About the report
Now in our 24th year, and in collaboration with CIONET, 2022 has brought more change and disruption than any of us were expecting, and this year’s report has shone a light on it.
1785
respondents
3M
data points
82
countries
24
years of data
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Making more of the report
Global InfographicDownload the infographic with a view of the Global findings of the Digital Leadership Report.
USA InfographicDownload an infographic with a view of U.S. specific findings within the Digital Leadership Report.
Read the official Press Release'Despite economic turmoil, Global tech spend grows at its third fastest rate in over 15 years, finds world’s largest digital leadership survey'.
What you need to know
Economic headwinds, but tech spend strong.
A World of disruption
Almost nine in ten digital leaders believe that major global change is happening faster than ever.
Where once disruption might have been a term reserved for new entrants in the market or a competitor’s new products, it now comes from all directions including geopolitics, supply chains and ‘the great resignation’.
As the world grows more interconnected, one region can have direct implications for other geographies
Where once disruption might have been a term reserved for new entrants in the market or a competitor’s new products, it now comes from all directions including geopolitics, supply chains and ‘the great resignation’.
As the world grows more interconnected, one region can have direct implications for other geographies
88%
believe major change happening faster than ever
88%
concerned by economic disruption
63%
concerned by supply chain issues
Budgets drop, but remain high
Digital leaders are facing economic pressure, those expecting budget growth has dropped from six in ten to just over half.
That said, this remains the third highest reading in the 17 years we have been measuring it.
When it comes to the economy, technology has a role to play both when the sun shines, and when the clouds gather.
That said, this remains the third highest reading in the 17 years we have been measuring it.
When it comes to the economy, technology has a role to play both when the sun shines, and when the clouds gather.
52%
expect tech budget increases
Top 3 aims
Op efficiency, customer experience, new products
Cybercrime increases
Managing cybersecurity has never been more challenging.
The increased use of the cloud and global unrest have led to 40% of our respondents fearing an attack from foreign powers – over three times what it was in 2018.
Overall, major cyberattacks have jumped by almost a fifth in the last 12 months, and only around a third of organisations consider themselves ‘very well’ positioned to deal with the challenge.
The increased use of the cloud and global unrest have led to 40% of our respondents fearing an attack from foreign powers – over three times what it was in 2018.
Overall, major cyberattacks have jumped by almost a fifth in the last 12 months, and only around a third of organisations consider themselves ‘very well’ positioned to deal with the challenge.
40%
fear attacks from foreign powers
28%
attacked in last 2 years
51%
large orgs attacked in last 2 years
Skills shortages
There is no let-up in the war for talent.
Up to 70% of this year’s digital leaders state that a skills shortage prevents them from keeping up with the pace of change; the highest we have seen since we started reporting 24 years ago.
Six in ten feel the rising cost of living has made salary demands unsustainable.
However it isn’t all doom and gloom, remote working has enabled a quarter of organisations to start recruiting talent from overseas.
The market for talent is now global.
Up to 70% of this year’s digital leaders state that a skills shortage prevents them from keeping up with the pace of change; the highest we have seen since we started reporting 24 years ago.
Six in ten feel the rising cost of living has made salary demands unsustainable.
However it isn’t all doom and gloom, remote working has enabled a quarter of organisations to start recruiting talent from overseas.
The market for talent is now global.
70%
suffering major skills shortage
58%
planning to grow tech team
62%
believe they will never have enough tech staff
Spend on emerging tech dips
Tech spend on cloud remains strong, but it has slowed in emerging tech like artificial intelligence (AI), automation and big data, threatening opportunities to innovate through global economic instability.
Although almost two-thirds of digital leaders think that big data and analytics will be in the top 2 technologies to deliver competitive advantage in the next year, only a fifth feel that they are effective at using data insights to generate more revenue.
Although almost two-thirds of digital leaders think that big data and analytics will be in the top 2 technologies to deliver competitive advantage in the next year, only a fifth feel that they are effective at using data insights to generate more revenue.
64%
see big data as giving competitive advantage
21%
realising revenue from data
-10%
implementations of big data have shrunk
Is remote working, working?
During the depth of the pandemic, technology that enabled remote working kept many organisations alive.
But is the honeymoon period over?
Work-life balance remains a key positive of hybrid working, but productivity has dropped significantly this year.
Many organisations are thinking very carefully about how they support their employees as they move into a hybrid working model, and many are targeting wellbeing and mental health, with some success.
But is the honeymoon period over?
Work-life balance remains a key positive of hybrid working, but productivity has dropped significantly this year.
Many organisations are thinking very carefully about how they support their employees as they move into a hybrid working model, and many are targeting wellbeing and mental health, with some success.
53%
have staff in office 2-3 days per week
40%
feel collaboration has declined
Gender diversity, good news
At last, some positive news in gender diversity – almost a quarter of the tech team is now female, and the pipeline is improving, with 28% of new hires being female.
Female digital leader respondents to our survey are now at the highest level there has ever been, but the figure is still low (14%), and the overall pace of change in female participation is slow.
Female digital leader respondents to our survey are now at the highest level there has ever been, but the figure is still low (14%), and the overall pace of change in female participation is slow.
28%
of new hires are female
14%
digital leaders are female
Making difficult choices
It’s never been easy being a digital leader.
The challenge for many is to balance what’s urgent and what’s important, and for many, dealing with cloud, cyber and resourcing is enough to be getting on with.
But what this research shows over its 24 years of running, is that the really successful digital leaders look beyond what is immediately in front of them.
While cloud will keep you alive today, it is data, innovation and diversity that will help you flourish in the future.
The challenge for many is to balance what’s urgent and what’s important, and for many, dealing with cloud, cyber and resourcing is enough to be getting on with.
But what this research shows over its 24 years of running, is that the really successful digital leaders look beyond what is immediately in front of them.
While cloud will keep you alive today, it is data, innovation and diversity that will help you flourish in the future.
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