57% of CIOs change their strategies to take advantage of digital transformation

Most CIOs (Chief Information Officers) are redefining their strategies in order to get the most out of the benefits of adopting new digital technologies in business, especially with regard to Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT) and Mobile Solutions which, together with the greater interest in knowing and understanding the customer, will have the maximum prominence during the next five years.

From traditional to new digital company: blurring the differences between sectors and competitors

The results of a recent study from 1,805 interviews with CEOs and senior business executives across the globe show that most of them are redefining the strategies of their companies as they integrate the new digital technologies.

Some of the key findings of the report “Redefining Connections: Insights from the Global C-Suite Study – The CIO Perspective”, carried out by IBM Institute for Business Value are:

• 57% of CIOs are reshaping their strategies to take full advantage of the benefits of digital transformation.

• The convergence between different sectors will have an impact never seen before for 63% of CIOs.

• Within three to five years, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and mobile solutions will increase their importance in companies.

• Security continues to be considered one of the greatest challenges and, at the same time, there is a greater awareness of it. In fact, for 76% of CIOs, risk management is a priority, especially in the areas of improving the intelligence and knowledge of the company, digitizing the front office and strengthening IT departments.

• IT managers are paying more attention to innovation, rather than cost reduction.

• In order to optimize the processes that accelerate the commercialization of their products and services, the companies’ CIOs are committed to following the example of the start-ups, focusing on obtaining more valuable information through effective applications created for this purpose. However, 61% of CIOs rely more on external opinion leaders than on the opinion of external clients (36%) to get such information.

• Efficiency in data analysis is another of the big efforts of CIOs. 44% of them plan to invest in cognitive systems capable of learning from their interaction with users and the environment, providing information of great strategic value. In essence, knowing and understanding the customer better.

In conclusion, the adoption of new digital technologies promotes innovation in companies, reduces the differences between sectors and directs the strategies towards a customer-based approach through more effective tools in which knowledge and security are determinant aspects.