|
Technology leaders throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region are under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable returns on AI and digital investments as economic conditions tighten and regulatory scrutiny heightens. Info-Tech Research Group's CIO Priorities 2026 report draws on global survey data, diagnostics, and executive interviews to identify five priorities shaping IT leadership agendas in the year ahead.
SYDNEY, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- APAC IT leaders are confronting a year defined by AI acceleration, cost sensitivity, and rising accountability from executive leadership teams. According to Info-Tech Research Group's CIO Priorities 2026, demonstrating tangible business value from IT investment is becoming the standard for leadership credibility, with technology adoption alone failing to meet executive expectations.
Regional organisations face a complex environment shaped by evolving data governance expectations, sector-specific compliance requirements, and heightened cybersecurity exposure. The report draws on Info-Tech's Future of IT 2026 Survey, diagnostic benchmarks, and interviews with senior IT executives to examine how CIOs are adapting capabilities to deliver measurable outcomes while maintaining operational resilience.
The findings indicate that although AI remains central to strategic planning, many organisations continue to encounter barriers to scaling initiatives effectively. Risk governance fragmentation, data ownership ambiguity, and financial opacity frequently limit the return on innovation efforts.
"The expectation across APAC has shifted. CIOs are no longer being asked whether they are investing in AI, but whether that investment is delivering measurable value for the business," says George Khreish, Managing Partner at Info-Tech Research Group, APAC. "Financial discipline and risk governance cannot be treated as separate conversations from AI strategy. Leaders who can bring all three into alignment will be the ones who earn sustained executive confidence."
Five Key Priorities for CIOs in 2026
Based on Info-Tech's research findings, the CIO Priorities 2026 report identifies five priorities that will define IT leadership in the coming year:
- Maximise AI Investments With a Focus on Value Streams
More than three-quarters of CIOs surveyed expect their organisations to have invested in agentic AI by the end of 2026. However, enterprise architecture continues to show one of the widest gaps between importance and effectiveness. IT leaders rate its importance at 8.7 out of 10, while effectiveness lags at 6.3 out of 10. The report emphasises that AI value realisation depends on operating model redesign, strengthened enterprise architecture, and tighter alignment across people, processes, and governance. - Prepare for the Unknown With a Proactive Risk Practice
CIOs rank AI and emerging technologies as the top disruptor to their organisations over the next 12 months, followed by cybersecurity incidents and regulatory change. Despite this, only 6% of CIOs report that accountability for enterprise governance, risk, and compliance is shared across multiple executives. Nearly three-quarters of higher-maturity organisations have fully integrated enterprise risk management practices, compared to just one-quarter of lower-maturity peers. The report notes that many organisations will need to shift from reactive, siloed processes toward cross-functional, foresight-driven risk management models. - Empower Domain Experts With Data Accountability
Data governance represents the single largest capability gap identified across Info-Tech's IT Management and Governance Diagnostic, with a 2.8-point gap between importance and effectiveness. While 72.5% of IT leaders report current investment in data management solutions, governance maturity continues to lag. The report points to federated data operating models that assign accountability to domain experts while maintaining centralised standards, enabling AI readiness and unlocking cross-domain insight without sacrificing compliance or control. - Don't Lose the Cyber Arms Race
AI-driven threats are increasing in speed and sophistication. Info-Tech's survey data shows that IT security is the most common area where organisations are acquiring or considering AI solutions. CIOs who prioritise AI in cybersecurity report significantly higher confidence in their ability to detect and respond to AI-powered attacks. However, the report cautions that automation must be paired with observability, governance, and human oversight to prevent overreliance on AI systems. - Run IT by the Numbers
Info-Tech's CEO-CIO Alignment Diagnostic reveals an optimism gap between CIOs and their executive peers. While 34% of CIOs expect large IT budget increases, only 27% of executives share that expectation. This disconnect reinforces the need for stronger IT financial management practices, including cost attribution, transparency, and value-based funding models. Financial discipline is positioned as essential for funding high-impact digital and AI initiatives without relying on assumed growth.
The CIO Priorities 2026 report provides guidance for organisations looking to strengthen foundational capabilities while pursuing innovation-led transformation. The report includes case examples from CIOs, structured frameworks, and actionable research pathways.
The report also features perspectives on enterprise risk management from Amazon Web Services. Additional case examples examine the use of AI agents to automate security operations in a telecom-managed security environment, and the application of IT financial management to improve mission effectiveness at the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech's experts, and access to the complete CIO Priorities 2026 report, please contact pr@infotech.com.
About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading and fastest-growing research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing professionals around the globe. As a trusted product and service leader, the company delivers unbiased, highly relevant research and industry-leading advisory support to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to expert guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations.
To learn more about Info-Tech's HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm's SoftwareReviews platform.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.
For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2936543/Info_Tech_Research_Group_CIO_Priorities_2026__AI_Value_and_Finan.jpg?p=medium600
Logo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2936542/Info_Tech_Research_Group_CIO_Priorities_2026__AI_Value_and_Finan.jpg?p=medium600
Technology leaders throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region are under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable returns on AI and digital investments as economic conditions tighten and regulatory scrutiny heightens. Info-Tech Research Group's CIO Priorities 2026 report draws on global survey data, diagnostics, and executive interviews to identify five priorities shaping IT leadership agendas in the year ahead.
SYDNEY, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- APAC IT leaders are confronting a year defined by AI acceleration, cost sensitivity, and rising accountability from executive leadership teams. According to Info-Tech Research Group's CIO Priorities 2026, demonstrating tangible business value from IT investment is becoming the standard for leadership credibility, with technology adoption alone failing to meet executive expectations.
Regional organisations face a complex environment shaped by evolving data governance expectations, sector-specific compliance requirements, and heightened cybersecurity exposure. The report draws on Info-Tech's Future of IT 2026 Survey, diagnostic benchmarks, and interviews with senior IT executives to examine how CIOs are adapting capabilities to deliver measurable outcomes while maintaining operational resilience.
The findings indicate that although AI remains central to strategic planning, many organisations continue to encounter barriers to scaling initiatives effectively. Risk governance fragmentation, data ownership ambiguity, and financial opacity frequently limit the return on innovation efforts.
"The expectation across APAC has shifted. CIOs are no longer being asked whether they are investing in AI, but whether that investment is delivering measurable value for the business," says George Khreish, Managing Partner at Info-Tech Research Group, APAC. "Financial discipline and risk governance cannot be treated as separate conversations from AI strategy. Leaders who can bring all three into alignment will be the ones who earn sustained executive confidence."
Five Key Priorities for CIOs in 2026
Based on Info-Tech's research findings, the CIO Priorities 2026 report identifies five priorities that will define IT leadership in the coming year:
The CIO Priorities 2026 report provides guidance for organisations looking to strengthen foundational capabilities while pursuing innovation-led transformation. The report includes case examples from CIOs, structured frameworks, and actionable research pathways.
The report also features perspectives on enterprise risk management from Amazon Web Services. Additional case examples examine the use of AI agents to automate security operations in a telecom-managed security environment, and the application of IT financial management to improve mission effectiveness at the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech's experts, and access to the complete CIO Priorities 2026 report, please contact pr@infotech.com.
About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading and fastest-growing research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing professionals around the globe. As a trusted product and service leader, the company delivers unbiased, highly relevant research and industry-leading advisory support to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to expert guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations.
To learn more about Info-Tech's HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm's SoftwareReviews platform.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.
For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2936543/Info_Tech_Research_Group_CIO_Priorities_2026__AI_Value_and_Finan.jpg?p=medium600
Logo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2936542/Info_Tech_Research_Group_CIO_Priorities_2026__AI_Value_and_Finan.jpg?p=medium600
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
CIO Priorities 2026: AI Value and Financial Discipline Define IT Leadership in APAC, Finds Info-Tech Research Group
High-throughput, mid capacity LH210 expands the VISQUE DPS lineup with fast scanning, optimized data size, and scalable digital pathology workflow
ANYANG, South Korea, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vieworks, a global provider of advanced imaging solutions, will participate in USCAP 2026 (United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting), held from March 23 to 25 at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. At the exhibition, Vieworks will present its latest digital pathology solutions at booth 352, featuring the VISQUE DPS slide scanner lineup. The VISQUE DPS series delivers fast scanning, optimized data size, and efficient workflow performance for digital pathology, supporting both histology and cytology applications across a wide range of pathology diagnostics and research environments.
A major highlight at the exhibition will be the global debut of the VISQUE DPS LH210, a mid-capacity digital slide scanner developed to meet the growing demand for efficient and scalable digital pathology systems. The LH210 supports up to 210 slides per batch and provides a fast scan speed of 23 seconds per slide (15 × 15 mm @ 40×), enabling stable productivity for laboratories that require reliable performance without requiring a large-footprint system. The scanner is designed to deliver high-resolution images with reduced file size, helping reduce storage requirements while improving data transfer efficiency across digital pathology workflows.
Like the LH510 in the VISQUE DPS lineup, the LH210 incorporates Vieworks' proprietary Realtime Extended Focus (Realtime EF) technology featuring a 3-camera structure, enabling simultaneous capture of multiple focal images and real-time fusion into a single sharp, high-quality whole slide image. Through this approach, the system maintains high scanning speed while reducing file size, ensuring smooth operation in both routine and research environments. The scanner supports both cytology and histology slides on a single system, allowing laboratories to handle multiple applications with one device while simplifying workflow configuration.
Also featured at the booth, the VISQUE DPS LH510 represents Vieworks' high-throughput solution designed for large hospitals, reference labs, and research centers. With its large slide capacity and stable high-speed scanning performance, LH510 is optimized for high-volume environments that require continuous scanning of large numbers of slides. Together, LH510 and LH210 demonstrate Vieworks' strategy to provide a complete digital pathology lineup covering a wide range of throughput requirements.
"We are pleased to introduce the LH210 to the global market at USCAP 2026," said a Vieworks representative. "With the expansion of the VISQUE DPS lineup, we aim to provide scalable digital pathology solutions that combine fast scanning, optimized data management, and scalable throughput. By supporting both cytology and histology on a single system, Vieworks will continue to help laboratories improve workflow efficiency as digital pathology adoption accelerates worldwide."
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Vieworks to Debut VISQUE DPS LH210 at USCAP 2026, a Single Scanner for Both Cytology and Histology
