This is according to a recent report by Deloitte, which found that 55% of participating CIOs are still adhering to traditional duties and struggling to transition towards more technological responsibilities.

Additionally, less than 10% said that their company were ready for the journey towards technological incorporation, with over half declaring that they haven’t started that journey at all.

“CIOs are increasingly being stretched between two distinct roles, creating pressure on their time and resources,” said Mike Guggemos, CIO of Insight.

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“There is an expectation to perform their traditional, functional role of maintaining IT infrastructure cost-effectively while there is also growing pressure to drive forward innovation projects that ensure their organisation remains ahead of the competition and relevant in today’s market.”

Guggemos went on to explain that many companies’ IT operations aren’t making progress due to a lack of CIO intervention in regards to going beyond simply ensuring that IT aspects are functioning properly.

“From sales to marketing, lines of business often view IT as a cost centre, assigning IT budget purely for maintenance purposes yet still requiring support to drive innovation within the business,” he said.

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“Organisations need to change how they perceive the IT department to reap the benefits that digitalisation brings. Viewing IT solely as a department dedicated to keeping the lights on with limited budget will inhibit long-term innovation and ultimately profitability for the business.”

Some experts have pointed towards cloud-based business strategies as a good place to start if CIOs haven’t already begun the journey of digitalisation. Moving company data to the cloud can make the data more secure from cyber attacks, improve efficiency through increased accessibility, and help cut costs due to hardware being surplus to requirements in this regard.