In this briefing, Dr Joseph Sweeney, research director at IBRS, bypasses the vendor hype cycle to discuss what is actually happening in the c-suite. Based on an analysis of real-time client inquiries and investment signals, we identify the dominant trend for 2026: a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment for technology expenditure.
As the costs of consumption-based tech stacks and experimental AI pilots mount, organisations are shifting focus from novelty to tangible economic returns. Dr Sweeney explores the emerging dichotomy between ‘AI in platform’ (passive consumption) and ‘AI as platform’ (active orchestration), and why the latter signals a return to rigorous business process re-engineering.
This is a practical look at the 12-to-24-month horizon, focusing on costability, orchestration, and the hard reality of ROI.
