New independent research from FusionLayer and Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) exposes a significant deployment gap in enterprise AI, revealing that while AI is a top strategic priority, only 32.5% of organizations have successfully scaled AI factory deployments. The report identifies outdated, manual network orchestration as the critical bottleneck preventing widespread operationalization.
EMA research for FusionLayer finds only 32.5% of enterprises have successfully scaled AI factory deployments.
AI workloads are the leading strategic driver for edge computing investment (49.2%).
Top barriers to scale are skills shortages (50.8%), deployment complexity (49.7%), and cost (48.2%).
Legacy, manual networking methods are unable to support the scale and security demands of distributed AI systems.
The report positions automated network orchestration as the essential foundation for scaling AI.
FusionLayer's Xverse platform is highlighted as a solution for secure, zero-touch provisioning at scale.
The research, based on a survey of over 200 IT and security leaders, highlights a stark contradiction: AI is the primary driver for edge computing, yet most enterprises struggle to move beyond pilot phases. The inability to operationalize AI at production scale is attributed to "growing infrastructure complexity, fragmented operational models, and the absence of an automated, secure connectivity foundation." This creates an "IP Connectivity Paradox" where network limitations stifle AI ambitions.
Despite 82.9% of enterprises viewing security as a key benefit of edge computing, the report finds they are constrained by traditional networking tools. These manual processes cannot keep pace with the dynamic, large-scale requirements of distributed AI systems involving thousands of devices like Data Processing Units (DPUs). EMA Research Director Ken Buckler states that "network orchestration, automation, and zero-touch provisioning are no longer optional—they are required for deployment success."
The white paper presents FusionLayer's Xverse platform as a designed solution to this structural problem. Xverse aims to provide a next-generation orchestration layer featuring secure zero-touch provisioning, a centralized network source of truth, and cloud-native automation to onboard and manage devices rapidly. This transforms the network into an "intelligent, self-orchestrating foundation" for AI workloads.
The FusionLayer and EMA research underscores a pivotal shift in enterprise technology strategy: the network is no longer just plumbing, but a strategic control plane for AI. As AI factories become the new unit of competitive advantage, the ability to automate and secure the underlying IP connectivity layer emerges as the decisive factor between stalled experiments and scalable, production-grade intelligence. This reframes the cloud and edge conversation around a foundational need for orchestration.
About FusionLayer
FusionLayer is the global leader in automated network orchestration for AI factories, edge deployments, and large-scale distributed infrastructure. Trusted by enterprises, telecom operators, and government agencies worldwide, FusionLayer’s patented solutions provide secure zero-touch provisioning, automated IP fabric management, and a unified network source of truth. FusionLayer helps organizations accelerate innovation by simplifying the most complex part of modern infrastructure—the network itself.
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