Automotive IT Leaders Struggle to Execute Modernization Plans…

Event summary

Rocket Software's study found only 43% of automotive IT leaders have actively deployed or fully implemented integration of mission-critical systems with modern platforms.
70% of respondents are at least moderately confident in modernizing without disrupting production, but over a third have experienced operational issues.
Only 35% of respondents have a centralized, coordinated modernization program.
Half of respondents prefer a hybrid architecture combining core systems with cloud-native extensions.
Data integrity and real-time visibility are major challenges in modernization efforts.

The big picture

The study highlights a significant gap between modernization priorities and execution in the automotive industry, reflecting broader challenges in digital transformation across legacy-heavy sectors. As automotive companies strive to integrate mission-critical systems with modern platforms, the lack of centralized coordination and data integrity issues pose substantial operational risks. The preference for hybrid architectures suggests a pragmatic approach to modernization, but the industry must address governance and validation challenges to scale AI-assisted modernization efforts effectively.

What we're watching

Execution Risk: How the lack of centralized coordination will impact the pace and success of modernization efforts across the automotive industry.
Hybrid Architecture: Whether the preference for hybrid systems will lead to more successful modernization outcomes or create additional complexity.
AI Governance: The pace at which automotive IT leaders can establish governance frameworks to trust AI-generated outputs in critical systems.