Global IT leaders are failing to fully acknowledge the correlation between their enterprise network and employee experiences, despite the continued demand for hybrid working, according to a recent study by HPE Aruba Networking. The research revealed that while 75 percent of respondents believe digitization is crucial for talent attraction, employee productivity, and retention, only 55 percent recognize the strong relevance of the network in these areas.
While the study highlighted positive findings regarding the network’s impact on digital transformation, with 44 percent of IT leaders considering it a tool for such endeavors, missed connections were identified in relation to employee experiences. The research revealed that network relevance to employee attraction and retention ranked the lowest among the listed business areas, resulting in the network’s perceived impact in this aspect being less positive. In fact, only 43 percent of IT leaders stated that their network enables staff to work from anywhere, and a mere 34 percent agreed that it delivers seamless connectivity.
Sylvia Hooks, CMO of HPE Aruba Networking, emphasized the need to recognize the network as more than just a connectivity provider, stating that a seamless, efficient, intelligent, and secure connected experience is vital in today’s working environment.
While IT leaders recognized the network’s contributions to IT efficiency, operational efficiency, and cybersecurity, areas where the network showed the most impact, there is untapped potential in leveraging the network for broader business benefits. Investing in the right network infrastructure is crucial to unlocking its true potential, enabling enhanced employee experiences, attracting top talent, and delivering positive impacts across all areas of the business.
Larry Lunetta, Vice President of Portfolio Solutions Marketing at HPE Aruba Networking, emphasized the importance of reframing network discussions in terms of business outcomes and demonstrating the correlation between investment and positive impact to drive business value.
