Epicor survey shows the critical role of business software and its impact on the role of the CIO
Epicor Software has announced the results of a new Chief Information Officer (CIO) survey conducted in the Middle East, India and Africa. The survey showed significant trends amongst CIOs who are facing new challenges as their role changes in a technologically charged environment where business software solutions, like enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, are seen as critical business enablers.
A staggering 90% of respondents agreed that speed, reinvention, agility and innovation are critical to the success of any organization serious about optimizing performance and gaining competitive advantage. CIOs now have a seat at the top table, playing a critical role in driving the business forward through new technology.
In response to the question: “Has the role of the CIO changed within the last five years, and if so, how?” 79% of surveyed CIOs and other senior executives in the Middle East and Africa agreed that it had. The most prominent change noted was the transition of the CIO from being an Improver to being an Influencer.
“It’s clear from the survey that there’s pressure on manufacturing CIOs to evolve from being Improvers and to become Influencers and ultimately Transformers in their business,” said Martin Hill, vice president marketing for Epicor in EMEA. “With the challenges faced by companies, especially those in the manufacturing industry and their dependence on increasingly sophisticated systems and technologies, CIOs now have greater influence over how quickly a company can expand and adapt to change. That’s the focus of their role as Transformer.”
Hill concluded, “At Epicor, we focus on putting the right tools in the right hands to move business forward. This survey has made it clear that key business decision makers understand the critical role that technology, like a proven ERP system, plays in the success of best-in-class businesses.”
