According to a new report from Blue Bell, Pa.-based Unisys, businesses are determined to invest in IT, cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the near future.
The move toward a digital business transformation is limited, however, by tension between IT and the C-suite, the study found, as talent challenges and ethical concerns over AI persist. The report, “From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Unlocking Growth Opportunities with Cloud-Enabled Innovation,” surveyed more than 2,250 participants, including C-Suite, IT leaders and developers from enterprises in the U.S, the U. K., Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
“Embracing a cutting-edge, cloud-native, digital-first mindset will enable organizations to be more agile and unlock growth. Enterprises are facing pressures to maximize resources, and this strategic shift will inspire innovation and drive impact,” Manju Naglapur, senior vice president of cloud, applications & infrastructure solutions at Unisys, said.
According to the study, 85 percent of enterprises invest in cloud technologies, but only 19 percent have embraced them and effectively use them to improve their business. Additionally, only 15 percent are integrating AI into their business strategies and more than half (55 percent) report they don’t fully understand the ethical impact of AI.
The study found that of the companies increasing their cloud spending, or planning to increase spending, a little over a third (36 percent) are in the planning or initial adoption phase of that spending. Less than a fifth (19 percent) have reached a sophisticated level of cloud adoption, the study found.
The biggest challenge facing businesses in adopting cloud technologies is finding talent to manage and maximize them. Nearly half (42 percent) of the IT leaders surveyed said they had concerns about keeping their staff up-to-date on cloud technologies, as well as filling gaps in non-technical and technical skills.
“Strategically shifting to a cloud-native, digital-first mindset includes aligning the C-Suite and IT on shared goals, aligning with business outcomes, advancing cloud technology, navigating ethical AI, and addressing skill concerns. While it may seem daunting, recalibrating the organizations’ approach will help companies realize business value faster,” concluded Naglapur.