Global business leaders, particularly the C-suite, are struggling with rapid digitization and the new challenges presented by the pandemic. They have experienced a rollercoaster ride over the past two years, with uncertain business prospects and slowing economies. Although the number of infections in different countries has decreased this year, there are still concerns about the Omicron variants and mild to severe COVID-19 variants. The ongoing crisis in Europe, on the other hand, is affecting trade relations and adjoining countries - which can impact the global supply chain.
CxOs are also focusing their attention on the issue of business resignations and uncertainty about the future of work.
Cloud adoption
Cloud is increasingly being seen by CEOs and boards as a strategic imperative to growth and business transformation. They are realizing that lifting and shifting workloads to reduce costs and improve resilience won't transform their businesses. Therefore, they adopt the cloud to benefit from flexibility, agility, and innovation. They appreciate being able leverage data and AI on cloud, which allows them to make better decisions and enable richer insights. This also helps to facilitate market differentiation in a safe and trusted environment. Cloud investments can have a transformative impact on a CEO's business.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is now a common term in nearly every industry, from IT and automobiles to healthcare and government. Digital transformation has been catalyzed by the pandemic.
According to a report, 77% of CEOs said that the pandemic has accelerated their digital transformation plans
The C-suite believes, however, that enterprises still have resistance to embracing digital transformation.
Cybersecurity throughout the company
Cyberattacks have been increasing in impact over the last few years across all industries and organizations of all sizes.Cybersecurity is no longer a concern for the IT department. It affects the entire organization.It can threaten business continuity, financial stability, reputation, and ongoing business continuity.
A report also shows that 94% of CxOs think it is likely their companies will be the victim of a serious cybersecurity incident within the next two years.While 65 percent of CxOs are confident that their cybersecurity plans have been well developed, only 17% are actually cyber-secured - the lowest level of preparation
To manage cyber risk, the C-suite must work more closely than ever.To make it easier to prioritize cybersecurity investments, there needs to be a shift in mindset. Cyberattacks must be considered a threat to the organization.When talking about cybersecurity, it is important to consider people, value chain, and governance as well as reporting, monitoring, and oversight. CEOs must identify and protect the most valuable assets.
Recession: Concerns
The concern about recession seems serious, with inflation at an all-time high of four decades and the U.S. GDP shrinking in the first quarter of 2022. High prices have been caused by the ongoing European crisis. The supply chain between different regions has been affected by the current crisis.As part of their restructuring strategies, many tech companies have announced layoffs.
There is a good chance that there will be a recession at some point.However, that doesn't necessarily mean it will happen.
Future of work
The workplace has undergone major changes since the outbreak of the pandemic.Remote working, work from home, and other terms are synonymous with flexibility and employee benefits.Many companies are now welcoming back employees to their offices. However, many others support the hybrid work model. This leaves the employee with the choice of working from home or elsewhere.
Cloud computing is not a trend that is going anywhere.The cloud is a growing trend that will see more investment in technology and customers demanding more flexibility and agility. CIOs will have to develop strategies to include the cloud in their organizational roadmaps over the next few years.
With the increase in digital technologies and trends like remote working and BYOD (bring-your-own-devices) to work - the threat of cyberattacks will increase too.To ensure that the company's policies are in line with data security concerns, CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) must work closely with other C-suite positions.There could be an increase in investments in cybersecurity solutions.
According to the statistics we shared, global economies appear to be in the midst of a recession on the work front.The C-suite must adjust organizational structures and policies in order to achieve a balance between employee safety and satisfaction, and an organizational culture that is focused on financial stability.Hybrid work is here to stay. It is up to leaders to determine what is best for their organizations.
In the next quarter, there will be a lot of talk about new and emerging technologies such as the metaverse. The metaverse appears to be at a mature stage. However, the C-suite must identify the potential opportunities it offers, as soon as possible, to gain an early-mover advantage.Other technologies, such as AI, Machine Learning, and automation, could also require a significant amount of time from the C-suite.
