New research shows 76% of executive leaders feel inadequately prepared; just 13% in high-risk regions have active disaster plans; 89% believe AI will reshape disaster response

Samsara (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, today released its State of Connected Operations Report: Plan, Act, Recover: Disaster Preparedness in Physical Operations. The report, which spans seven countries across two continents, reveals that most organizations are dangerously underprepared for major crises—from natural disasters to supply chain breakdowns, civil unrest, and security threats—leaving frontline workers at risk and putting billions of dollars in operations on the line.

The proprietary study, based on insights from 1,550 emergency management professionals across 21 industries in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, and Canada, highlights an urgent preparedness gap that spans industries, segments, and geographies. Despite the rising frequency and severity of disruptions, 76% of executives lack confidence in their crisis readiness, and only 24% feel adequately prepared. Even in high-risk regions, just 13% of organizations have active disaster plans. This lack of preparedness is costly: 95% of organizations have experienced financial losses during crises.

“Every day, we partner with the organizations that keep our world running—the people on the front lines of everything from wildfires and hurricanes to cyberattacks and supply chain disruptions,” said Johan Land, SVP of Product at Samsara. “This study makes clear that the biggest threat isn't the disaster itself—it’s being unprepared. The ultimate operational unlock is moving from reacting to a crisis to predicting its impact. That's why we're so focused on using AI to help build more resilient operations, so leaders can act before the next crisis hits and keep their teams safe."

Key report findings include:

• Severe preparedness gaps are leaving organizations exposed
  • 76% of executives lack confidence in their crisis readiness; only 24% feel adequately prepared.
  • Just 13% of organizations in disaster-prone areas have active crisis plans, including just 1% in Canada, 3% in Mexico, and 10% in France.
  • Organizations cite natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and civil unrest/security incidents as their top concerns.
• Lack of visibility is driving financial losses and safety risks
  • 95% of organizations have suffered financial losses during crises, most often from being unable to locate critical assets.
  • 72% described those losses as moderate to severe; only 4% reported no financial impact.
  • 64% lack consistent real-time access to key data during emergencies.
  • 72% worry current technology does not adequately protect frontline workers.
  • 79% fear losing communications if infrastructure is compromised.
• AI could transform disaster response—but workforce readiness not to standards
  • 89% of leaders believe AI will fundamentally reshape disaster response within five years.
  • Leaders want technology to improve emergency planning, early warnings, and real-time decision support.
  • 79% say their frontline teams are not adequately trained to use digital tools during crises.
  • 82% say more frequent disasters are forcing new training needs, particularly in data and technology.
• Planning pays off
  • 93% of organizations with active emergency plans return to normal operations within three days of a major event.

The report makes clear that preventive programs directly strengthen resilience: Organizations that invest in planning and visibility are not only able to recover faster but also maintain stronger communications, protect their people, and reduce financial losses when disruptions occur. Designed to give organizations real-time visibility into their assets and operations, Samsara helps close this gap by equipping customers with real-time data and connected tools to safeguard workers, control costs, and accelerate recovery. By equipping leaders with actionable data during moments of crisis, Samsara enables customers to minimize downtime and maintain continuity even in the face of natural disasters, supply chain challenges, or security incidents.

“We get a lot of hurricanes in our area, and we have water pumps, standby generators, and specialty response equipment that we need to find quickly in case of an event,” said Dave Persad, Director of Fleet Management and Mobility, City of Boynton Beach, FL. “Before [integrating Samsara technology], it would take hours to contact our departments to confirm asset location. Now, it takes only a few minutes to locate assets and make logistical preparations in case they're needed."

Learn more about the state of disaster response operations and read the full report findings here.

About Samsara

Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, which is an open platform that connects the people, devices, and systems of some of the world’s most complex operations, allowing them to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world’s leading organizations across industries in transportation, construction, wholesale and retail trade, field services, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, food and beverage, and others. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

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