Enterprises today are sitting on mountains of information, but much of it remains underused, fragmented, or locked away in siloes. According to new research from the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG)1, commissioned by OpenText, the way organizations handle information has reached a tipping point. CIOs who fail to act risk falling behind competitors as AI-driven innovation accelerates.
The imperative to reimagine information management
Read this recent report from the Enterprise Strategy Group based on a survey of 500 IT leaders to learn how your peers are using information management to speed AI adoption.
A shift in focus
Today, technology leaders are moving beyond managing infrastructure and firefighting IT issues to driving real business transformation. According to the ESG report, leaders are prioritizing enhancing cybersecurity and risk mitigation, advancing cloud adoption, and improving digital customer experience.
AI stands out as a powerful tool that can drive these projects and deliver business benefits. But, according to the survey results, the success of these initiatives can depend on one critical factor—effective information management.
The hidden cost of poor information management
The study reveals a striking gap between perception and reality. While roughly three-quarters of executives believe they manage information “very well,” the reality is that more than 60 percent of information is only partially managed or not used at all at the typical enterprise.
Siloed and poorly governed information doesn’t just waste resources—it actively holds back progress. AI systems built on fragmented, low-quality data can’t always generate reliable insights. Organizations that don’t address these issues will miss out on the next wave of “game-changing” AI applications, from predictive analytics and self-optimizing systems to real-time decision-making and adaptive cybersecurity.
To address these issues, the survey revealed a growing preference for platform-based information management solutions over a patchwork of point tools. More than half of respondents favor working with fewer vendors when implementing information management strategies and 92% said it would be valuable/extremely valuable to partner with a vendor whose solutions span information management, AI, security, and cloud. This simplifies vendor management while helping to reduce data fragmentation—two of the biggest barriers organizations face today.
Within the next 12 months, many organizations expect to deploy AI in ways that could fundamentally transform industries. Those with the right foundation of trusted, well-managed information will seize the opportunity. Those without it may struggle to keep up.
To find out more about why information management is critical for successful AI adoption read the full report. And learn more about how OpenText can help you get the most out of AI.
- [1] ESG eBook, “The Imperative to Reimagine Information Management,” August 2025
