IDC FutureScape: Worldwide CIO Agenda 2021 Predictions

IDC FutureScape Figure

• Figure: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide CIO Agenda 2021 Top 10 Predictions

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

• Summary of External Drivers

• Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers

• Prediction 1: By 2022, 65% of CIOs Will Digitally Empower and Enable Frontline Workers with Data, AI, and Security to Extend Their Productivity, Adaptability, and Decision Making in the Face of Rapid Changes

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 2: By 2021, Unable to Find Adaptive Ways to Counter Escalating Cyberattacks, Unrest, Trade Wars, and Sudden Collapses, 30% of CIOs Will Fail in Protecting Trust — the Foundation of Customer Confidence

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 3: Through 2023, Coping with Technical Debt Accumulated During the Pandemic Will Shadow 70% of CIOs, Causing Financial Stress, Inertial Drag on IT Agility, and "Forced March" Migrations to the Cloud

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 4: By 2023, Global Crises Will Make 75% of CIOs Integral to Business Decision Making as Digital Infrastructure Becomes the Business OS While Moving from Business Continuation to Reconceptualization

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 5: By 2024, to Support Safe, Distributed Work Environments, 50% of CIOs Will Accelerate Robotization, Automation, and Augmentation, Making Change Management a Formidable Imperative

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 6: By 2023, CIO-Led Adversity Centers Will Become a Permanent Fixture in 65% of Enterprises, Focused on Building Resilience with Digital Infrastructure and Flexible Funding for Diverse Scenarios

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 7: By 2025, 80% of CIOs Alongside LOBs Will Implement Intelligent Capabilities to Sense, Learn, and Predict Changing Customer Behaviors, Enabling Exclusive Customer Experiences for Engagement and Loyalty

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 8: By 2025, 60% of CIOs Will Implement Governance for Low-Code/No-Code Tools to Increase IT and Business Productivity, Help LOB Developers Meet Unpredictable Needs, and Foster Innovation at the Edge

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 9: By 2025, 65% of CIOs Will Implement Ecosystem, Application, and Infrastructure Control Systems Founded on Interoperability, Flexibility, Scalability, Portability, and Timeliness

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

• Prediction 10: By 2024, 75% of CIOs Will Absorb New Accountabilities for the Management of Operational Health, Welfare, and Employee Location Data for Underwriting, Health, Safety, and Tax Compliance Purposes

• Associated Drivers

• IT Impact

• Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

• Accelerated Disruption — Crisis, Resilience, and Opportunity

• Strategic Innovation — Shaping the Future Enterprise Today

• Intelligence Everywhere — Data Drives Action

• Geopolitical Risk — Societal and Economic Tensions Escalate

• Digital Platform — Ecosystems at Scale

• Crisis of Trust — Meeting Rising Expectations

• Customer Engagement Redefined — Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Digital Experience

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• Related Research