Costs, Risks and Innovation Arise as Trifecta of Challenges for CIOs in 2023, Finds New Snow Software Report

Actionable intelligence is essential for IT leaders as they wrestle with fostering innovation, reducing costs and managing heightened security risk

Stockholm and Austin, Texas – December 14, 2022 Snow Software, the global leader in technology intelligence, today released its latest survey which uncovers how IT decision makers’ priorities have shifted over the past 12 months and their top areas of focus as they head into 2023. The Snow Software 2023 IT Priorities Report polled 800 IT leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia, and highlights that innovation remains a top priority for organizations (94%). However, reducing costs and managing security risks are competing for leaders’ attention and resources amid continuous market volatility.

Due to economic uncertainty and geopolitical disruptions upending the technology landscape, IT teams have shrinking or stagnant budgets and resources, yet the same goals and KPIs to meet. With increased pressure to foster innovation, boost productivity and remain competitive with fewer resources, IT leaders are struggling to identify where to put their time, energy and spend, resulting in continual strategy pivots.

Responding to Uncertainty in the Market

The report shows that economic uncertainty over the past year has forced nearly all IT leaders to rethink their strategy (80%), with 70% noting immense budget impacts.

When navigating resource reductions and market disruption, IT leaders rely on data and their previous experience to guide decision making. This is particularly true when taking risks and pursuing innovation initiatives, as data is needed to reinforce and rationalize prioritization when resources are limited. While IT leaders feel there is an abundance of data available to them, 89% say IT must invest in tools and technologies to extract value from their data and turn it into actionable intelligence.

Shifting Role of the CIO

Given technology deployments and data insights are often used to provide context through ongoing market volatility, many IT leaders are feeling the weight of their organization’s investments on their shoulders.

The role of the CIO has evolved significantly over the last three years, earning them decision making power not just around technology spend, but across the full scope and impact of the company’s bottom line. With this level of decision making power comes even greater accountability, and the same IT leaders who championed the shift to remote work are also at risk of becoming the scapegoats when businesses are not equipped for unprecedented events. CIOs and other IT leaders are living in an age of adaptation: new technologies, new market dynamics, new value drivers, and they are expected to successfully guide their organizations through a new reality of continual, crisis-fueled change.

“The reality is that IT isn’t going to get a break from the uncertainties impacting businesses anytime soon,” said Alastair Pooley, Chief Information Officer at Snow. “The IT leaders that push through the challenges with confidence all have one thing in common: the ability to access data and leverage it strategically. CIOs should not overlook the power of intelligence on their technology, given it empowers IT teams with data-driven insights to shift their focus from tactical response to strategic initiatives. This shift helps drive continued innovation through extended periods of uncertainty.”

Key Findings Include:

For more information about the latest version of the Snow annual report, please visit: https://www.snowsoftware.com/go/it-priorities/

About Snow Software

Snow Software is changing the way organizations understand and manage their technology consumption. Our technology intelligence platform provides comprehensive visibility and contextual insight across software, SaaS, hardware and cloud. With Snow, IT leaders can effectively optimize resources, enhance performance and enable operational agility in a hybrid world. To learn more, visit www.snowsoftware.com.

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Rachel Austin

Snow Software

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Taylor Champlin

PAN Communications

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