Dive Brief:
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Only 17% of CIOs and 10% of advertising and marketing executives classify their companies as early adopters of technology, according to new research from Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group.
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That’s despite the fact that 94% of technology executives and three-quarters of creative executives agree it's important for leaders in their department to test new technical innovations.
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"While technology is meant to make business processes easier, faster and more effective, it can be overwhelming for companies to know which tools and systems to invest in," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology, in a press release. "Most organizations take a measured approach to implementing new technologies, given the considerable costs, training and potential productivity loss involved."
Dive Insight:
It’s no surprise that CIOs fear committing to new technology before it’s been fully proven. There is a fine line today between being praised as an innovator and being blamed for jumping in too quickly.
Most companies tend to be conservative and wait to see who is investing in and succeeding with new technologies before they follow suit. The survey, which included responses from more than 2,500 U.S. CIOs and 400 U.S. advertising and marketing executives, appears to confirm that.
Access to talent is also another stumbling block. Companies that want to implement new tech must also employ people with the skills to make it happen. Given the tech talent gap, companies may find their desire to implement new tech stymied by a lack of personnel.
