Adoption of AI stalling in IT departments

As businesses battle to remain successful during turbulent economic times, the adoption of automation tools by IT departments has decelerated. In fact, over half (52%) of surveyed IT professionals say they have not adopted any form of machine learning (ML). That’s according to new research from SolarWinds, a leading provider of simple, powerful, and secure IT management software.

Based on a survey of over 270 IT professionals, the findings also reveal approximately 43% of organisations haven’t adopted an AIOps approach to infrastructure management, and only 15% plan to do so in the next 12 months.

With IT teams facing pressure from all angles, the study uncovered multiple justifications for the lack of appetite for ML. A lack of budget, inadequate in-house skills, and unsuitable technology were all cited — while many decision-makers do not see an AIOps approach as a current business priority.

Sascha Giese, Head Geek™ at SolarWinds, commented on the findings: “We’ve emerged from a period of unmatched digital transformation and IT investment into a time of uncertainty in which budgets are under a microscope. Alongside this, IT complexity is only putting additional strain on teams.”

“As a result, taking an AIOps approach and implementing ML tools is a daunting or seemingly unachievable task for many IT departments. If vendors want businesses to implement their tools, the process needs to be as simple as possible and provide a tangible benefit to those making budget decisions.”

Giese continues: “Looking forward, an observability solution that integrates ML to correlate metrics, automate actions and demonstrate KPIs will reignite the desire for AI adoption. While this concept may seem somewhat sci-fi, it’s not as far off as one might think.”