Technology is changing at an unprecedented pace. The convergence of business and Technology across everything we do is both exciting and challenging to business and technology leaders. But CIOs don’t have to get swept up in the maelstrom. Rather than thinking about how technology will change the way we work, CIOs need to think about harnessing that technology and using it to change the way we work to achieve more.
Accenture’s 2017 Technology Vision looks at IT trends and innovations that people will apply to shape business in the next three years. Let’s explore how CIOs should establish core competencies that align with these trends to become an agent of change in the digital era.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now part of the core team—and the role of AI is only going to expand as people direct and control it to meet their needs and goals. CIOs must take steps to maximize the value of AI. These actions include better managing how humans work with machines, building a workforce that uses machine learning to improve processes and outcomes, developing strong technology platform skills, fostering basic statistical competencies and focusing on problem-solving abilities so that employees can exercise judgment on challenging decisions.
AI will become the new user interface underpinning people’s natural and simple transactions and interactions with systems, delivering value at each connection made.In fact, the Accenture Technology Vision 2017 companion survey showed that 79 percent of IT and business executives agree that AI will help accelerate technology adoption throughout their organizations.
Ecosystems are gaining power as more companies are integrating their core business functionalities with third parties and their platforms. As such, organizations must decide which ecosystems to join, and also figure out the role they want to play in that Ecosystem. The leaders are using these relationships to build their role in new digital ecosystems and take advantage of the capabilities gained by working with partners and collaborators. Already, more than a quarter (27 percent) of the executives Accenture surveyed report that digital ecosystems are transforming the way their organizations deliver value.
CIOs must create their own ecosystems by working with people in the broader enterprise, not just the IT function. In the past, CIOs could focus primarily on what happened within the four walls of the IT shop.
