IT Leaders' Shift in Reasoning When Considering New Tech Adoption Plans

When IT leaders adopt new technologies, they usually benchmark technology adoption plans, build a business case, and seek to understand and prepare for the potential risks. This careful and strategic approach ensures that investments in new technologies align with business goals and deliver measurable value.

At JustSolve, we’re committed to guiding our clients through these shifts by leveraging our deep industry expertise and innovative solutions. In this article, we’ll explore Gartner’s Technology Adoption Radar, which surveyed 147 software engineering leaders from large enterprises.

This report provides a 12-to-18-month outlook on five key domains:  

• Security and Verification
• Deployment and Operations
• Experience and Design
• Architecture and Integration
• Development Platforms and Tools

Gartner maps technologies across these domains into three adoption stages: “Already deployed,” “In deployment,” and “Piloting.” Understanding these stages helps IT leaders make informed, strategic decisions that balance innovation with risk management.

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‍Key Technology Trends for 2024.
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Gartner’s Technology Adoption Radar highlights several critical technology trends that are shaping the future of software engineering which is very much in line with what JustSolve is experiencing in the market, although a bit different when it comes to the South African market. Understanding in which stage of the adoption cycle these technologies fall enables organisations to plan strategically and for the future.

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The Primary Value Factors for Software Engineering Technologies.
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According to the above graph there has been a notable shift in how leaders perceive the primary value factors for software engineering technologies. The most significant change from 2023 to 2024 is the transition from cost savings being a major factor (32% in 2023) to becoming a non-factor (0% in 2024). Instead, improved speed and agility have surged in importance, rising from just 2% to 47% as the top priority.

While this global shift towards prioritising speed and agility is evident, we must consider the current economic climate in South Africa, cost is and will always be a major factor. I do however agree that the focus is currently on business agility and the speed at which IT can make changes in response to business model changes, system changes or modernisation, automation, new customer experiences, or the launch of new products and services. Balancing cost efficiency with the need for agility will be key to driving sustainable growth and competitiveness.

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How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Related Technologies Contribute to These Value Factors.
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The Gartner report highlights that AI-related technologies, including tools for development platforms, experience and design, and security and verification, are currently in the pilot stage. While these technologies are expected to bring significant value, they also present notable risks at this stage.

South Africa ranks amongst the top countries in AI usage. As a nation we are curious people, and we love figuring out how we can work smarter. We are seeing a big uptake in Prompt engineering, AI coding assistance, and conversational AI. Both technical and non-technical people are upskilling themselves on Prompt engineering so that they can understand and utilise Gen AI tools more effectively. This know-how and curiosity put South Africans on the map in terms of AI adoption and IT Leaders are looking to capitalise on this by implementing AI in early adoption use cases with proven utility, managing risks carefully.

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The Primary Risk Factors for Software Engineering Technologies.
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We can see a shift of what leaders perceive to be the primary risk factors for the adoption of software engineering technologies. The most significant shift from 2023 to 2024 was that high or unpredictable costs (68% to 9%) became a non-factor while incompatible / architecture complexity became the most important factor (11% to 43%).

In South Africa, cost remains a significant concern. I do however agree that incompatible or very high complexity in your architecture can lead to delays and that costs will naturally increase to try and make disparate systems work together. The key is thus for IT Leaders to create a more simplistic architecture by adopting interoperable technologies that consolidate and integrate; while addressing cybersecurity and talent unavailability concerns.

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How Does Artificial Intelligence (AI) Related Technologies Contribute to These Risk Factors?

AI tools for development platforms, experience and design, and security and verification are all still in the pilot stage, and the perception is that these technologies and tools will bring about significant value, however, currently they also present significant risk, which includes:

• Talent Unavailability
• Cybersecurity Risk
• Technical Incompatibility/Architecture Complexity
• High or Unpredictable Costs

Most of the AI platforms are hosted overseas and are priced in $ which is expensive for South African companies due to currency exchange rates.. AI services are mostly consumption based, meaning that the monthly cost is dependent on how much resources were consumed or by the amount of transactions, which makes your monthly AI service costs unpredictable and a budgeting nightmare. IT Leaders are already struggling to appoint skilled software engineers, never mind skilled AI engineers of Data Scientists as this is still a relatively new field.

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What About the Software Developer Experience?
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There has been a notable 56% increase in analyst inquiries regarding developer experience, highlighting its growing importance. According to the Peer Community Poll, 89% of companies are actively focused on enhancing developer experience, underscoring its status as a critical priority for leaders.

Technologies like low-code application platforms and prompt engineering are already making a significant impact, contributing to increased productivity and improved developer experiences. Low-code application platforms also address cybersecurity concerns through adhering to OWASP best practices and talent unavailability by lowering the skills required to develop software. Whether used alone or in combination with AI-enabled development, these tools are being widely adopted to deliver substantial value and streamline the development process.

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Recommendations for IT Leaders for 2024 Technology Adoption Plans.

Based on the current trends and JustSolve’s approach, here are some practical steps IT leaders can take to navigate tech adoption successfully:
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1. Before deploying new technologies, evaluate potential risks and establish mitigation strategies.
2. Focus on solutions that allow your organisation to respond quickly to market demands.
3. Equip your development teams with the tools and environments that enable productivity and creativity.
4. Collaborate with trusted partners like JustSolve who have a proven track record of successfully implementing these technologies.
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The landscape of technology adoption is shifting, with a growing focus on speed, agility, and reducing complexity. AI and low-code platforms are set to play significant roles in the future of software engineering, while the emphasis on developer experience and risk management continues to grow. By staying informed and making strategic decisions, IT leaders can navigate these changes effectively.

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At JustSolve, we can guide your organisations in navigating these shifts.

Book a risk-free consultation with me and remain at the forefront of technological innovation while managing potential risks.

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