As 5G matures, businesses can expect faster, more responsive digital experiences and new operating models.

Key impacts of 5G:

• Speed and responsiveness: 5G can reach speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, up to 100 times faster than 4G. This enables real-time applications that weren’t practical before.
• Private 5G networks: Companies, especially in manufacturing, will roll out private 5G networks on their sites to improve employee productivity, machine efficiency, and profitability.
• New use cases: Over time, we’ll see scenarios like doctors operating on patients remotely via robotic devices, or professionals joining meetings via holographic-style projections.

Shift from cloud to edge:

• While the cloud continues to replace traditional data centers, a new tier—edge computing—is emerging to sit closer to where data is generated.
• With over 20 billion “things” projected to be connected to the Internet by 2020, more organizations are moving data analytics and AI-powered apps from the cloud to the edge.
• This reduces latency, lightens core server loads, and improves operational efficiency, especially for workloads like machine learning and AI that benefit from local processing.

What this means for your business:

• Plan for always-connected devices (like laptops with enhanced battery life and multiple input modes) that keep employees productive from anywhere.
• Evaluate where edge infrastructure can improve responsiveness—such as in manufacturing, logistics, or customer-facing environments.
• Start small with pilot projects that combine 5G connectivity and edge analytics, then scale as the network and infrastructure become more commonplace.

AI is shifting from a headline trend to a behind-the-scenes enabler that quietly improves experiences for customers and employees.

AI in customer experience:

• AI is increasingly embedded in services rather than marketed as a standalone feature.
• According to IDC, by 2024 more than 60% of luxury hotels worldwide are expected to deploy customer-facing smart assistants that use AI to improve the guest experience.
• In healthcare, AI supports everything from wearable devices to hospital infrastructure and diagnostics, helping deliver more personalized and efficient care.

AI in the workplace:

• AI will enhance collaboration tools, not just automate tasks.
• Enterprise conference calls will increasingly use AI for instant connectivity, live transcription, and real-time translation, making meetings more productive and inclusive.
• PCs and laptops will continue to evolve to support resource-intensive productivity and collaboration applications that smaller devices struggle to handle.

Responsible AI and governance:

• Because AI systems are created by humans, they can carry unintended biases.
• Organizations will place more emphasis on AI governance, setting up dedicated teams or departments to ensure AI is deployed responsibly and for societal benefit.
• The focus will move away from using AI as a buzzword and toward understanding how to apply it at scale in a way that is transparent, fair, and accountable.

How to prepare your organization:

• Identify high-impact use cases where AI can improve customer journeys or internal workflows.
• Invest in collaboration tools that integrate AI features like transcription, translation, and smart scheduling.
• Establish clear policies and oversight for AI projects, including how data is used, how models are tested for bias, and how decisions are explained to users.

The employee experience is being reimagined by new device types, remote work, and rising expectations around privacy and security.

Privacy expectations are increasing:

• Connected devices—from smart light bulbs and doorbells to cars—are now part of everyday life, but they raise data concerns.
• A 2019 World Economic Forum study found that 57% of consumers were uncomfortable with how companies use their data.
• Consumers are responding more positively to brands and products that clearly protect their right to privacy and explain how data is collected and used, not only in regions covered by regulations like GDPR.

Security in a remote-first world:

• As more work happens outside traditional offices, organizations are rethinking security strategies.
• Strong security starts with good hygiene: visibility into all devices, wherever they are, and the ability to act on those devices.
• Privilege and credential management remain critical to reducing risk.
• Context-based AI endpoint security will be fundamental—helping predict, prevent, detect, and respond to malicious activity at the endpoint.
• As security products become more interconnected, users will expect solutions that leave no exploitable gaps, especially as the volume and value of data continue to grow.

New devices and form factors:

• Foldable devices are reshaping how employees think about portability and productivity, blending laptop-level productivity with smartphone-like mobility.
• Foldable displays enable larger screens and more flexible form factors, supporting seamless work-life integration for mobile and remote workers.
• Always-connected laptops with improved battery life and support for voice, pen, and traditional input methods help employees stay productive without feeling burdened by their technology.

What organizations should prioritize:

• Choose hardware that supports flexible work styles—such as foldables and always-connected PCs—while meeting enterprise security standards.
• Implement end-to-end security that includes device visibility, identity and access management, and AI-driven endpoint protection.
• Be transparent with employees and customers about what data is collected, why it’s collected, and how it’s protected, aligning with growing expectations for privacy and control.