Tech
Enterprises keep buying software upgrades that IT thinks will make things worse
Publication: Ars Technica - All content
Author: Scharon Harding
Source published: 21/10/2026, 21:48:52 UTC
Briefing created: 21/10/2026, 22:43:25 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/10/2026, 22:28:23 UTC.
Briefings
A survey of 2,018 CIOs and senior IT leaders at large enterprises revealed that 28% of software budgets are spent on unwanted upgrades, migrations, and licensing changes. The findings come from Origina, which provides maintenance services, and Censuswide, a third-party consultancy. Approximately half of the respondents are from the US, while the remainder are from the UK. All participants work at companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue.
Key points
- Enterprise software budgets are allocated to unwanted upgrades, migrations, and licensing changes at an average rate of 28%.
Context
Origina commissioned the survey to highlight independent software maintenance as a strategy for IT leaders to regain control over software spending, noting its potential bias in the report.
Limitations
The data is limited to respondents from the US and UK, all working at companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue. The survey covers a specific snapshot of CIOs and senior IT decision-makers, and Origina's maintenance services may influence the survey's perspective.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 21/10/2026, 22:43:25 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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