Explore the latest State of IT report by Salesforce, unveiling key insights from over 4,000 IT leaders in the Asia Pacific region. Discover trends in AI, application development, security, and more, shaping the future of IT in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the worldwide frontrunner in customer relationship management (CRM), has published its latest State of IT report, featuring crucial insights derived from a survey of over 4,000 IT executives spanning 28 nations, encompassing 1,400 from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
The report sheds light on trends that are impacting IT organizations. These include the evolving strategies in application development, the widening disparity between the demand and supply of IT services, and the transformative influence of automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
Key observations extracted from this year’s State of IT report encompass the following: Generative AI is poised to revolutionize the field of IT. In the APAC region, 78% of IT leaders affirm that AI’s role within their organizations is clearly defined, and this statistic is anticipated to rise as 88% predict that generative AI, in particular, will soon play a substantial role in their enterprises. Notwithstanding this optimism, leaders are treading cautiously, with 66% expressing ethical concerns about generative AI.
Ongoing digital transformations are depleting IT resources. IT teams confront challenges in aligning with shifting key performance indicators (KPIs), evolving business requisites, technological advancements, and economic pressures. Among APAC IT organizations, 64% concede that they struggle to keep up with the business’s demands. This situation is projected to intensify as 78% anticipate a surge in demand over the subsequent 18 months. In response, 90% of APAC IT leaders assert that they are prioritizing the enhancement of operational efficiencies.
Teams aspire to expand their application development capabilities. The demand for applications is consistently on the rise, whether for customer-facing or employee-facing purposes. Nonetheless, merely 30% of APAC IT organizations are equipped to fulfill all incoming app development requests. To bolster their capacity, 77% have embraced low-code or no-code tools, while 46% opt for composability – the utilization of standardized, reusable building blocks of packaged functionalities instead of custom code. The ability to accommodate all app development requests is exceedingly limited, with only 4% in New Zealand and 9% in South Korea among APAC nations reporting such capability – the lowest figures in the region.
In the face of looming threats, teams adopt a comprehensive security approach. As rapidly evolving technologies usher in fresh innovations, they also expose new security vulnerabilities that malicious actors might exploit. Balancing business and security objectives poses a challenge for 69% of APAC IT leaders, prompting the adoption of an array of defensive measures. For instance, 58% of APAC IT organizations employ data encryption, and 48% implement multi-factor authentication.
Regarding these findings, Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Salesforce ASEAN, remarked, “Given the prevailing economic circumstances, IT leaders are confronted with heightened pressure to achieve more with limited resources and to expedite project timelines. IT leaders who harness the potential of AI and automation will empower their enterprises to stand out by achieving heightened levels of speed, efficiency, and personalized scalability.”
In essence, Salesforce’s State of IT report presents a comprehensive snapshot of the challenges and opportunities that IT leaders in the Asia Pacific region are navigating. As technology continues its rapid evolution, the integration of AI, automation, and adaptable development strategies stands out as a critical path forward. Balancing innovation with security and operational efficiency emerges as a core imperative for these IT organizations. By embracing the insights and recommendations provided in the report, APAC IT leaders can steer their enterprises towards a future where they not only meet the demands of today but also forge a resilient and agile IT landscape for tomorrow’s advancements.