Thoughtworks has released its global report, "Modernization Is No Longer a Project: AI-Enabled Managed Services for Continuous Change," in partnership with IDC. Based on a survey of 500 senior IT and digital decision-makers across large organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and APJ, the findings reveal a stark divide: while AI adoption is nearly universal, operational maturity lags dramatically, leaving most enterprises trapped in reactive, high-cost modernization cycles.
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"The era of intermittent application modernization is no longer sustainable," said Josh Burks, SVP and Global Leader of Managed Services at Thoughtworks. "Our research with IDC confirms that a reactive, project-based modernization approach leads to high costs, security vulnerabilities and significant people impact. To maintain a competitive advantage and deliver AI that works, organizations are moving away from risky one-off interventions and toward a model of continuous modernization."
"Enterprise security and operations are rapidly becoming AI-led, yet most organizations lack the maturity to realize the expected benefits," said Jennifer Thomson, AVP Global Services Insights at IDC. "The shift we are seeing is a move toward a 'human-in-the-loop' strategy where human expertise is reserved for strategic architectural decisions and complex problem solving. By focusing on pipeline intelligence and automated security, organizations can finally bridge the gap between IT operations and business objectives, replacing outdated headcount pricing with shared-risk models that incentivize speed and scale."
The report emphasizes that AI's true value in operations emerges when embedded in continuous, governed processes rather than episodic projects. Organizations succeeding in this transition prioritize data quality, measurable outcomes, and realignment of people and processes—moving from headcount-heavy models to outcome-based partnerships that drive speed, resilience, and business impact.
To read more about Thoughtworks Managed Services and access related insights, visit the company's website.
About Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that integrates design, engineering and AI to drive digital innovation. We are over 10,000 Thoughtworkers strong across 47 offices in 18 countries. For 30+ years, we've delivered extraordinary impact together with our clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator.
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