CIOs across industries are finding that IT modernization has taken on new urgency in the age of artificial intelligence. As BlackLine CIO Sumit Johar notes, ‘The definition of modernization has literally switched in the last two to three years.’
The shift is driven by several factors: first, AI’s ability to perform tasks previously requiring specialized software means IT can now consolidate tools; second, natural language interfaces are changing how users interact with applications; and third, the rapid pace of innovation is shrinking technology lifecycles.
Johar exemplifies this approach by evaluating BlackLine’s SaaS portfolio through an AI lens—asking whether each solution delivers true business value or if better alternatives exist. He envisions a future where ERP and CRM systems communicate in natural language, potentially rendering dashboards obsolete for many users.
Beyond cost savings, modernization creates a future-ready IT environment that supports innovation. As CGI’s Amar Aswatha explains, CIOs are essentially ‘in a perpetual state of modernization,’ balancing current needs with emerging technologies like AI.
The key is to be strategic—modernizing systems based on business impact rather than arbitrary factors—and viewing rationalization as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. As Putnam advises, the goal should be to ensure technology ‘allows us to have the flexibility and functionality we need’ to support organizational strategy.