Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, recently published research from its new Digital Infrastructure report, Building intelligence into your business.

In the study of 755 senior IT decision-makers from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, Singapore and Spain, Singapore companies surveyed who have aspects of intelligent digital infrastructure within their organisations outpaced their peers in the deployment of traditional AI (49% in Singapore vs. global average of 47%) and generative AI (52% vs. 45%).

In addition, 9 in 10 Singapore IT leaders surveyed plan are already using or planning to adopt AI in their development roadmaps.

The results also reveal that hopes are high for digital infrastructure to support wider business goals, from ESG commitments to employee retention, as powerful, sustainable enterprise networks form the foundations for businesses of the future.

"2023 will be remembered as the year generative AI went mainstream, dominating conversations in cafes, on the sidelines of sports pitches, in homes and in the workplace, so this year we have refocused our digital infrastructure report to track AI's monumental impact on businesses," says Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt Technology Services.

The research found that Singapore companies surveyed use or plan to use AI in the following business functions:

• Digital Infrastructure management 52% already using, 43% planning to use (global average: 45% and 44%)
• Operations 52% already using, 39% planning to use (global average: 44% and 44%)
• Sales 50% already using, 42% planning to use (global average: 43% and 45%)
• Marketing 50% already using, 42% planning to use (global average: 44% and 44%)
• Human resources 47% already using, 44% planning to use (global average: 45% and 42%)
• Security 47% already using, 40% planning to use (global average: 44% and 42%)
• Research & development 47% already using, 37% planning to use (global average: 44% and 43%)
• Risk management 46% already using, 43% planning to use (global average: 44% and 45%)
• Service/product delivery 45% already using, 44% planning to use (global average: 43% and 43%)
• Training staff 45% already using, 41% planning to use (global average: 41% and 46%)
• Customer experience 44% already using, 44% planning to use (global average: 42% and 46%)
• Fraud detection 44% already using, 41% planning to use (global average: 45% and 44%)
• Data analysis 43% already using, 50% planning to use (global average: 42% and 45%)
• Using a custom AI platform 41% already using, 46% planning to use (global average: 42% and 45%)

As organisations embrace new working practices and as high-profile tech applications bridge the consumer/enterprise gap, a wider understanding of the strategic benefits of digital infrastructure is influencing IT spending. Across all countries surveyed, 92% have already invested or intend to invest in intelligent digital infrastructure and spending on digital infrastructure is set to rise by 17% on average over the next 12-14 months.

The research also outlines the rise of the consumption-based network, as global uncertainty drives businesses to build in flex to their organisations wherever they can with 90% of global survey respondents who have aspects of intelligent digital infrastructure already using or planning to use On Demand connectivity.

"We have reached a defining moment, as enterprises look to their network to solve strategic business challenges," says Gilder. 
"Digital infrastructure is no longer a means to connect A to B, but its the driving force behind the global economy."