The information technology (IT) landscape is undergoing rapid changes with the emergence of public cloud, everything-as-a-service (XaaS), artificial intelligence (AI), and other technological advancements, presenting new challenges for IT leaders and their teams.

According to recent publication by KPMG Saudi Arabia titled “The future of IT”, IT functions play a pivotal role in ongoing digital transformation, yet their future remains uncertain.

The report conducts in-depth research into the changing forces of IT, identifying six key trends that center on XaaS, data, resilience, talent, innovation, and ESG.

Firstly, the report highlights a significant shift from on-premises to IT consumed as a service (XaaS), with IT supporting applications by brokering, integrating, and orchestrating cloud-based XaaS.

Secondly, it recognizes data as IT’s primary value proposition, providing an opportunity for IT teams to play a more significant role in data management, including utilizingadvanced analytics and emerging AI solutions.

The third trend underscores the increasing pressure of cyber threats, emphasizing the need for enhanced resilience.

Fourthly, the severe shortage of vital IT talent calls for innovative solutions for recruitment and retention to drive digital transformation.

The fifth trend emphasizes the need for IT to operate more efficiently to support rapid digitalization and innovation.

Lastly, the rise of ESG is urging IT to contribute to non-financial reporting, integrate ESG into systems, reduce its carbon footprint, and enhance diversity and fair working practices.

The report explores the implications of these trends on IT’s mission and value proposition in an AI-enabled world, envisioning how IT can enable future digital organizations by leveraging AI and automation and data.

It proposes the capabilities IT leaders and teams should develop to realize this future, highlighting the crucial role of the CIO in this evolving landscape.

KPMG asserts that IT leaders and teams should prioritise mastering six key areas – XaaS champion, data-centric, resilience-focused, talent incubator, innovation at velocity,and responsible operations – to successfully navigate the dynamic IT landscape.

“The future of IT presents exciting opportunities. IT leaders and teams can guide organizations through digitisation and the second great re-platforming to become connected, powered,and trusted enterprises,” stated Fadi Al Sheikh, Partner, Digital & Innovation at KPMG in Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia now has unique momentum to leapfrog other markets by becoming early adopters of these new technologies.