Final Thoughts from the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024: Aligning Infor’s Open Architecture with Gartner’s Vision for Future Enterprise Needs

As we reflect on the key insights from the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024, it’s clear that the future of enterprise technology is being shaped by rapid advancements in AI, evolving customer expectations, and the necessity for adaptive, resilient cloud strategies.

In my role as the Vice President of Enterprise Architecture at Infor, I see a strong alignment between Infor’s open architecture approach and the strategic directions outlined by Gartner, positioning our platform as a key enabler for organizations navigating this transformative landscape.

 

AI as a Catalyst for Business Evolution

Gartner’s sessions highlighted how generative AI and AI agents are set to redefine business processes, moving beyond mere automation to drive innovation and enhance decision-making capabilities. As we learned on the first day, by 2028, Gartner predicts that AI agents will autonomously manage 15% of routine decisions, demonstrating the shift toward more autonomous business operations. Infor’s open architecture supports this evolution, providing enterprises with a platform that seamlessly integrates AI technologies, enabling businesses to deploy advanced AI agents that optimize operations and deliver real-time insights.

Our focus on AI governance and responsible AI also aligns with Gartner’s emphasis on the need for transparency and ethics in AI adoption. With built-in governance capabilities, Infor’s solutions help businesses implement AI responsibly, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations and maintaining the trust of stakeholders. This approach not only addresses Gartner’s concerns about the ethical deployment of AI but also ensures that our clients can leverage these powerful technologies with confidence.

 

Customer Experience: Shifting from Channels to Empathy-Driven Engagement

As discussed during the symposium, the customer experience (CX) landscape is undergoing significant changes. Gartner stressed the importance of moving from additive technology improvements to more holistic, empathy-driven approaches to CX strategy. Infor’s architecture is designed to facilitate this transition, offering tools that embed AI-driven insights directly into customer interactions. This allows organizations to deliver personalized, consistent experiences that anticipate customer needs and foster deeper engagement.

Moreover, the rise of machine customers—where AI agents interact with services as consumers—requires businesses to rethink their strategies. By 2026, Gartner expects 30% of large enterprises to dedicate resources to this new customer segment. Infor’s open architecture is well-suited to adapt to this shift, enabling enterprises to create scalable systems that cater to both human and machine customers, ensuring seamless service delivery across all interactions.

 

Cloud as a Platform for Innovation and Resilience

The future of cloud computing is increasingly focused on hybrid and open architectures, supporting the dynamic needs of businesses in a rapidly changing environment. Gartner projects that by 2028, cloud computing will be a fundamental requirement for business continuity, with over half of cloud resources dedicated to AI-driven workloads. Infor’s architecture is specifically designed to support this future, offering a hybrid deployment model that allows businesses to build resilient, scalable infrastructures without being locked into a single cloud provider.

This approach aligns closely with Gartner’s recommendations for organizations to prepare for potential cloud vendor constraints. By providing the flexibility to manage cloud resources across different environments, Infor helps businesses mitigate risks and optimize their cloud web security strategies. This ensures that enterprises remain agile, even as the digital landscape evolves and cloud-native platforms become the bedrock of innovation.

Preparing for Tomorrow’s Security Challenges

With the advancement of AI and the rise of quantum computing, cybersecurity is an increasingly complex challenge. Gartner’s forecasts emphasize the need for businesses to prepare for a post-quantum future, in which traditional encryption methods may no longer be secure. The Infor OS Platform is ready to support this shift, offering scalable security solutions that can evolve alongside emerging threats. Our commitment to proactive cybersecurity best practices ensures that client data remains protected as new technologies reshape the security landscape.

In addition to these measures, the growing threat of AI-driven disinformation requires new approaches to safeguarding information integrity. Gartner’s prediction that half of enterprises will invest in disinformation security by 2028 highlights the urgency of this issue. Infor’s OS platform includes tools designed to combat such threats, from deepfake detection to brand monitoring, ensuring that our clients can protect their reputations in a digital age where trust is paramount.

Spotlight on Success: The Most Inspiring Session

Gartner IT Symposium attracts speakers like Jensen Huang and Malcolm Gladwell. While I was leaving, a CIO asked “what was the most inspiring session you attended?” I am not the most objective in this regard, but by far, the most impactful session at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024 was led by Rick Rider, Infor’s SVP of Product Management, whose insights captivated attendees with real-world examples of Infor’s transformative impact on businesses. Rick shared several compelling customer success stories that illustrated how the Infor OS platform, processes, and people consistently drive measurable results and deliver unique, customer-focused solutions.

A standout example came from Infor’s partnership with Entries International. By implementing Infor’s OS platform, Entries was able to boost its win rate by an impressive 30%, underscoring the power of targeted, technology-driven strategy. But beyond the numbers, Rick emphasized how Infor’s solutions do more than just improve performance metrics—they elevate brand perception, making both our customers and their customers feel genuinely “cool” in their industries. Infor’s architecture supports a seamless, flexible approach to business transformation, while our consultants work closely with clients to tailor solutions that reflect the specific challenges and aspirations of each organization.

Rick’s session was a testament to the collaborative and visionary spirit of Infor. By empowering customers with the right technology and insights, Infor enables them not only to achieve their goals, but also to set new standards for innovation and engagement.

Sprinting into the Future

The themes emerging from the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024 underscore the importance of adaptability, innovation, and resilience in enterprise architecture. At Infor, we have built a platform that aligns closely with Gartner’s view of the future—supporting organizations with the flexibility to integrate advanced AI, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and build robust, hybrid cloud environments.

Infor’s open architecture empowers businesses to stay ahead of industry trends and technological shifts, ensuring that they are not only prepared for today’s challenges but are also ready to capitalize on the opportunities of tomorrow. As AI continues to reshape industries, customer expectations evolve, and cloud becomes the foundation for digital transformation, Infor stands as a trusted partner for organizations ready to navigate this exciting future.

With a commitment to innovation and a platform designed for the future, Infor CloudSuite remains the ideal choice for enterprises looking to embrace the next era of technological transformation. Together, we are building a resilient, intelligent, and customer-centric world—one that is aligned with the strategic insights of industry leaders like the 9,000 CIOs who attended Gartner IT Symposium and driven by a vision of continuous growth and progress.

Learn more about Infor CloudSuite and the Infor OS Platform, the innovator’s choice for AI-driven, customer-centric, and cloud-optimized enterprise solutions.

Sources:

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024 Orlando: Day 1 Highlights

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024 Orlando: Day 2 Highlights

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024 Orlando: Day 3 Highlights