Navigating the Future of Infrastructure and Operations: Key Insights from Gartner I&O Conference – November 2024.

Last week industry leaders gathered in London for the Gartner Infrastructure and Operations (I&O) Conference. The goal? To explore the transformations shaping the I&O landscape. Managing Partner Vincent Stas shares three takeaways that stood out most:

1. Generative AI: Revolution or Routine?

Generative AI (GenAI) is at the forefront of innovation. Gartner highlights a crucial distinction between “Everyday AI” (incremental efficiency improvements) and “Game-Changing GenAI” (paradigm-shifting innovations). Yet, Gartner doesn’t predict a smooth journey: by 2027, 60% of AI initiatives will fail to meet expectations due to unmanaged employee resistance.

To tackle this challenge effectively, leadership must take proactive steps by:

Practicing transparent communication to alleviate fears of redundancy and irrelevance.

Involving employees in co-creating AI adoption strategies.

Offering robust upskilling programs.

2. Skills of the Future for I&O

Traditional upskilling models are falling short in keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. Gartner highlights the importance of cultivating environments that support continuous learning. Essential strategies include:

Incorporating Infrastructure Platform Engineering and Site Reliability Engineering to enhance resilience and agility.

Approaching skills forecasting as an iterative, collaborative effort, much like a virtual workshop.

Building cross-functional “fusion teams” to encourage adaptability.

Prioritizing non-technical skills like creative thinking alongside domain-specific AI competencies.

3. Driving Digital Employee Experience (DEX)

Improving the workforce technology experience emerged as a critical priority. Organizations are encouraged to focus on tools and strategies that enhance collaboration, simplify workflows and reduce frustration. Which AI-driven tools can help in creating a more empowered workforce? Gartner confirms that tools such as incident automation and chatbots can make a difference.

The conference highlighted that thriving in today’s fast-changing world means finding the right balance between leveraging advanced technologies while staying deeply connected to the human side of change. For leaders, the message is clear: lead with vision, listen with empathy and act with agility.

Curious how to turn these insights into actionable strategies for your organization?