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AI Factories: Scaling AI-Ready Infrastructure

Dave Pearson, Dave McCarthy — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

These event proceedings were presented at the IDC Directions conference in Boston in April 2026.

In this presentation, IDC analysts debate, compare, and contrast how to maximize ROI when deploying AI-ready infrastructure. They discuss how to scale these infrastructures; how cloud, on-premises, and hybrid approaches differ; and when each model wins.

AI-Ready Data Storage Infrastructure from Data Logistics to Data Trust

Phil Goodwin, Jennifer Glenn — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

These event proceedings were presented at the IDC Directions conference in Boston in April 2026.

Uncover what it means to implement an AI-ready data storage infrastructure. IDC experts will unpack data logistics, data protection, cyber-recovery, and data security, including how they differ from storage infrastructure and what vendors need to know now.

Additive Digital Governance: Redesigning Authority, Work, and Coordination for Machine-Scale Operations

Shannon Kalvar — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

As machine-scale digital complexity overtakes human-scale coordination models, enterprises need more than better telemetry and faster automation. Additive digital governance provides a governance model for redefining authority, redistributing work between humans and machines, and turning operational events into durable institutional learning. The result is a more governable, resilient, and sustainable digital operating model.

"When complexity exceeds human absorption capacity, the decisive advantage no longer comes from speed alone. It comes from the ability to define boundaries, legitimate trade-offs, and govern machine-scale operations without exhausting the people responsible for them," says Shannon Kalvar, research director, IDC.

As Yesterday's News Wizs by, Google Looks Forward to Agentic AI

Michelle Abraham, Philip Bues, Frank Dickson, Craig Robinson — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Google Cloud Next '26 marked a strategic inflection point for enterprise security, as Google used the event to advance an integrated security vision spanning agentic threat detection, AI workload protection through the newly acquired Wiz platform, agent governance infrastructure, and core cloud security.

This is underpinned by Alphabet's commitment of up to $190 billion in capital expenditure in 2026 to sustain the infrastructure investment required to compete at this scale. This reflects a deliberate effort to position Google not merely as a cloud provider with security products, but as a full-stack security platform capable of defending the AI-era enterprise from chip to code to cloud to runtime.

Data in Action: Agentic Application Success

Lynne Schneider, Roger Beharry Lall — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

These event proceedings were presented at the IDC Directions conference in Boston in April 2026.

Juxtaposing insights from data foundations and business strategy, this session will explore the transition from SaaS applications to autonomous intelligence. We'll explore why data quality is a primary barrier to scaling AI agents and a practical look at actions users — and vendors — must take to ensure agentic success.

Fireside Chat: Data’s Role in Finance Transformation

Stewart Bond — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

These event proceedings were presented at the IDC Directions conference in Boston in April 2026.

Join Stewart Bond and special CIO guest for real-world lessons from a large-scale transformation project whose success came from combining strong data foundations with application modernization. Designed for technology vendors, product marketers, and AR leaders, the session provides clear signals into how enterprise buyers evaluate data management capabilities and where true differentiation exists.

How AI Is Shifting Marketing's Paradigm

Laurie Buczek — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

These event proceedings were presented at the IDC Directions conference in Boston in April 2026.

AI is transforming marketing from a campaign‑driven function into a continuously intelligent, outcomes‑focused discipline. Join Laurie Buczek, IDC Research GVP, for an expert view on what it means for marketing priorities, operating models, and the path to real business impact.

IDC ProductScape: Worldwide Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling, 2026

Lorenzo Veronesi — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The IDC ProductScape offers a comprehensive guide on the key functionalities of worldwide advanced production planning and scheduling, featuring products from Blue Yonder, Dassault Systèmes, Epicor, Eyelit, Infor, MPDV, QAD, RELEX, SAP, Siemens, and Velotic. The status of each functionality is categorized as fully supported, partially supported, partner provided, road map, or not supported, aiding technology purchasers in quickly identifying which vendors align with their changing requirements.

IFS Q1 2026 Financial Results: Industrial Operations Embed AI for Agility, Performance, and Work

Aly Pinder, Sarah Lee, Mickey North Rizza, Brian O'Rourke — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On April 22, 2026, IFS announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026 period ending March 31, 2026. IFS reported an annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 25%. IFS highlighted cloud revenue growth of 24% year-over-year (YoY), net retention rate (NRR) of 114%, and recurring revenue mix of 84% of total revenue. Growth in the first quarter was driven by a combination of new customers, revenue expansion within existing customers, consistent retention metrics, and increasing adoption of AI-driven capabilities across industrial operational workflows. Some of the wins and expansions for IFS.ai were from large enterprises such as Aramex, Coca-Cola, China Airlines, Drydocks World, FirstSolar, JVCKENWOOD, LATAM Airlines, Miele, and Shin Maywa Industries. This IDC Link will provide a perspective on IFS’s financial highlights from Q12026 and its potential impact on industrial operations, enterprise applications, asset-intensive industries, and aftermarket service.

IT Spending Priorities Shift: Why Back-Office Applications Are at Risk in 2026

Brian O'Rourke — Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Market Perspective demonstrates IDC survey data that shows back-office applications face elevated budget-cut risk, while security, AI, and resilience remain protected, forcing ALM and FM vendors to reposition around measurable value, cost efficiency, and strategic business impact.

"Economic uncertainty and value perception have the potential to adversely impact back-office applications over the next year, including facility management and asset life-cycle management," said Brian O'Rourke, research manager, Enterprise Asset Management and Smart Facilities at IDC. "Vendors must link their applications to enterprise priorities such as security and AI while emphasizing their connection to broader enterprise workflows."