Rimini Street has revealed insights from a global survey conducted alongside Censuswide. The research, titled "C-suite Imperatives: Accelerating Innovation in a Shifting Landscape," engaged nearly 4,300 executives worldwide, revealing evolving strategies and priorities in technology investment.
AI and Automation at the Forefront
The analysis indicates a shift towards AI and automation, with 44% of executives identifying these as essential for both short-term and long-term IT objectives. In particular, 46% of CIOs and 43% of CEOs underscore these capabilities as pivotal imperatives.
The drive towards automation is also influenced by heightened cybersecurity demands and the need for cost optimisation, which continue to dominate immediate initiatives. A technological backbone incorporating intelligent operations and widespread skills development is anticipated as leaders aim for data-driven transformations.
Rising ROI Expectations
Concurrently, there's a rising demand for measurable outcomes from tech investments, with 31% of C-suites frequently in collaboration with CIOs and 27% with CEOs to assess returns. The demand for earlier CFO inclusion is imperative as they sharpen their focus on concrete investment results.
Research highlights that executives expect roughly 27% of payback within the initial two years, escalating to 37% by year five, and a significant 48% set to accrue after six years. Emphasis is also on Agentic ERP, recognised as crucial for future AI-centric decision-making.
Confronting Talent Challenges
Barriers to innovation persist, primarily due to talent shortages and heavy IT system maintenance demands. An overwhelming 98% report talent deficits impacting their ability to realise their technology vision. To combat this, organisations are proactively outsourcing cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application support.
As traditional ERP continues to be reassessed, more than 97% admit current systems sufficiently address business operations but constrained support often limits strategic pursuits. This reality prompts a move towards outsourcing solutions to sidestep delays and promote continuity.
Focus on Resilience and Flexibility
Concerns regarding business continuity and external threats have redirected investments to strengthen strategic resilience through improved alternative sourcing (45%) and workforce augmentation (44%). Standing against vendor constraints, 35% express frustration over restrictive upgrade cycles and financial burdens.
In summary, C-suite leaders are finding new pathways to modernise technology strategies, moving beyond traditional ERP frameworks to integrate transformative capabilities like AI, ensuring long-term growth through innovative enterprise roadmaps.
