Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from the margins of experimentation to the centre of strategy across sectors including healthcare, retail, and transport and logistics. From predictive diagnostics to personalised shopping experiences and streamlined supply chains, AI is reshaping how organisations operate and deliver value.
Yet amid this rapid adoption, some of the more basic but essential disciplines, such as device management, systems integration, and security are struggling to keep pace. The consequences of neglecting these foundations are significant, from unplanned downtime and increased exposure to cyber threats, to greater operational complexity. As industries continue to innovate with AI, the question is whether they are building on solid ground or leaving critical gaps that could compromise long-term progress.
Healthcare: Mismatched IT Priorities
The UK’s healthcare sector has been fast to adopt AI over the last year, with SOTI’s latest healthcare industry report finding that 94% of IT leaders say AI is being used for patient care, up from 47% in 2024. Despite this advancement, many healthcare organisations continue to be held back by integration and security issues associated with legacy systems and mobile device inefficiencies. Currently, 62% report that their organisation is using outdated technology, with 47% stating it is impacting the integration of other solutions.
When asked about their biggest IT concerns, the study found fewer respondents choosing data security than last year. While it does remain one of the top concerns for the sector’s IT leaders (24%), this is a significant drop from 33% in 2024. Could this indicate technological progress in keeping systems safe?
Possibly not, since the large majority of respondents (84%) said their organisation has experienced one or more data breaches since 2023 – an increase from 71% last year. Clearly, there is more work to be done.
Retail Under Attack from Cybercriminals
Recently, several high-profile retail brands suffered the consequences of data breaches, from operational downtime to financial loss and reputational damage. While many retail brands are advancing in areas such as AI-driven personalisation, these data breach incidents underscore a significant concern that essential safeguards like vendor oversight, secure data architecture, robust device management and proactive threat detection, remain inadequately addressed. Without rectifying these foundational gaps, the industry’s ability to innovate safely and sustainably is seriously compromised.
We know that consumers want AI and SOTI’s retail study, which surveyed 12,000 global consumers, found that over half (51%) prefer shopping with retailers that provide a personalised experience and 44% believe AI should be used to improve recommendations. But they also want to ensure their data is in safe hands, with the same study revealing 4 in 5 UK consumers (82%) are concerned about sharing their personal details with brands.
Grappling with Downtime in Transport and Logistics
Downtime caused by technical difficulties is a challenge for any industry, but it is one that is particularly pervasive in transport and logistics (T&L). UK workers are currently losing 11 hours of productive time each per month, as a result of device-related issues, according to another recent study by SOTI, focused on the transport and logistics industry. From batteries draining too quickly to apps not loading or crashing unexpectedly, these issues lead to delayed deliveries and customer frustration as well as increased employee stress. In fact, the same study found that over half (54%) of UK workers are experiencing increased stress due to device issues impacting their ability to just get on with their job. This is higher than the global average of 48%, highlighting a pressing issue.
While AI can automate workflows and streamline logistics operations, mobile technology sits at the heart of the transformation, with a range of devices such as handheld scanners needed for inventory tracking, GPS-enabled tablets for route optimisation, and wearables designed to monitor driver safety. Transport and logistics companies should therefore prioritise visibility over their entire device fleet in order to fix issues quickly and remotely, or even prevent them from occurring entirely.
The Key Takeaway
As industries push ahead with technology advancements, including AI, the real measure of progress will be how securely and reliably they operate within existing systems. The healthcare sector demonstrates how challenges with legacy technology can undermine AI-driven advancements. On the other hand, the retail industry highlights the delicate balance between delivering personalised experiences demanded by consumers and ensuring robust data security to maintain trust, especially in light of recent breaches. Similarly, transport and logistics showcases how battling against device downtime can interfere with ambitions for future AI integration and more importantly put unnecessary stress on workers, impacting employee wellbeing.
These are just a few examples of sectors that stand to gain enormously from automation, but they need to strengthen device management, safeguard data, and ensure resilient IT infrastructure, to enable the conditions in which AI can thrive.
