⏱ 5 minutes to read
A few weeks ago, our team attended the CIO Summit in Auckland. It was two full days of conversations about the future of technology, leadership and digital transformation in New Zealand. The event brought together CIOs, CTOs and digital leaders from across sectors to share what is working, what is not, and what comes next.
Here are three big themes we took away.
It’s impossible to ignore the dominance of AI in today’s conversations. At the Summit, AI was threaded through almost every keynote, panel, and side conversation. But alongside the enthusiasm was a noticeable sense of fatigue.
Many leaders admitted they had invested heavily in proofs of concept and pilots, but were still waiting to see real returns. MIT research shared at the event put a stark number on it: 95% of AI projects deliver no measurable ROI. It’s no wonder CIOs are cautious about overpromising.
The consensus? The opportunity lies in starting small. Rather than chasing moonshots, CIOs are focusing on practical use cases — the “golden moments” where automation or Copilot tools can save time, remove friction, or make a task simpler. These wins create trust, build momentum, and pave the way for bigger initiatives.
Why it matters: For digital leaders, AI isn’t about chasing hype. It’s about building confidence, proving value early, and scaling what works.
Despite the strong focus on technology, one message came through clearly: projects succeed or fail because of people. From change management and leadership to culture and collaboration, it was evident that technology alone does not deliver transformation.
Successful CIOs look beyond implementation plans. Strong communication, visible sponsorship, and genuine engagement across the organisation are what turn a system rollout into a business success. The real challenge is not getting the technology live, but bringing people with you.
Why it matters: Every CIO knows that adoption is the multiplier. Without culture, leadership and people at the centre, even the most advanced solution will underdeliver.
User experience remains a critical priority, no matter how it is framed. Whether we call it customer experience, student experience, or employee experience, the goal is the same — clarity, simplicity, and ease of use across every interaction.
This expectation now spans every channel: websites, mobile apps, AI chatbots and call centres. While AI is reshaping the possibilities in this space, it cannot replace the deep human understanding required to simplify complex processes and design with empathy.
Why it matters: Leaders who keep user experience at the core of their strategy will build solutions that are trusted, adopted, and valued. In an era of AI-driven change, empathy and clarity remain non-negotiable.
The CIO Summit highlighted both the excitement and the pressure digital leaders are facing. AI is reshaping expectations, people remain at the heart of transformation, and user experience continues to set the benchmark for success.
For us at Nodero, these themes echo what we see every day: transformation only succeeds when technology, people, and design come together.
If you are looking to execute your digital transformation strategy, or need expertise in development, AI, automation, UX or project delivery, we would love to talk.
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