Networking is the foundation of digital transformation. New developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) mean that today, networks can be smarter, more efficient and more reliable than ever before.

The implications of AI for network infrastructure may seem less glamorous than use cases involving curing cancer or tackling the climate crisis. But these world-changing applications themselves are reliant on fast, effective, and secure networks.

Luckily, some network infrastructure providers are developing new ways to automate complex data flows, proactively resolve network maintenance issues and intelligently optimize bandwidth usage, all thanks to breakthroughs in AI.

Ultimately, the end goal is improved customer experience – providing end users with solutions that simply “just work” – while leaving them unaware to the AI magic that’s taking place behind the scenes!

In this piece, I am going to explore some of the solutions developed by one leading infrastructure provider – Juniper Networks – with a focus on its use of cutting-edge AI and machine learning.

So, let’s take a peek behind the curtains at the technology powering the future of networking, as well as discuss where these advances might lead us in the next few years.

AI-Driven Networking

There are a number of ways in which AI can be used to make modern IT networking more efficient, effective and intelligent.

One is by deploying predictive analytics in order to analyze patterns of network traffic, which can be used to identify anomalies, predict potential problems before they occur, and proactively implement preventative or remedial measures.

AI can also be used to automate the configuration and optimization of networks based on real-time data passing across the network, as well as predict future usage. Fluctuations in bandwidth use can be measured and leveraged, allowing resources to be directed to where they will be most needed.

It even becomes possible to personalize user experiences around specific use cases or devices to ensure traffic is managed in a way that's most optimal for the end user, their equipment and the tasks they are trying to carry out.

In order to understand how Juniper Networks, in particular, is approaching these possibilities, I spoke to Bojan Pavicic, director of technology for hotel group citizenM, which focuses its digital transformation initiatives around improving overall guest experience.

The fast-growing hotel chain currently has 33 properties in the US, Europe and Asia, with more in the pipeline. In order to bring about its vision of the future of hospitality, citizenM made the decision to move its infrastructure to Juniper’s Mist AI™️ platform.

Pavicic tells me that AI-driven network solutions enable the business to remove friction for the guests by relocating the complexity to the cloud, where it becomes invisible to the end user.

He says, "As a hotel business, do you really want to own a huge data center? Probably not.

“What we need from a network provider is flexibility … changes in the digital world are super-rapid. If there is friction, then [customer satisfaction] is gone. So, to be very digital and have a digital posture and digital product, you need to be persistent on certain parameters of quality and performance.”

At the hotels, the idea is that technology provides a seamless experience throughout the guests' visit, whether they are relaxing, working or sleeping. Check-in can be entirely automated, allowing them to skip the front desk and access their room in under one minute with a digital key created through a mobile app or kiosk.

Importantly, the organization has no department dedicated to network infrastructure, thanks to cloud provisioning and automated workflows around network setup and maintenance. Individual guest experiences can be monitored through a cloud portal, and the Mist AI platform proactively detects and remedies problems.

It’s a great example of the flexibility that can be achieved by building networks that are cloud-based and AI-driven from the ground up, allowing a growing brand like citizenM to compete on the playing field of customer experience with global players.

AI-Driven Networking In Education And Retail

Educational establishments – particularly large universities – have unique challenges around digital infrastructure. Robust connectivity must be in place across sprawling campuses, consisting of buildings that were constructed long before routing of networked microservices was an anticipated issue. The complexity of deploying scalable and flexible solutions is compounded by the high expectations of researchers, staff and students.

At University of Oxford, Juniper’s Mist AI enabled the university to achieve a reliable and measurable level of service thanks to its intelligent, predictive networking technology. Importantly, the microservices-oriented infrastructure allows colleges and dormitories to define their own networking parameters to fit their individual requirements, as well as spin up standalone networks when required for special projects or events.

Retail is another sector with unique needs in this field. Two Juniper Networks customers that have benefitted from the intelligent networking approach are Halfords and Gap Inc. Motoring specialists Halfords say they have achieved a 35 percent improvement in network uptime, helping them meet their ambition of delivering omnichannel retail across 1,400 branches and online. Meanwhile, clothing retailer Gap found that since re-platforming to Mist AI, it has achieved an 85 percent reduction in the need for maintenance visits to its stores.

The End Goal – Intelligent Customer Experience

As shown by the use cases covered here, the common thread that runs through organizational needs around AI-driven networking is the provision of improved customer experience. You don’t need to work at the sharp end of online connectivity to understand the frustrations that can be caused by inconsistent and unreliable Wi-Fi coverage.

Whether you’re a hotel guest struggling to stream movies in your room or an academic researcher breaking new grounds in drug discovery, more uptime and fewer seconds spent watching transfer progress bars crawl or wheels spin make you a happier user.

These examples underscore the difference that building AI into the foundational networking technology that underpins usability and innovation can make to the experience of our customers. In turn, this will impact how likely they are to stay with us or look elsewhere for their needs.

It’s no exaggeration to say that AI is transforming everything, and networking solutions are certainly no exception. As it continues to evolve and become more powerful and useful, we can look forward to seeing it deliver a more responsive, efficient and intelligent digital network experience.