Modern wireless network as a driver for success
The rise of IoT, AI workloads, and applications that require a lot of bandwidth, such as 4K/8K streaming and AR/VR, forces organizations to modernize their wireless networks. Combined with changing workplace trends, such as hot desking and BYOD, this leads to a significant increase in IT budgets:
- 80% have increased spending over the past five years.
- 29% even increased their budget by 50% or more during that period.
- 82% expect further budget increases in the next 4-5 years.
- 35% foresee an increase of 50% or more during the same period.
Organizations that have already modernized their networks experience a clear 'multiplier effect', where one investment directly improves multiple business outcomes:
- 78% report higher operational efficiency.
- 75% see an increase in employee productivity.
- 75% experience improved customer engagement.
- 68% see a direct positive impact on revenue.
"The modern workplace is evolving into a mix of people, AI agents, and automated systems that operate at machine speed. Wi-Fi forms the foundation for this. It connects every endpoint, secures every interaction, and provides the insights that lead to smarter decisions across the organization," said Anurag Dhingra, SVP & GM, Enterprise Connectivity & Collaboration at Cisco. "AI is currently both the greatest opportunity and the greatest challenge for enterprise networks."
The research shows that organizations are accelerating the renewal of their wireless networks, with more and more companies focusing on the 6GHz spectrum. Nearly 60% of organizations plan to switch to Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 in the coming year for future-proof connectivity.
The wireless AI paradox
While AI drives innovation, it also brings challenges. Organizations that successfully manage these three factors quadruple their chances of achieving a high ROI (4:1 or higher). To capitalize on this competitive advantage, focus is needed on:
Reducing complexity: Almost all organizations (98%) experience increasing complexity. Many IT teams are stuck in a reactive mode, hindering strategic growth. The solution lies in AI-driven automation: 98% of users report significant gains, with an average time saving of 3 hours and 20 minutes per person, per day.
Limiting security risks: AI-driven cyber threats pose a growing risk. More than half of organizations suffer financial damage due to security incidents, with half losing more than 1 million dollars annually. Vulnerable IoT or OT devices are often the weak link.
Shortage of qualified talent: Nearly 90% of industry executives struggle to find the right personnel, as talent shifts massively to specific roles in AI and cybersecurity. This is a costly challenge: organizations with recruitment problems are 70% more likely to incur high costs due to security incidents than organizations that have their team in order.
About the Cisco State of Wireless Report
The Cisco State of Wireless Report is a large-scale international study based on interviews with 6,098 decision-makers and technical specialists. The respondents come from organizations with at least 250 employees, spread across 30 markets worldwide, including the Netherlands, and various sectors. The research was conducted by Sandpiper Research & Insights.