Exploring the explosion of new 5G B2B2X services in the ‘all connected’ world

B2B2X is a business model in which a telecom service provider (B) contracts 5G services to numerous end users (B2B) which in turn resell the services to customers, retailers, partners and suppliers or whoever might make up the “X”. As 5G network coverage grows, more 5G-enabled equipment reaches market, and more enterprises employ 5G, the B2B2X service model is accelerating to unlock new revenue streams and fuel innovation, explains Roman Makarchuk, telco delivery director, Intellias.

We are all familiar with the traditional B2B and B2C models but recent years have seen the exponential growth in the B2B2X model. This means telecom operators are gaining better insight into how their customers operate and then reconfiguring their business operations and partner ecosystem marketplaces to increase revenue by extending the value chain.

What this means in practice is that businesses can access new markets by partnering with established players, expanding their reach. This leads to new revenue streams, additional sales and cost savings through shared resources. And it is all enabled by 5G technology, which has the potential to unite disparate organisations and other new disruptive technologies to transform industries of every kind. This is in no small way helped by the adoption of embedded SIMs, which can be programmed over the air and connected to IoT networks. Let’s look a little more closely at four of the sectors leading the way in B2B2X transformation.

Automotive, transportation and mobility

This industry is at the forefront of B2B2X deployment, centred around the four ACES: Autonomous, connected, electric and Shared. When it comes to sharing, for example, B2B2X can facilitate the integration of various modes of transportation into a single platform, providing end-to-end transportation solutions to customers. So, a telco or CSP can partner with a ride-sharing company, a bike-sharing company, and a public transit provider to offer a seamless transportation experience to their customers, boosting convenience, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency.

At the same time, B2B2X can assist businesses in using data and analytics to optimise their operations and improve customer experiences. So, telcos and partners can use data from various sources, including GPS, traffic sensors, and customer feedback, to optimise routes, reduce congestion, and improve the reliability of transportation services. Using this model, a telematics supplier, a dashcam or ELD provider and a job dispatch company can partner with a telco to provide an all-in-one solution to SMB customers, who might otherwise be priced out of the solution.

Healthcare

B2B2X partnerships can facilitate the integration of various health technologies and services into a single platform, providing patients with a seamless and convenient healthcare experience. 5G’s high speed, low latency, and increased bandwidth enables the seamless transmission of large amounts of data in real-time, which is essential for remote patient monitoring and telemedicine, two of the sector’s biggest trends.

B2B2X can also facilitate the development of new medical devices and the integration of existing devices into healthcare networks, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed decisions about patient care. These devices, such as implanted cardiac management devices, can be connected via 5G to provide real time monitoring, reducing the risk of medical error.

As with the automotive, industry, data and analytics will play a significant role. The combination of 5G and B2B2X allows healthcare providers to collect and analyse vast amounts of data in real-time, which can inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. This is where B2B2X partnerships can facilitate the development of data analytics and AI solutions that can help healthcare providers to identify trends, predict outcomes, and personalise patient care.

When it comes to supply chains in healthcare, B2B2X improves efficiency by enabling real-time tracking of medical products and devices, reducing waste, and increasing transparency. By integrating various supply chain management technologies and services into a single platform, B2B2X can give healthcare providers a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain.

eCommerce

B2B2X partnerships enable the integration of customer data from various sources, such as social media, search history, and purchase history, into a single platform. This means ecommerce businesses can personalise the shopping experience, recommend relevant products, and provide targeted promotions.

5G’s high bandwidth and low latency is proving vital to the deployment of AR and VR technologies within the online shopping experience. B2B2X partnerships between telcos, manufacturers, tailors and more, enable the development of AR and VR solutions that allow customers to try on clothes, see how furniture will look in their homes, and experience products in a virtual environment. Many expect this to be the next frontier of online experience.

As with healthcare, B2B2X and 5G enhance the supply chain, integrating various logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions to track shipments, manage inventory, and optimise the supply chain for faster and more efficient delivery. This leads to better customer service, particularly when combined with chatbots, voice assistants, and social media platforms, which provide seamless and personalised customer service across multiple channels.

Energy and Utilities

B2B2X partnerships can facilitate the development of autonomous vehicle and drone solutions that enable utilities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve safety by inspecting power lines and delivering equipment to remote locations. They will also enable the integration of various data sources, such as IoT sensors and machine learning algorithms, to predict equipment failures and enable predictive maintenance, reducing downtime, improving reliability, and lowering maintenance costs.

Roman Makarchuk

As we all face a cost-of-living crisis, with energy costs soaring, B2B2X could provide relief in the form of smart grid management. Advanced metering infrastructure, distribution automation, and renewable energy management help utility companies to optimise energy usage, reduce costs, and improve performance. At the same time, smart consumer energy management will enable businesses and households to monitor and control their energy usage, and utilities to optimise energy production and distribution.

B2B2X offers an opportunity for telcos to become the man in the middle, taking services from multiple partners, repackaging them and then delivering them via 5G. This is a way to move up the value chain and unlock new revenue streams, while providing a better customer experience. The key is to have a partner with experience in cloud and API development who can guide telcos to the right B2B2X model for them. Now is the time to explore how B2B2X can transform your business.

The author is Roman Makarchuk, telco delivery director, Intellias.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @VanillaPlus OR @jcvplus

RECENT ARTICLES

IOT Solutions World Congress 2024 connects semiconductor chips to industry

Posted on: March 27, 2024

Essential to manufacture computers, smartphones, cars, refrigerators or any electronic device, semiconductors are critical elements in the implementation of the Internet of Things. For this reason, IOT Solutions World Congress

Read more

Telecoms to boost revenue with enterprise IoT monetisation

Posted on: March 27, 2024

A new study from Juniper Research has predicted operators will find revenue growth through the monetisation of enterprise markets, such as cellular IoT, to capitalise on the USD $900 billion global

Read more