Omnissa research finds retail among the worst sectors for OS updates, with devices up to five generations behind as unsanctioned AI usage surges by almost 1,000%
London, UK 12 June 2026: Nearly a third of retail devices are running operating systems four or five generations behind. The finding comes from Omnissa’s State of Digital Workspace 2026 report, based on data from millions of enterprise devices.
Key report findings:
-
Retail is among the weakest sectors for system updates, with many devices tied to older inventory and store management software that cannot easily be upgraded.
-
AI assistant use has surged by close to 1,000% year on year, with staff increasingly using consumer tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini on work devices outside IT oversight
The timing is difficult to ignore. Cyber incidents affecting Marks & Spencer, WHSmith and The Works have shown how quickly a compromised system can disrupt trading. Government data shows 44% of retail businesses treat cyber security as a low priority, compared with 27% overall.
“Retailers rely on their device estate to keep stores trading, so they cannot afford blind spots,” said Matt Coppinger, CTO, Omnissa. “When systems fall several versions behind, it creates weak points across payments, inventory and frontline operations. It also makes life harder for store staff, turning simple tasks into slower, more frustrating processes.”
The report points to real-time visibility as the way forward, allowing teams to understand device health, prioritise updates and reduce disruption, rather than relying on static reports or assumptions.
For more information, download the Omnissa State of Digital Workspace 2026 report.
