Rimini Street, Inc., a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, managed services and Agentic AI ERP innovation solutions, and a leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, has released findings from its new global survey, C-suite Imperatives: Accelerating Innovation in a Shifting Landscape.
Conducted in partnership with Censuswide, the research surveyed nearly 4,300 CFOs, CIOs, CEOs and CISOs worldwide to examine the pressures shaping executive-level technology decisions and investment priorities.
The analysis shows executives are recalibrating strategies around AI, automation and resilience as boards push for faster innovation and clearer business outcomes. While many organizations continue to manage shrinking budgets and heightened cybersecurity concerns, leaders also point to a widening talent gap and growing frustration with vendor-directed ERP roadmaps that can slow transformation efforts. Although 97% of C-suite respondents say their current ERP systems largely meet business requirements, they report that 23% of workforce time is still spent maintaining existing systems.
Key finding #1: C-suites align long-term strategy around AI and automation
About 44% of leaders identify AI and automation as the top capabilities needed to support both short- and long-term IT initiatives.
Automation and AI also emerge as the most important five-year priorities, with 46% of CIOs and 43% of CEOs naming these capabilities as their top imperative. While cybersecurity, compliance and cost optimization continue to dominate near-term initiatives, leaders report a growing focus on building a reliable foundation for intelligent operations, supported by stronger business continuity planning and expanded skills development. More than a third of respondents say they aim to transform their organizations into data-driven businesses over this period. Many executives see value in reducing spend on costly ERP upgrades and redirecting resources toward innovation such as AI and automation.
Key finding #2: ROI expectations rise as executives demand measurable outcomes
C-suites most often collaborate with CIOs (31%) and CEOs (27%) on IT initiatives, highlighting the need for earlier CFO involvement as ROI expectations increase.
Executives are placing sharper scrutiny on investment results, with CIOs, CEOs and CFOs identifying benefits realization as their primary measure of ROI. Leaders expect about 27% of payback within the first one to two years, rising to 37% within three to five years, and nearly half of total expected ROI beyond six years. CISOs report similar expectations, with slightly greater emphasis on direct financial benefit. Nearly 70% of C-suite leaders say they do not see traditional ERP as part of the future mix, with a third pointing to Agentic ERP driven by autonomous, AI-based decision-making.
“As economic and operational pressures intensify, executives are taking a far more disciplined approach to technology investment,” said Rimini Street CFO Michael Perica. “Organizations want measurable results, faster payback cycles and greater flexibility in how budgets are allocated. A business-driven enterprise software roadmap puts leaders in control of where and when they invest.”
Key finding #3: Talent shortages and support demands slow innovation
About 36% of C-suite leaders say skills gaps are limiting their ability to pursue growth opportunities, while 23% cite project delays caused by insufficient talent.
Nearly all executives surveyed say IT talent shortages are affecting their ability to achieve technology goals, with more than two-thirds describing the impact as significant. Although most respondents say their ERP systems still meet business needs, limited vendor support forces internal teams to spend more time on maintenance, delaying strategic initiatives. As a result, almost all organizations are outsourcing key IT services, particularly in cybersecurity, infrastructure and application support, to supplement internal capacity and reduce operational risk.
Key finding #4: C-suites prioritize resilience amid rising risk and vendor constraints
Around 69% of leaders anticipate significant changes ahead for their ERP investments.
Every respondent identified business risk reduction as a top priority, reflecting ongoing concern about cybersecurity threats, supply chain disruption and economic volatility. To improve agility and resilience, leaders are investing in business continuity planning, alternative sourcing strategies and workforce augmentation. Vendor lock-in remains a source of frustration for more than a third of C-suites, who cite forced upgrades, limited flexibility and high costs as barriers to long-term technology goals.
“The traditional ERP model is being reimagined as technologies like Agentic AI redefine expectations for speed, flexibility and intelligence,” said Rimini Street Global CIO Joe Locandro. “Executives want the freedom to modernize on their own terms and redirect resources toward AI-driven initiatives that deliver meaningful results.”
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