C-Suite realigns transformation strategies to navigate complexity, boost efficiency and drive outcomes

Rhea-AI Summary

CGI (TSX: GIB.A, NYSE: GIB) released findings from its annual global research involving 1,800+ business and tech executives. The study reveals three key trends: accelerating value chain evolution with 66% noting digitization reshaping business models, challenges in achieving ROI due to structural constraints, and increasing openness to new digital transformation approaches. The research shows 35% of organizations are implementing traditional AI and 26% adopting generative AI. While executives face cost pressures, two-thirds plan to maintain or increase capital expenditure, with over 50% planning to invest more than $200M in IT programs over three years. Despite only 28% having sufficiently agile operating models, AI and automation emerged as top investment priorities for driving efficiency and innovation across industries.

Positive

• Two-thirds of executives plan to maintain or increase capital expenditure
• Over 50% plan to invest more than $200M in IT programs over three years
• Growing AI adoption with 35% implementing traditional AI and 26% implementing generative AI
• AI and automation emerged as top investment priorities across industries

Negative

• Only 28% of executives have sufficiently agile operating models for digital acceleration
• Nearly half cite legacy systems as top barrier to digital strategies
• 70% face challenges in recruiting and retaining IT talent
• Increasing cost pressures due to macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty

Insights

Technology Strategy Analyst

CGI's research reveals accelerating digital transformation, with AI adoption maturing despite operational constraints, positioning CGI strategically in high-demand enterprise services.

CGI's annual global research, drawing from 1,800+ executives (80% C-level), reveals significant shifts in the digital transformation landscape that directly impact CGI's market positioning. The research identifies three key trends that are reshaping the technology services industry and CGI's potential growth trajectory.

First, value chain evolution is accelerating, with 66% of executives reporting digitization is reshaping business models. The macro trend of world economic order shifts and supply chain reconfiguration has grown by 10% year-over-year and 25% over three years. This acceleration creates substantial demand for CGI's consulting and implementation services.

Second, organizations face significant execution challenges despite digital ambitions. Only 28% of executives believe their operating models can support digital acceleration, with legacy systems cited as the top barrier by nearly half of respondents. This execution gap provides CGI an opportunity to leverage its integration capabilities and managed services offerings.

Third, AI implementation is maturing across industries, with 35% of organizations implementing traditional AI and 26% adopting generative AI. The identification of AI and automation as top investment priorities aligns perfectly with CGI's expanded capabilities in these areas.

CGI's strategic positioning is strengthened by these findings, as enterprises increasingly seek fewer, more comprehensive partners with both technical expertise and industry knowledge. The data indicates CGI's end-to-end service model, combining local relationships with global scale, matches evolving client preferences amid persistent talent shortages (70% of executives reporting recruitment challenges) and legacy modernization needs.

Stock Market Symbols
GIB.A (TSX)
GIB (NYSE)
cgi.com/newsroom

CGI global research highlights maturing AI implementation, rising cloud adoption, and a shift toward fewer enterprise-level partners

MONTRÉAL, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, today released the findings of its annual global proprietary research based on discussions with more than 1,800 business and technology executives, of whom 80% are C-level. This year's research highlights three overarching insights shaping the business and technology strategies of commercial and government organizations:

• Value chain evolution across industries is accelerating. Two thirds of executives cite that digitization is reshaping business models, driven by shifts in the world economic order and supply chain reconfiguration, a macro trend that has grown to 38%, up 10 percentage points from last year and 25 percentage points in the last three years.
  
  
• Cost, structure, and talent constraints are hindering tangible ROI. Macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty is increasing pressure on enterprises to cut costs while accelerating digital transformation. Yet only 28% of executives noted their operating models are sufficiently agile to support digital acceleration, including the integration of emerging technologies. Given this, nearly half cited legacy systems as the top barrier to executing digital strategies. At the same time, nearly 70% cited continued challenges in recruiting and retaining the right IT talent. Despite this, two-thirds plan to maintain or increase capital expenditure next year, with over half planning to invest more than $200 million in new IT programs over three years.
  
  
• Executives are more open to exploring new digital transformation approaches. With operational efficiency and modernization as top priorities, executive interest in new managed services models, application modernization and cloud continues to rise. AI implementation is increasingly viewed as a key lever to driving efficiency and innovation, with 35% of organizations implementing traditional AI, and 26% generative AI—both of which were up year-over-year.

"Executives continue to pursue ambitious digital transformation goals while navigating complexity, managing costs, and adapting to evolving workforce dynamics. Many organizations are increasingly seeking an enterprise-level partner offering not just technical expertise but also deep industry and business experience. With an insights-driven approach, CGI is that trusted partner," said François Boulanger, CGI President and CEO. "CGI's combination of local relationships and global scale with end-to-end offerings enables clients to achieve tangible business outcomes. Our robust managed services and IP solutions—particularly in modernization and AI integration—help clients close the strategy-to-execution gap through tailored transformation strategies."

As organizations continue to move from AI exploration to adoption, implementation is maturing across all industries and regions. In the 2025 findings, AI and automation emerged as the top investment priority for executives, supporting full-scale digital transformation to achieve results and create value.

"With organizations increasingly investing in AI, we are committed to guiding clients through scalable, responsible, and human-centric transformation. Our structured approach is focused on helping clients seamlessly integrate responsible AI into their operations to fuel innovation and enable smarter, data-driven decisions in an AI-powered world," said Dave Henderson, President, Intelligent Solutions and Innovation, CGI.

For additional global insights from the CGI Voice of Our Clients, as well as industry-specific insights, visit cgi.com/voice-of-our-clients.

About CGI Voice of Our Clients
Each year, CGI leaders around the world conduct in-depth, face-to-face interviews with business and IT executives to gather actionable insights on the trends shaping their enterprises. These conversations explore topics including strategy execution, IT modernization, talent management, cybersecurity, data, AI and cloud maturity, regulation, innovation, and sustainability. The insights inform practical roadmaps and are backed by over 1 million data points collected over five years. Learn more at cgi.com/voice-of-our-clients.

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 94,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2024 reported revenue is CA$14.68 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/c-suite-realigns-transformation-strategies-to-navigate-complexity-boost-efficiency-and-drive-outcomes-302487430.html

SOURCE CGI Inc.

FAQ

What are the key findings from CGI's 2025 global research?

The research revealed three key trends: accelerating value chain evolution, ROI challenges due to structural constraints, and increasing openness to digital transformation. It showed 35% implementing traditional AI, 26% adopting generative AI, and two-thirds planning to maintain or increase capital expenditure.

How many organizations are implementing AI according to CGI's 2025 research?

According to the research, 35% of organizations are implementing traditional AI and 26% are implementing generative AI, with both figures showing year-over-year growth.

What percentage of CGI survey respondents plan to invest in IT programs?

Over 50% of respondents plan to invest more than $200 million in new IT programs over the next three years.

What are the main challenges facing organizations in digital transformation according to CGI?

The main challenges include legacy systems (cited by nearly half), insufficient agile operating models (only 28% are sufficiently agile), and talent constraints (70% face recruitment and retention challenges).

How many executives participated in CGI's 2025 global research?

More than 1,800 business and technology executives participated in the research, with 80% being C-level executives.