The world of work has undergone a significant transformation in the last few years. Beyond the static cubicles of the past, the workplace now needs to be flexible, collaborative, and technologically enhanced.
Simultaneously, the fundamental nature of work is also evolving: retailers are launching pop-up concept stores to enhance the customer experience, healthcare providers are using wearable technology to expand patient care into communities and building management companies are deploying IoT to optimise energy consumption and reduce waste.
However, the flexibility and resilience needed to enable these transitions can no longer be provided by traditional fibre-based networks. In fact, 47% of European organisations have connectivity problems just by having more employees, let alone from implementing new technology, according to our State of Enterprise Connectivity report. The effect is evident: according to 23% of respondents, a lack of connectivity contributed to the churn of their staff. Businesses need flexible solutions that effortlessly connect a growing web of people, places, and devices or they will struggle to deliver the necessary modern work experience.
Cellular connectivity presents itself as a solution. While 87% of businesses feel 5G is necessary to speed up R&D, more than half of businesses (55%) think improved connection will help entice workers back to the office. Advanced wireless networks are becoming the cornerstone of smarter, more dynamic, and more connected workplaces as companies change their approach to the way of work.
The connectivity challenge in the modern workplace
The heart of each modern office is connectivity. The strain on current networks has never been greater as businesses adopt digital tools, data-intensive apps, and interconnected devices. However, a lot of offices continue to use outdated fibre-based Wi-Fi networks that weren’t built to handle this kind of demand.
They can be expensive and difficult to upgrade, requiring new equipment and cabling that frequently delays decision-making. As a result, companies are unable to fully embrace technologies like IoT, AI, and digital twins that rely on dependable, fast connectivity because legacy networks are subtly limiting innovation.
The combination of speed, low latency and scalability means 5G provides the obvious solution to this problem. For example, it is well suited to handle the flow of data from large IoT deployments. This data can then be used to support features to help set offices apart, like smart lighting and energy systems, which monitor if rooms are in use or not and adjust lighting and heating accordingly.
It can also be used in factories to help monitor machine health and flag if parts need replacing before they fail, reducing downtime for the manufacturer. However, to be successful this data needs to be shared in real-time, which is where 5G Wireless WAN networks provide the answer.
Similarly, over 8 in 10 (85%) European businesses believe AI can help reduce the workload on IT teams by automating analysis of network performance, but 84% also agree 5G is critical to optimising the use of AI in the workplace. Therefore, these advances need to go hand in hand or enterprises risk missing out on the full potential return of AI investment going forward.
By investing in better connectivity enterprises can help lay the foundation for smarter, safer and more efficient workspaces than before. This will not only help attract talent but help reduce unnecessary costs as well.
Bridging the gaps between people, places, and devices
As companies adopt remote and hybrid work models, dependable connection has emerged as the key to productivity. Teams today work on-the-go, in the home, and from the office – settings that all demand a synchronous digital experience. However, the limitations of conventional, legacy networks have been made clear by the needs of constant collaboration and remote access.
Employees can remain secure and connected wherever they work with cellular connectivity offering the stability and control that Wi-Fi alone cannot. Whether it’s training enabled by augmented reality, immersive meetings conducted in virtual reality, or video conferencing, 5G enables real-time collaboration with lag-free, seamless communication that unites teams regardless of distance.
In the retail space there is a reconfiguration of how employees work and deliver enhanced experiences. There’s a shift from brick-and-mortar stores in constant locations to temporary pop-ups, kiosks, and vending machines requiring constant connectivity. How those remote employees tap into critical applications and services depends on Wireless WAN and 5G technology, to ensure robust, secure data flow between a growing set of devices.
These technologies are also being deployed within fleets, to allow patrols to have real-time access to data analytics to faster identify vehicle breakdown locations and improve emergency response and repair times. These are just a few examples where cellular connectivity is not only allowing employees to do their job more efficiently and effectively, uplevelling their work experience in the process, but also improving business’ competitiveness.
Driving performance with next-generation connectivity
Next-generation networks are vital to enabling productivity and performance in flexible, digital-first work environments. Whether in the workplace or virtual settings, both customers and employees need to guarantee flawless digital experiences. Although Wi-Fi is still useful, it can no longer provide the speed and dependability that contemporary offices require.
To fuel this new era of work, 5G offers the capacity, security, and responsiveness required to create smarter, more connected environments that empower workers and improve performance throughout the whole organisation.
Paul McHugh is Head of Sales EMEA at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions with 20 years experience in IT software and services sales, demonstrating a record of achievement in global marketplaces across multiple industries. Prior to Ericsson, he was an Account Director at InfoVista, helping enterprises drive sales conversions and successful rollout of IT transformation projects whilst avoiding unnecessary WAN upgrade costs.
