IDC research commissioned by MongoDB surveyed 1,400 Asia/Pacific organizations and found that legacy infrastructure and data debt are the primary barriers to AI success. Organizations that continuously modernize their tech stack generate 3x more digital revenue than peers still burdened by technical debt. Key findings: 43% cite existing architecture as a major obstacle, CIOs who ignore data debt face 50% higher AI failure rates by 2027, and 38% of APAC organizations prioritize cloud-centric data management in 2026. Leaders differentiate by treating modernization as an ongoing operating model across people, process, and technology rather than a one-off project.
Table of contents
The AI readiness divide: Leaders versus mainstreamThe rigidity trap: Technical debt and AI failure riskLegacy drag: The real business impactWhat sets leaders apartCloud-centric data management: A strategic enablerModernization as a continuous strategyThe Path forward: Legacy systems are not permanentSort: