A recent Gartner survey reveals that while nearly half of all digital initiatives fail to meet their goals, a select group of leaders called the “Digital Vanguard” is thriving. These top-performing CIOs and CxOs are achieving an impressive 71% success rate on their digital projects. Their success comes from a new approach to leadership, strategic investment, and a company-wide focus on building digital skills.
What is the Secret Behind the Digital Vanguard’s Success?
The biggest difference lies in how they work together. Instead of the traditional model where the IT department leads and business leaders sponsor, Digital Vanguard executives share full ownership of digital projects from start to finish. This creates a culture where technology is everyone’s responsibility, not just IT’s.
This collaborative model is supported by hard data. CxOs in vanguard companies dedicate 35% of their business staff to technology work, a significant jump from the 21% in other organizations. This deep involvement means CIOs and CxOs in the vanguard meet four times more often than their peers.
This partnership ensures that digital solutions are built with business needs at their core, leading to much higher rates of success and adoption across the enterprise.
| Metric | Digital Vanguard | Other Organizations |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Initiative Success Rate | 71% | 48% |
| Business Staff on Tech Work | 35% | 21% |
| CIO-CxO Collaboration Frequency | 4x More Often | Standard |
Where the Vanguard is Investing for 2025
Looking ahead, Digital Vanguard CIOs are strategically increasing their spending on foundational technologies that empower the entire organization. According to the survey, over 80% plan to boost their investments in a few key areas to prepare for the next wave of digital transformation.
These investments are not just for the IT department. The goal is to make advanced tools accessible and easy to use for business teams, turning them into “citizen technologists” who can help lead digital projects.
The top investment priorities include:
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI)
- Business intelligence and data analytics
- Integration technologies and APIs
As Gartner’s Raf Gelders noted, “They also make them easy to use for potential or actual technologists outside of IT.” This approach helps get products to market faster and reduces the workload on central IT teams.
Shifting Away from Legacy Systems
While vanguard leaders are investing heavily in new technologies, they are also moving away from outdated ones. The survey found that 43% of all CIOs plan to reduce spending on legacy infrastructure and traditional data centers. This trend reflects a broad shift towards more flexible and scalable cloud-based solutions.
However, the story isn’t just about moving to the cloud. Interestingly, 33% of CIOs reported that they would increase spending on specialized on-premise infrastructure. This is largely driven by companies that are building or experimenting with generative AI solutions, which require powerful, dedicated computing resources that are sometimes best managed in-house.
Building Digital Skills Beyond the IT Department
Perhaps the most crucial factor for success is the focus on developing digital skills across the entire company. Technology alone is not enough; people need the knowledge to use it effectively.
Two-thirds of Digital Vanguard CIOs actively help business departments forecast their future digital skill needs, a stark contrast to just 22% of other CIOs. These forward-thinking leaders understand that for digital initiatives to succeed, business staff must be equipped with the right skills to participate and co-build solutions.
By fostering a culture of learning and breaking down the barriers between IT and other business functions, these companies are creating a more agile and innovative workforce ready to meet future challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Digital Vanguard CIO?
A Digital Vanguard CIO is part of an elite group of technology and business executives who achieve a 71% success rate on digital initiatives. They succeed by co-owning projects with their C-suite peers, deeply integrating technology work into business departments, and collaborating frequently.
What are the top investment areas for leading CIOs in 2025?
Leading CIOs are increasing their 2025 budgets for several key areas. The top priorities are cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (including GenAI), business intelligence, data analytics, and integration technologies like APIs.
Why are some companies increasing on-premise infrastructure spending?
While many companies are moving to the cloud, about a third are increasing on-premise spending to support specialized workloads. This is mainly to handle the intense computing power required for developing and running generative AI models effectively.
How does collaboration help Digital Vanguard companies succeed?
In Digital Vanguard companies, CIOs and CxOs co-own digital delivery and meet four times more often than in other organizations. This close partnership ensures that technology projects are perfectly aligned with business goals, leading to better outcomes and higher adoption rates.
