IT Investments Matter, but Cloud, Analytics Face Resistance
-
Technology 'Pioneers' Lead the Way
But customers in North America are more likely to be "followers" than "pioneers." About a third of the respondents identified themselves as technology pioneers. -
'Pioneers' Reap the Rewards
A full 64% of the "pioneers" say they are ahead of their competitors. Among the "pioneers," 20% are growing at 30% or more. -
Drivers of IT Investments
Nearly two-thirds (65%) cite changing customer behaviors and expectations as the primary driver and ranked costs second, at 45%. -
IT as Driver of Innovation
Only 3% view IT as a drain on resources. More than half (57%) of the respondents view IT as an investment to spur innovation. -
Impact of IT on Business Model
29% of the "followers" also report significant change, as well. 54% of the "pioneers" said technology significantly changed their business model. -
The ROI of IT
Higher customer satisfaction leads to recurring sales. Nearly three-fourths (72%) said technology investments have made organizations more responsive to customers. -
Biggest Areas on IT Impact
Human resources came in last place. IT operations led at 56%, followed closely by marketing and customer service. -
Technology Adoption Trends
Machine-to-machine came in last place. Mobile computing has been adopted extensively by 61%. -
Biggest Use Case for Mobile Computing
IT operations surprisingly came in third. Marketing and sales, followed by customer service, are the top two use cases. -
Top Analytics Adoption Issues
Analytics adoption needs additional attention. Cultural resistance to change was cited most, followed by either not appropriate or too risky. -
Top Cloud Adoption Issues
Cost was the least significant issue. Cultural resistance to change led the list, followed by too much risk. -
Biggest Obstacle to IT Success
It's always a challenge to integrate with existing IT investments: 34% cited legacy technologies as the biggest issue. -
Senior Management Involvement
But 25% also admit to having trouble prioritizing IT investments. 42% of senior executives are heavily involved in IT decisions.
What Partners Need to Know About HP, Inc. 
MSPs Face Big Cybersecurity Talent Gap 
Why Tech Companies Are Eager to Invest in 5G 
The Problem With Partner Referral Programs 
Microsoft Taps Channel for Digital Business 
New Technologies Will Fuel Channel Opportunities 
Channel's Transition to the Cloud Requires More Time 
Microsoft's Cloud Channel Begins to Mature 
Defining MSPs' Goals, Challenges and Tools 
Why Metrics Matter to the Channel IT investments are considered strategic decisions, particularly among executives who identified their organizations as "pioneers" in new technology adoption, according to a new study conducted by The Harvard Business Review (HBR) on behalf of Verizon Enterprise Solutions. The study, based on a global survey of 652 business and IT executives, found that most of these IT investments were made to become closer to customers, but at the same time, the vast majority said that IT investments have significantly led them to alter their business models. Half the respondents view IT as an investment to spur business innovation. From the perspective of solution providers in the channel, the HBR survey makes it clear that technology matters more than ever and business executives are very involved in making IT decisions. That said, there's still plenty of cultural resistance to emerging technologies, such as analytics and cloud computing. But mobile computing adoption is almost pervasive. The opportunity for the channel is to close the loop between mobile computing, analytics and the cloud.