Unrequested software changes consume 28 per cent of IT budgets

A survey of senior IT decision-makers found that organisations spend an average of 28 per cent of their software budgets on vendor-driven upgrades, migrations and licensing changes they would not have chosen. The findings suggest these demands can consume money and staff time without improving systems, while delaying work businesses prioritise, including AI and data projects.

Censuswide surveyed 2,018 decision-makers in the US and UK for Origina and Thinkers50. Ninety-five per cent said their organisation had paid for at least one such change in the past three years, with the most recent costing an average of $12.87 million; 91 per cent also reported retiring working hardware early to meet support deadlines. Origina sells independent software support, and the survey found that 76 per cent felt they had little negotiating leverage with major vendors.