & Japan at Cloudian.

Image credit: iStock.com/Andy