– The report, which interviewed decision-makers from 600 companies in 12 countries, including Brazil, indicates that 43% of the companies that improve their IT costs are more agile in time-to-market and present greater profitability
– Already 48% of medium-sized companies do not have a budget, or do not know if they have one, to invest in innovation, revealing a critical impasse in strategic planning
– Digital leaders plan to have 70% of applications in the cloud by 2026, with advanced use of generative AI, automation and FinOps with a focus on sustainability
SoftwareOne, a leading company in software solutions and cloud technology and services, has just released a new, unprecedented global study that reveals that companies that align IT cost optimization with a clear innovation strategy record significant gains in key business indicators, such as profitability, return on investment (ROI) and agility in launching new solutions.
Respondents were divided into three profiles: Optimized Innovators, Aspiring Innovators and Beginning Innovators, based on the stage of maturity of their IT strategies. According to the survey, companies classified as “Optimized Innovators”, that is, those that adopt better IT financial management practices, are twice as likely to achieve better ROI (50% vs. 26%), higher profitability (35% vs. 23%) and faster time-to-market (43% vs. 26%) compared to less mature companies.
According to SoftwareOne Brazil Country Manager Otavio Argenton, the secret lies in breaking the vicious cycle of budget shortages to create one of savings and smart reinvestment. “Companies that optimize their IT environment can free up resources to invest in areas that truly drive value,” he says.
Strategic opportunity: 48% of companies still don’t know how to finance innovation
The survey, conducted by independent consultancy ThoughtLab at the request of SoftwareOne, covered organizations from 12 countries and six sectors of the economy, including Latin America, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. The sample included 600 companies, focusing on companies with revenues between US$500 million and US$5 billion.
The most alarming fact from the study is that 481% of executives said they did not have a budget, or did not know if they had one, to support the next innovation cycle, highlighting a critical impasse in the organizations' strategic planning.
On the other hand, the group of companies that are most advanced in IT management follow a structured path of digital evolution based on seven key practices, which can serve as a reference for the Brazilian market.
Seven practices that define leaders in innovation with efficiency
According to the study, top-performing companies share an important combination of strategic investments and budgetary control, namely:
- Modern IT Infrastructure: Already implemented or at an advanced stage in more than two-thirds of these companies, with a focus on cloud and scalable systems.
- Focus on security and automation: Above-average investments in network security, process automation and SaaS management.
- Accelerated cloud adoption: By 2026, they aim to have 70% of applications and workloads in the cloud, including 56% of custom software.
- Governance and compliance as a basis: Robust security and compliance policies are consolidated in this group.
- Practical use of Artificial Intelligence: 84% use AI in internal processes, while 71% apply AI in customer experience.
- Cutting Edge in Generative AI: These companies are almost twice as advanced in adopting GenAI as the others.
- Sustainable FinOps: Integrate financial practices with environmental goals, optimizing resources and reducing waste.
IT as a strategic growth driver
According to Argenton, aligning the benefits of innovation with strategic opportunities to optimize the IT environment is essential for success. “The research shows that there is a clear path for companies that want to innovate based on efficiency,” he emphasizes.
The executive also considers that with well-defined priorities, it is possible to perform a strategic reading of the technological environment. This involves analyzing software licenses, cloud environments and customized applications to identify areas for improvement. “This process frees up resources to invest in what really matters to the business, whether in adopting GenAI, security solutions or accelerating the cloud journey. These opportunities act as growth drivers,” Argenton emphasizes.
What does the study reveal for Brazil?
The study data indicates a window of opportunity for medium and large companies in the country, since by applying good IT management practices, it is possible to accelerate innovation in a sustainable manner and with a direct impact on results. “The trend is already beginning to be confirmed in the national market. We increasingly see CIOs and CFOs working together to generate efficiency and free up budget for what really drives the business: innovation, growth and competitiveness,” concludes the executive.
Study methodology
Titled “Driving business results through innovation with cost optimization”, the SoftwareOne study was conducted in partnership with the consultancy ThoughtLab in late 2024, with 600 companies in 12 countries, including Brazil. The survey covers six economic sectors, namely: financial services, consumer goods and retail, healthcare and life sciences, professional services, manufacturing and automotive, and technology, media and telecommunications.
The sample included mid-sized companies (with revenue between US$500 million and US$5 billion) and large corporations (with more than US$5 billion), including C-level executives and managers with knowledge of innovation strategies and IT asset management.
About SoftwareOne
SoftwareOne is a leading global provider of software and cloud solutions that is redefining how organizations build, buy, and manage everything in the cloud. By helping customers migrate and modernize their workloads and applications – and in parallel navigate and optimize the resulting software and cloud changes – SoftwareOne unlocks the value of technology. The company’s approximately 9,300 employees are driven to deliver a portfolio of 7,500 software brands with a presence in more than 60 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com.
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