CIO Playbook 2026: Mastering the Race for Enterprise AI in Asia/Pacific
AI is reshaping industries globally, with enterprises increasingly becoming AI-driven across IT, back-office, and client-facing operations. This playbook offers insights and practical guidance for IT leaders navigating the race for enterprise AI.
The race for enterprise AI is escalating, with opportunities for meaningful outcomes continuously expanding. Research indicates enterprises are becoming truly AI-driven, moving beyond initial business cases to scaled impact, fueled by adequate data, capable skills, and a willingness to experiment.
Agentic AI, which demands additional system integration and business change, builds upon these investments. Early adopters are leading with holistic, enterprise-wide approaches to AI strategy and governance, balancing performance, control, security, and risk.
This CIO Playbook assists IT leaders in this critical race, providing insights into emerging adoption patterns, lessons from peers, and practical guidance for advancing AI maturity. In an agentic world, competitive advantage hinges on AI's effective use at scale, compelling CIOs to set the pace and shape their enterprise’s AI journey.
Key research from IDC, commissioned by Lenovo, surveyed 920 IT and business decision-makers in Asia/Pacific, forming the backbone of these insights.
What you'll learn
- Enterprise AI adoption is rapidly advancing, moving beyond IT to broader business functions like finance and marketing.
- 96% of organisations plan to increase AI investment, with GenAI and Agentic AI solutions emerging as top priorities.
- 88% of organisations anticipate a positive ROI from AI, valuing non-financial benefits like improved customer experience and decision-making.
- Hybrid AI platforms are becoming the default architecture, with on-premises and edge deployments critical for scale, security, and control.
- CIOs must prioritise AI security, privacy, and data sovereignty, establishing robust governance frameworks and responsible AI practices.
CIO Playbook 2026: The Race for Enterprise AI
Discover strategic insights and practical guidance for IT leaders from IDC's research, commissioned by Lenovo. This whitepaper explores emerging AI adoption patterns, lessons learned, and steps for advancing AI maturity in the enterprise.
- Pages:
- 49
- Time:
- 74 min read
- Category:
- Hardware