On October 16, the World Trade Center in Barcelona was the scene of the III LiceoTIC Congress, where more than 400 CIOs met to discuss the technological future in companies and the professional challenges they face. A key moment of the event was the presentation of the “Future of the CIO” report, which highlighted the evolution of the CIO’s role towards a more strategic and multifaceted function.
The conference featured speakers such as: Josep Bardallo (CISO at Grupo Recoletas), Joan Barceló (CIO at W2M WORLD2MEET), Xavier Gual (CIO of SABSEG GROUP), Juan Carlos Gutiérrez (CTO at Grupo Setesca) and Jordi Damià (CEO of Group Setesca), who shared their valuable experiences and perspectives on how to face the challenges in the evolution of IT departments.
CIO Priorities: Cybersecurity, ERP, Generative AI and Data
The “Future of the CIO” report revealed the top current priorities for CIOs. Cybersecurity, mentioned by 79% of respondents, remains the top concern due to increased cyber threats and reliance on digital infrastructures. Additionally, 71% of CIOs consider the implementation and migration of ERP systems, such as S/4HANA, crucial to optimize business operations.
Another emerging trend is the adoption of generative AI, mentioned by 58% of CIOs, who are using this technology to improve operational efficiency in areas such as customer service and process automation. Finally, 50% highlighted the importance of data-oriented transformation, focusing on turning their organizations into “data-driven” companies where data analysis is essential for strategic decision making.
58% of CIOs list generative AI as one of their top priorities
Transformation of the CIO Role
The study also highlighted that the role of the CIO is at a crucial moment of transformation. With technology present in all business areas, your future must not only master the technical aspects, but also be a strategic leader with skills in communication, change management and a comprehensive vision of the organization.
Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity
Another notable topic of the congress was the digital transformation driven by AI and cybersecurity. CIOs agreed that the integration of these technologies is essential to optimize operations management and protect critical infrastructures from growing threats.
IT budget for 2025
The study “Estimation of the evolution of the IT budget for 2025” was also presented at the congress, which predicts moderate growth in spending, investment and the number of people in IT departments. However, a slowdown compared to previous years is anticipated due to the strong investments made between 2022 and 2024 in areas such as cybersecurity, ERP migration and Cloud solutions.
