Concord's CIO Insights Report provides an inside view into the priorities, opportunities, and challenges facing technology leaders across the country.
CIO Insights Report 2025
Navigating Greater Responsibility in a New World
•
Introduction
•
Demographics
•
The Expanding Role of the CIO
Table of Contents
•
Economic Pressures and Budget Expectations
•
Key Business Priorities for the Year Ahead
•
Where CIOs Are Investing in Technology
•
The Roadblocks to Progress
•
How Technology Partners Help Organizations Advance
•
CIOs as Leaders of Transformation
CIO Insights 2025
1
Introduction
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” said Arthur C. Clarke. And in many ways, it feels like
we’re living in magical times, where bold ideas turn imagination into reality almost overnight.
From generative AI to predictive analytics, today’s technological advancements are transforming how businesses operate,
compete, and engage customers. For Chief Information Officers (CIOs), this era brings both great opportunity and
unprecedented responsibility.
Modern CIOs are stepping into broader strategic roles, aligning technology with business goals, navigating economic
uncertainty, closing talent gaps, and laying the groundwork for long-term digital success.
This research report surveyed hundreds of technology leaders from across the country to take a closer look at the evolving role
of the CIO. We explore shifting leadership priorities, emerging technologies, investment strategies, and the challenges
organizations face as they adapt to change.
We also delve into answers to the key questions CIOs are asking:
•
How can I align technology investments with business priorities?
•
Which initiatives should take precedence in the coming months?
•
How do I evaluate the value of my technology partners?
•
What level of planning is needed before making high-stakes decisions?
•
How can I deliver measurable outcomes while managing risk?
If you are looking for clarity and insight into leading through uncertainty and making a meaningful impact, you’re in the right place.
CIO Insights 2025
2
Responses (n=259) Demographics
Job Title
Annual Revenue
78
70
Chief Executive Officer
10
21
Chief Information Officer
60
59
Chief Technology Officer
17
50
47
Chief Digital Officer
5
40
41
Chief Marketing Officer
9
34
30
EVP / SVP / VP
12
20
Director / Senior Director
57
10
Other
128
Less than $10M $10M - $100M $101M - $500M $501M - $999M Over $1B
0
10 20 30
40 50 60 70
Company Size
70 80 90
85
Northeast 74
West 49
75
Midwest 60
60
50
52
47
40
30
Southwest 28
Southeast 28
20
10
Less than 500 500-999 1,000-4,999 5,000+
CIO Insights 2025
3
The Expanding Role of the CIO
The role of the CIO has evolved beyond simply overseeing IT systems.
Today, CIOs lead large-scale transformation efforts and shape
everything from data governance to cybersecurity, and even customer
experience. This shift reflects the growing importance of technology in
business success with over 85% of CIOs stating their teams play a critical
role in the company’s performance.
As organizations increasingly rely on technology to stay competitive, CIOs
are expected to drive change while managing complexity. They oversee
technical infrastructure while collaborating across departments to
ensure technology investments align with broader business objectives.
But this transformation isn’t without its challenges. In an era of economic
uncertainty, CIOs must strike a balance between leading forward-
thinking initiatives and maintaining security, continuity, and compliance.
85% of CIOs state their teams play a critical role in the company’s performance
CIO Insights 2025
4
Economic Pressures & Budget Expectations
74
68
%
%
The evolution of the CIO role is taking place amid
economic headwinds. According to our research,
tech leaders that acknowledge that the
those that have adjusted their priorities as a result
74% of tech leaders acknowledge that the economic
environment has become more challenging than the
economic environment has become more challenging than the previous year
previous year, and 68% have adjusted their priorities
as a result. Despite these pressures, the demand for
CIO leadership continues to grow.
Even in the face of uncertainty, technology remains
central to long-term growth strategies. While 35% of
35
39
CIOs anticipate flat budgets, 39% expect an increase.
%
%
This signals a continued commitment to tech
investment despite financial pressure. CIOs remain at
the forefront of these efforts by navigating challenges
while advancing business-critical initiatives.
percentage of CIOs that anticipate flat budgets
percentage of CIOs that expect an increase
CIO Insights 2025
5
Key Priorities for the Year Ahead
CIOs today face a complex set of demands: driving transformation while staying compliant, attracting top talent, and meeting
rising customer expectations. These interconnected priorities are shaping how they allocate time, resources, and investment.
Business Priorities
Technology Priorities
Innovation leads the way, with 46% of CIOs focused on
Technology investments closely align with these business needs.
enhancing their product or service mix. This points to a
Nearly half of CIOs (47%) are prioritizing modernization, aiming
broader effort to stay competitive by evolving offerings
for infrastructure that supports speed, scalability, and agility.
and meeting shifting customer needs.
Security follows closely, with 44% focused on avoiding breaches.
At the same time, 44% are prioritizing regulatory and
As threats continue to rise, protecting data and systems is now a
compliance requirements. It’s a strong signal that CIOs
core part of digital transformation, not an afterthought.
recognize the risks of moving too fast without the right
Customer experience also stands out, with 40% of CIOs investing
guardrails in place. Strategic growth must also be
in technologies that create more personalized, seamless
responsible and aligned with regulatory expectations.
interactions. Success depends on putting customers at the
Talent management is also high on the list, with 41%
center of digital strategy.
emphasizing the need to attract and retain skilled
The Takeaway
teams. It’s a reminder that transformation isn’t powered
by technology alone, people are essential. The right
CIOs are approaching enterprise - wide change with a more holistic
people, equipped with the right skills, are essential for
mindset – investing in innovation and the structure, safeguards,
executing innovation and managing change.
and talent necessary to make it sustainable. The organizations
that succeed align people, processes, and technology to meet
evolving market demands and regulatory standards.
CIO Insights 2025
6
48
%
Where CIOs Are Investing in Technology
Intelligent Automation
With priorities set around modernization, security, and customer
experience, CIOs are channeling investments into technologies that
directly support these goals.
Unsurprisingly, AI and machine learning (ML) lead the list, with nearly
36
%
48% of CIOs investing in intelligent automation to improve efficiency
and unlock new capabilities.
Data science and analytics follow at 36%, underscoring the need for
real-time insights, smarter decision-making, and predictive capabilities.
Data Science & Analytics
Security and risk management rank third at 33%, reflecting their critical
role in protecting digital initiatives and maintaining compliance.
Rather than spreading budgets thin, CIOs are making targeted
33
%
investments in technologies that support both transformation and stability.
The focus is shifting from experimenting with new tools to building
integrated, scalable solutions that align with long-term business goals.
Security & Risk Management
CIO Insights 2025
7
The Roadblocks to Progress
Digital transformation is well underway for 66% of CIOs who are actively
leading efforts; only 25% haven’t yet started their journey.
The road to modernization is not without challenges. Despite strong
alignment between priorities and investments, CIOs are encountering
obstacles as they push forward with transformation initiatives.
A striking 76% of CIOs report struggling to balance innovation with
operational stability, highlighting the challenge of pursuing new
technologies while keeping existing systems running smoothly.
In addition, 41% shared concerned about delivering business outcomes
within budget, indicating that as demand for digital progress rises, so does
the pressure to keep costs under control.
Talent acquisition and retention are also major concerns for 34% of CIOs.
This is in line with a recent
Gartner report
predicting that talent shortages
will remain a key issue for CIOs. With a growing need for specialized skills to
manage and implement digital transformation, CIOs face intense
competition in hiring the right people, further complicating resource
planning and budget allocation.
CIO Insights 2025
8
How Technology Partners Help Organizations Advance
64
%
While these obstacles can be daunting, technology partners play a vital
role in helping organizations address and overcome business and
leaders indicated they leverage third-party vendors or technology partners
technology-related hurdles.
Technology partners bring specialized expertise and experience to the
table, helping organizations keep their technology and business initiatives
on track. At the time of our survey, 64% of leaders indicated they leverage
third-party vendors or technology partners to support their digital
75
%
transformation efforts. Additionally, 75% of leaders expressed high
satisfaction with their partners’ work, where 68% agree that these partners
help complete projects more effectively.
When selecting a technology partner, CIOs most often prioritize cost
leaders expressed high satisfaction with their partners’ work
and skillset availability. However, a proven track record of success and
forward-thinking problem solving are also key considerations.
Organizations are increasingly seeking partners who meet their technical
requirements, of course, but also go beyond to bring innovative solutions
68
%
and a reputation for successful project delivery. This combination makes
technology partners indispensable in helping organizations meet
deadlines and achieve their technology goals.
By working with the right technology partner, organizations can accelerate
agree that these partners help complete projects more effectively
progress, strengthen their digital strategy, and stay competitive in an
often-uncertain environment.
CIO Insights 2025
9
CIOs as Leaders of Transformation
As expectations expand for today’s technology leaders, the focus is
shifting to delivering measurable results and embedding AI and digital
tools across the enterprise.
AI’s growing influence makes data more valuable—and more vulnerable.
With that comes greater emphasis on security and compliance. CIOs
must upgrade technology stacks while investing in solutions that reduce
risk and guarantee regulatory alignment.
Despite economic pressures, CIOs are taking a practical, long-term view.
They’re balancing new opportunities with operational demands, people
management, and security considerations to ensure transformation
efforts are sustainable.
This shift toward enterprise-wide technology integration has elevated
digital transformation from an IT initiative to a core pillar of business
resilience and adaptability.
CIO Insights 2025
10
Concord’s Role in Supporting CIOs
Concord understands the challenges CIOs face as they lead transformation efforts and pursue technology goals. With
deep expertise and hands-on experience, we help organizations maximize platform investments, upskill teams, and deliver
seamless customer experiences across channels.
As a trusted partner, we work alongside CIOs and their technology teams to innovate with confidence while maintaining
operational continuity and compliance. Our track record of success and commitment to measurable outcomes makes us a
valuable ally in navigating challenging environments.
If you’re ready to move forward with clarity and confidence, Concord is here to support your next steps.
Let’s work together to achieve your goals and build a future-proof technology foundation.
Contact Us
Concord | concordusa.com
952-241-1090
info@concordusa.com
CIO Insights 2025
11
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12Powered by FlippingBook