Weaving a digital fabric: the network as the centerpiece of your EX and CX strategies

Over the last year or two, I’ve seen organizations’ needs and wants dramatically evolve as their businesses become increasingly digital and hyper-distributed. The pandemic and other economic and social factors have massively accelerated digital business. The world of work has changed for all of us, and working environments are increasingly hybrid. Our own Hybrid Workplace Report shows that more than 90% of organizations now recognize the value of employee experience (EX) as a strategic differentiator, but it’s particularly EX that places massive demands on the network to connect employees to their data and to their applications in the cloud, as well as the heightened security focus at the user or application level.

Improving network performance

In this new hyperconnected world, networks always need to deliver better performance. Cisco’s Annual Internet Report predicts a 30% compound annual growth rate in network capacity across industries to support the demand for HD content, social media and cloud computing.

Ironically, many network and infrastructure leaders across industries feel somewhat disconnected from their networks, reporting a lack of visibility across network infrastructures and limited operational insights as key challenges. Combined with a resource knowledge gap and the constrained use of predictive analytics that would normally enable a proactive operational approach, this is bound to leave any organization in the dark.

Weaving together the digital fiber – edge to cloud

As the foundation of an edge-to-cloud strategy, the network powers multicloud and hybrid workplace strategies, enabling the security and high-performance needs of the hyper-distributed digital enterprises of today. The world is more reliant on connectivity, networking and cloud than ever before. As more "things" become intelligent in our lives (devices, appliances, vehicles, tablets, phones and more) and applications and platforms access services hosted in the cloud (public, private or hybrid), there’s an increasing need for an agile, elastic, intelligent and secure network "fabric" to ensure everything stays connected.

Network capacity across industries needs to support the demand for HD content, social media and cloud computing

How a network can be a service

Organizations are increasingly moving away from investing in networking hardware and are in various stages of the network-as-a-service journey. Whether it’s software-defined networking, persona-driven service models, secure service edge or varying consumption models, network as a service enables them to enjoy all the benefits of hyperconnectivity, plus the greater flexibility, scalability, automation, predictability and control that comes with platform-enabled services like our own. Network as a service enables our clients to reach new customers without delays, easily pivoting and adapting as needed.

The backbone of digital transformation

Our clients are driving significantly more impact to their businesses today than during the pre-pandemic days. Read how Nitrado, for example, is using our high-quality IP backbone to provide a better experience for gamers around the world. Even in the more conservative manufacturing environment, I’ve seen progressive transformation, such as connecting virtual reality goggles to inspect and fix machinery in real time. Watch this video to see how our client Hirschmann Automotive did that. In healthcare, Ziekenhuis Rivierland in the Netherlands and Hospital Alemao Ozwaldo Cruz n Brazil use the campus networks we’ve helped them build to reach more patients and provide better care.

Connecting employees to workplaces and customers to organizations has never been more important. As enterprise technology continues to evolve, more devices are connecting to the network, with more requirements and demands at the edge. Along with it, new and exciting types of networks are evolving, such as our own Private 5G solution, offering speed, control, security and total coverage. Executing digital transformation is having the visibility to manage and secure complex technology across client-facing and internal systems and platforms.

Building a better world

An intelligent and secure network fabric includes connectivity at the edge, connectivity across the network, and connectivity to and among clouds. This enables students to continue learning, hospitals to keep running and communities to stay connected. Technology can foster inclusion by connecting and communicating and using devices to monitor and gather real-world insights for improved outcomes, and data to identify better solutions and efficiencies. In fact, I believe networks will continue to define our future.

Read more about Network as a Service.