Network instability is significantly impacting Singaporean businesses, with 60% reporting revenue losses of US$5m or more due to network outages or poor performance, according to an IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Expereo. The report, “Enterprise Horizons 2025: Technology Leaders Priorities: Achieving Digital Agility,” reveals that cybersecurity has become the top priority for financial investment over the next year, with 62% of businesses planning to focus on it, followed by networking/connectivity at 48% and artificial intelligence (AI) at 40%.
Following a series of high-profile IT disruptions, 46% of Singaporean businesses have been forced to re-evaluate their technology infrastructure. This shift has led to networking and connectivity becoming more prominent on the C-suite agenda, with 34% of tech leaders acknowledging its increased importance. The urgency is underscored by the fact that 32% of organisations report inadequate network performance as a threat to their growth plans, whilst 44% say network limitations hinder their ability to support large-scale data and AI initiatives.
Ben Elms, CEO of Expereo, emphasised the strategic importance of connectivity, stating, “Connectivity is now the backbone of business. As organisations race to adopt new AI solutions, the C-suite must treat network performance with the same urgency as cybersecurity and AI itself.”
Eric Wong, President, APAC, at Expereo, noted the direct correlation between network performance and financial success, highlighting that nearly a third of businesses in Singapore have experienced revenue losses exceeding US$5m due to network outages. The report also indicates a skills gap, with 51% of organisations struggling to find or retain skilled networking professionals. Consequently, 26% of businesses plan to rely more on external partners to bridge this gap.