Research from global business tech and managed services outfit Thinc shows business and IT leaders are grumbling about the need to boost productivity, but they can’t agree on how. Instead of alignment, there is a widening chasm of indecision.
Chief executive officers and chief financial officers say budget headaches and too few resources to hire outside help (39 per cent) are killing progress on IT decisions. Meanwhile, 56 per cent of CTOs and IT bosses are demanding smarter systems and automation, setting up a showdown between those betting on tech and those relying on headcount.
Thinc managing director Dominic Ball said: "Mid-market organisations don’t lack ambition but they lack clarity. Too often, businesses are trying to solve the right problems with the wrong tools, or they’re stuck debating whether tech or people are the answer. The truth is, the answer is different for every business, and looks different from every business role. You just need someone who can help you find it."
Turns out, a lot of these firms are drowning in clunky kit and outdated systems. Years of panic buying and dodgy vendor deals have left many managing their ITSM, cyber and HRM completely in-house, despite being ill-equipped to do so. Tech that should be helping is now the anchor.
Even the promise of AI and automation is more sizzle than steak. While 54 per cent of business leaders think it is a game changer, the excitement doesn’t match the reality. Different parts of the business are running off in different directions, chasing hype while the fundamentals rot.
CEOs are the biggest AI cheerleaders, with 74 per cent making it a key plank of future strategy. But with leadership teams pulling in opposite directions, investment is fragmented and integration is often non-existent.
The core issue is no one knows who to trust for proper advice.
Vendors, obviously, want to flog gear. Internal teams are blinkered and siloed. As a result, 62 per cent of CEOs turn to trade shows and industry events, while only 36 per cent of MDs bother. Managing directors lean on existing IT partners and consultants instead (56 per cent), and 64 per cent of CTOs are grabbing tips from anywhere they can. Almost no one is looking in-house, which is hardly surprising given the talent vacuum.
Without an honest, neutral voice, firms are flailing. It is not a tech deficit or skills gap that is killing productivity. It is confusion.
"Mid-market businesses stand at a crossroads, they understand that they need to find more efficient ways to work. But it’s hard to decide on, let alone commit to, the technology investments that will make this a reality," Ball added.
"There’s never been more information out there about the power of technology. What businesses need is unbiased, practical advice that cuts through the hype," he said.