C-suite demands faster tech payback & AI-led growth

Rimini Street has published a global survey of nearly 4,300 C-suite leaders that points to rising board-level pressure for faster returns from technology investment, with AI and automation now framed as long-term priorities alongside cost control and resilience.

The research conducted with Censuswide surveyed CEOs, CFOs, CIOs and CISOs. It found that many organisations still regard their core enterprise resource planning systems as broadly fit for purpose, while also reporting that maintenance work absorbs a significant share of IT capacity.

According to the survey, 97% of respondents said their current ERP systems still meet business requirements for the most part. At the same time, 23% of workforce time goes on maintaining existing systems. The combination affects how companies plan modernisation programmes and how they resource AI projects.

AI priorities

The survey identified AI and automation as the leading capability requirement for both short- and long-term initiatives. In total, 44% of leaders put AI and automation at the top of their list. Among CIOs, 46% named AI and automation as their top imperative. Among CEOs, 43% did the same.

Results also pointed to demand for measurable outcomes. Leaders expect around 27% of payback within one to two years. They expect 37% within three to five years. They expect 48% beyond six years, according to the study.

C-suite respondents most often work with CIOs on IT initiatives, with 31% citing this relationship. They most often collaborate with CEOs next, at 27%. The findings highlighted the role of CFOs in oversight and investment governance as expectations for returns rise.

Talent constraints

The survey reported broad concern about IT staffing. It found that 36% of leaders said skills gaps limit their ability to pursue growth opportunities. It found that 23% said project delays are becoming a concern due to insufficient talent.

Rimini Street also revealed 98% of executives reported that talent shortages affect their ability to achieve their technology vision, with 68% saying the impact is significant. The company linked maintenance overhead and limited vendor support to delays in strategic work.

The survey also showed high levels of outsourcing. It said 99% of respondents outsource key IT services. It cited cybersecurity, infrastructure and application support as common areas.

Vendor concerns

The research highlighted dissatisfaction with vendor lock-in and roadmap control. It found that 35% of C-suite leaders cited frustrations including forced upgrades, limited flexibility and high costs. It also found that 69% of leaders anticipate significant changes ahead for their ERP investments.

Risk reduction remained a dominant theme in the near term. The survey reported that all respondents indicated business risk reduction as a top priority for the year. It also pointed to business continuity planning, alternative sourcing and workforce augmentation as areas of investment focus.

Michael Perica, Chief Financial Officer at Rimini Street, linked the findings to a shift in investment scrutiny and roadmap ownership.

"As economic and operational pressures intensify, executives are taking a far more disciplined approach to technology investment. The findings clearly show that organizations want measurable results, faster payback cycles and far more flexibility in how they allocate their budgets," said Michael Perica, Chief Financial Officer, Rimini Street.

"A business-driven enterprise software roadmap - not one dictated by vendors - puts leaders in control of where and when they invest. This allows them to redirect resources from costly, low-ROI activities toward initiatives like agentic AI, that will improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and support long-term growth and innovation," said Perica.

Operating models

Rimini Street positioned the results as evidence of a change in how organisations approach modernisation. It described an approach in which companies keep systems of record stable while applying AI-driven workflow automation to reduce manual work across finance, supply chain, HR and service processes.

The company also cited a customer example. Rimini Street said Silicon Labs completed a professional services engagement that aligned 12 SAP environments with modern operating system and database standards. The company then committed to a five-year partnership. It cited improved stability, stronger security and compliance posture, and faster reporting for executive decision-making.

Joe Locandro, Global CIO at Rimini Street, said executives want greater autonomy over modernisation timelines and budgets.

"The traditional ERP model is being reimagined as new technologies like Agentic AI redefine expectations for speed, flexibility and intelligence," said Joe Locandro, Global CIO, Rimini Street.

"Executives want the freedom to modernize and innovate on their own terms, breaking free from vendor-driven upgrade cycles that consume budget without delivering proportional value. By stabilizing and maximizing the ERP foundation already in place, organizations can redirect time and resources toward strategic AI-driven initiatives that generate more meaningful results," said Locandro.