The Data landscape is evolving rapidly, organisations are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. CoAcumen reviewed the latest Couchbase CIO survey and realised that the pressing need for investment in IT modernisation, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and data management, is missing a strategic view on data management on a human level.
According to the survey’s findings, there is a significant uptick in IT modernisation spending, with a projected increase of nearly 30% in 2024. Enterprises are keen to leverage new technologies such as AI and edge computing to enhance productivity and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment. However, despite the surge in investment, many organisations are ill-prepared to meet the growing data demands associated with AI adoption and vast amounts of new data. Over half of the surveyed enterprises lack a comprehensive data strategy suitable for their demands. This underscores the importance of developing robust data management capabilities to support Data-driven initiatives effectively.
Key challenges highlighted in the survey include:
1. Legacy Technology Hurdles:
A reliance on outdated legacy systems is hindering modernisation efforts, leading to wasted investments and project delays. The average enterprise faces a staggering $4 million in wasted investment annually, along with significant delays in strategic projects.
2. Rushing into AI Adoption:
Despite the enthusiasm for AI, many organisations have rushed into adoption without fully understanding the requirements for effective and safe usage. This has led to compromises in other areas, with a quarter of enterprises diverting funds from critical areas such as security and IT support to meet AI objectives.
3. Infrastructure Concerns:
Over 60% of respondents express concerns about the adequacy of their compute power and data centre infrastructure to support AI and other data initiatives. Additionally, environmental responsibilities are prompting organisations to seek more efficient infrastructure solutions to support deployments.
4. Adaptability Demands:
End-user expectations for seamless experiences are continually evolving, placing pressure on organisations to deliver adaptable applications. Nearly half of respondents cite adaptability as the most crucial attribute for applications to meet evolving user demands.
In light of these challenges, CoAcumen emphasizes the urgent need for organisations to prioritize data strategy before they invest in IT modernisation. By developing comprehensive data management capabilities, teach data literacy and promote data ownership, organisations can unlock the full potential of their data, drive innovation, and stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape. As a starting point enterprise’s should keep the following in mind when developing a data strategy:
1. Set realistic goals and expectations based on what data is available
2. Sharing and accessing data quickly enough to ensure insights are relevant
3. Preventing inadvertent IP theft or security issues
4. Monitoring and managing data application use
5. Ensuring tiered access to storage and data resources
6. Maintaining and improving data capability through investment
7. Ensuring data ownership sits with the relevant domain expert
8. Ensuring architecture is high-performance and flexible enough to support data
9. Data literacy training for domain experts and end users
As enterprises navigate the complexities of digital transformation, investment in data strategy with a long-term view of data as an important resource will be paramount to driving success for future data use cases and ultimately AI. CoAcumen stands ready to support organisations in their journey towards data-driven excellence.
Couchbase Report: https://www.couchbase.com/content/cio-survey-digital-modernization-in-2025