Gartner Inc. says the constantly evolving nature of technology means that anyone who thinks the network edge is the last place to develop new services could be in for a shock.

The rise of edge computing has been one of the hottest topics in information technology this year. Edge computing refers to data being processed at the periphery of a computer network, as close as is physically possible to its originating source.

The basic idea is that this information can be processed and analyzed much more quickly onsite than if it’s sent to a remote data center. The benefits of doing so include faster time to action and reduced response times, while it also helps to conserve network resources.

Gartner doesn’t dispute the importance of edge computing, but says in a new report released today that infrastructure providers need to be aware of their customer’s growing demands to deliver what it calls “digital touchpoint services,” which can be thought of as an extension of the network edge.

Gartner defines a digital touchpoint as any kind of interaction with a digital device, product or service. So, for example, that might include any interaction with a smartphone, fitness tracker or customer service chatbot.

The importance of digital touchpoints shouldn’t be underestimated. Gartner says that by 2021, 65 percent of global infrastructure providers will generate 55 percent of their revenue from edge-related services that support digital touchpoints.

“Creating business moments at digital touchpoints is the new scalable way of engaging with customers,” Rene Buest, senior research director at Gartner, said in a statement. “Infrastructure service providers that fail to embrace this development will lack a presence at digital touchpoints and struggle to interact closely with customers.”

Gartner says the point it’s trying to make is that infrastructure providers need to start thinking about how they can meet the demand to support digital touchpoint services, which it says go beyond the network edge.

“This enormous growth will need to be backed by reliable end-to-end infrastructure environments that support proximity, and that ensure low latency, high bandwidth, autonomy and privacy,” said Buest. “The cloud is no longer enough. Infrastructure service providers must exploit this growth by extending services beyond the edge in support of digital touchpoints.”

Providers will need to support customers through new data and infrastructure management, integration, governance and security services, Gartner said.

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