BUSINESS VIEWS WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY AS A ROUTE TO PRODUCTIVITY BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

European businesses expect to see an average 32% boost in productivity in the three years after implementation of the latest wireless technology.

Bracknell, UK. 6^th February 2024 – New research launched today from Panasonic Connect Europe reveals that businesses expect wireless technology investment to boost their productivity by 32% on average in the three years after implementation. Respondents (36%) say that 5G is the most important wireless technology investment for their business, with private campus networks more popular than public networks.

One in five (22%) view WiFi 6 as the most important type of wireless technology. A substantial upgrade over its predecessor, it offers faster connections and improved resilience for networks with a high connected device load. Interest in Bluetooth and Long-Range Wide Area Networks (LoRaWAN) were similarly high (21% respectively), as organisations seek the right technology for specialist applications in their own sectors, such as supply chain logistics and manufacturing.

Overall, there is rapid progress being made with investment in wireless technology, with 41% of decision makers having already made the decision to invest in wireless projects, or are in the planning process. An additional 38% of respondents are already at the implementation stage.

Barriers remain

However, there are challenges to overcome, with 24% of those surveyed admitting to concerns around IT security while 22% are worried about interoperability and connectivity issues with their existing IT infrastructure. One in five are troubled about the manageability of the wireless network technology and a similar percentage report a lack of confidence in IT resources, knowledge, and skills.

“This research highlights that this is a crucial period in wireless technology investment and decision making. The advent of 5G, the evolution of WiFi, and the innovation around Bluetooth and LoRaWAN are all driving the connected world in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Clearly, business leaders believe wireless connectivity presents enormous opportunities, but there are also challenges to overcome,” said Jan Kaempfer, Marketing Director for Panasonic Connect Europe.

Industry role to play

“Businesses have a lack of internal expertise and resources and there is a role for technology providers to play in supporting organisations with expertise and education to instil greater confidence and plug some of the resource gaps. But overall, the picture for wireless is very positive, with a strong appetite for innovation and advanced deployment. At Panasonic Connect Europe, we’re committed to helping business leaders understand the dominant drivers for wireless technology investment, the key technologies and their applications, and how to overcome barriers.”

The survey, carried out by independent research company Opinion Matters and commissioned by Panasonic Connect Europe, questioned over 300 senior decision makers with responsibility for wireless and network technologies, across the UK, France, and Germany, in the following sectors: Retail; Logistics & Supply Chain; Manufacturing; Education; Location-based Media and Entertainment; and Public Sector and Emergency Services.

To download an Executive Summary of Next Connections: Exploring Wireless Connectivity Investment and Adoption in Europe, please click here

 

About the Panasonic Group

Founded in 1918, and today a global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022, with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. The Group reported consolidated net sales of 8,378.9 billion yen (ca. 59.4 billion Euro) for the year ended March 31, 2023. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit: https://holdings.panasonic/global/

 

About Panasonic Connect Europe

Panasonic Connect Europe began operations on October 1^st, 2021, creating a new Business-to-Business focused and agile organisation. With more than 400 employees, the business spearheads operations with its major new B2B solutions initiative called “Gemba Process Innovation”, supported by its wide business product range.

Panasonic Connect Europe is headquartered in Wiesbaden and consist of the following business units:

• The Mobile Solutions Business Division helping mobile workers improve productivity with its range of Toughbook rugged notebooks, business tablets and handhelds.
• The Media Entertainment Business Division incorporating Visual System Solutions offering a range of high brightness and reliable projectors as well as high quality displays; and Broadcast & ProAV offering Smart Live Production solutions from an end-to-end portfolio consisting of PTZ and system cameras, camcorders, the Kairos IT/IP platform, switchers and robotic solutions that are widely used for live event capture, sports production, television, and xR studios.
• Business and Industry Solutions delivering tailored technology solutions focused on Retail, Logistics and Manufacturing. Designed to increase operational efficiency and enhance customer experience, helping businesses to perform at their best, every day.
• Panasonic Factory Solutions Europe selling a wide range of smart factory solutions including electronics manufacturing solutions, robot and welding systems and software solutions engineering.

For more information please visit: https://eu.connect.panasonic.com

Please visit Panasonic Connect Europe’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/panasonic-connect-europe/