The survey, which gathered views from 2,900 global IT decision makers on the challenges and opportunities shaping businesses worldwide, comes after a year of significant AI breakthroughs that saw the technology rapidly deployed in applications across both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer sectors.
80% of IT leaders surveyed in the UAE plan to grow their tech teams in the next 12 months as the IT talent landscape evolves at pace, according to the Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey. The survey, which gathered views from 2,900 global IT decision makers on the challenges and opportunities shaping businesses worldwide, comes after a year of significant AI breakthroughs that saw the technology rapidly deployed in applications across both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer sectors. “The role of IT has transformed from being a back-end function to becoming a critical business enabler. This evolution has triggered a pressing need for IT professionals to expand beyond technical expertise for well-rounded business acumen and soft skills. With advancements in automation and AI taking over routine IT infrastructure management tasks, IT talent can focus on high-value business growth outcomes,” said Milind Wagle, Chief Information Officer at Equinix.
The advancement of technology, including the rise of advanced AI systems and generative AI, has increased the demand for IT systems. This has raised questions about the ability of existing IT teams to handle these new requirements. With technology and associated business needs continuing to advance, it is no surprise there is a breadth of IT skills required to future-proof the teams at the helm of this progress. Globally, 57% of IT decision makers reported that their team size grew in the last two years. Talents in AI and machine learning are notably in demand, while IT leaders are planning a reduction in hardware engineering (25%) and data analysis (24%) focus areas.
“AI is being used across diverse business functions in the UAE, from IT Operations to cybersecurity and sales. With this uptake, there has been a significant shift in the landscape of IT and operations, which has elevated their position from a mere backend operation to a pivotal driver of business success. As automation and AI continue to revolutionize routine IT infrastructure management, these innovations empower IT professionals to channel their efforts into cultivating high-impact business advancements.” said Kamel Al-Tawil, Managing Director, Equinix MENA.
The survey confirmed that AI uptake is on the rise across all industry sectors, with 85% of respondents worldwide seeking to benefit from the advantages of AI and already using or planning to use it across multiple key functions. In the UAE, businesses are most likely to be using AI, or planning to do so, in IT operations (97%), followed by cybersecurity (95%). To keep up with the growing reliance on IT, organizations must prioritize IT in their future planning and strategies. As IT systems evolve, so does the workforce supporting them. Data suggests IT teams are growing and will continue to grow rapidly to meet the demand for crucial system operations and security.
