Situatie
As businesses resume work in early January, they’re finalizing IT budgets and hunting for the “next big thing” to drive growth. In fact, global IT spending is forecast to reach about $5.74 trillion in 2025, roughly a 9.3% increase over 2026. Firms aren’t being cautious: surveys indicate they plan to prioritize cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and especially AI/ML solutions to fuel innovation. According to IT leaders, AI is “too good to pass up,” as it brings new efficiencies and customer experiences. With growth at the top of most CEOs’ agendas, the first week of January is the time to align IT spend with strategic goals and emerging opportunities.
Solutie
Budgeting for innovation
The common theme is balance: invest aggressively in innovation but align IT spending tightly with business goals. As Splunk analysts note, balancing innovation with cost control is essential, and every tech dollar should drive measurable outcomes. In practice, many firms are redeploying budgets from aging hardware and siloed software into modern platforms. IDC predicts global digital transformation spend will nearly quadruple to ~$4 trillion by 2027, underscoring the urgency of upgrading systems and processes. For example, BCG finds that four out of five companies now have at least a GenAI project underway, a sign that CEOs are green-lighting AI as a core growth engine.You didn’t get into this role to manage rows and columns. You got into it to build culture and bring people together.
Key resolutions for 2026
Prioritize AI and Cloud! Commit a significant portion of the budget to generative AI, automation, and cloud platforms. Provide training so teams can leverage these tools
Upgrade event and customer-facing platforms. Use mobile apps, chatbots, and omnichannel tools to streamline registration, personalize experiences, and capture data. Adopt hybrid event capabilities to reach a wider audience with interactive online components.
Boost cybersecurity spend to guard against evolving threats. Demonstrate strong data protection and privacy, which can be a competitive advantage for customers who value trust.
Tie each technology investment to clear KPIs. Use dashboards to track adoption, engagement, and ROI in real time. Avoid tech projects that don’t deliver measurable value.
By turning these resolutions into action, companies can make 2026 a breakthrough year. The right combination of AI, cloud, and innovative event technology will transform strategy into results. In practice, firms that align their tech spending with growth initiatives, and that use tools like AI-powered event platforms, are poised to turn “the next big thing” into real competitive advantage.
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