2026 Transformation Study: What leading companies do differently

Strong foundations drive successful transformations

The foundation for a successful transformation is laid long before implementation begins. The most successful organizations invest more time in planning, allocate the necessary resources early, and commit larger budgets from the outset. Investments of €20–50 million, and even budgets exceeding €50 million, are significantly more common among these top performers.

Execution matters just as much. While 65% of all surveyed organizations had to fundamentally change their project management approach during the transformation, only around half of the top-performing organizations faced the same challenge.

They required fewer course corrections because they set the right priorities from the very beginning. Compared to the overall survey group, they were significantly more likely to identify the following technical measures as key drivers of success:

The thorough technical preparation paid off. 40.5% of the top-performing organizations stayed on schedule or even completed their transformation ahead of time, compared to just 20.5% across the full sample. Budget performance showed a similar pattern: 32.5% of the top performers stayed within budget, while only 17.8% of all surveyed organizations achieved the same.

Conclusion

Successful organizations create the right conditions for transformation from the very beginning. They invest sufficient resources, plan more realistically, and place a strong early focus on data quality, data security, and testing.

AI as a success factor – when used strategically

Three out of four organizations already use artificial intelligence to support their transformation initiatives. Interestingly, there is little difference between the top performers and the overall sample in terms of AI adoption. The more important question is where AI is being applied. The study shows that the most successful organizations are far more likely to use AI in the phases that have the greatest impact on transformation success:

These are the stages that often determine whether a transformation runs smoothly or is slowed down by delays, poor data quality, and costly rework. Rather than using AI solely to automate repetitive tasks, top-performing organizations also rely on it to support analysis and strategic decision-making.

The Natuvion Data Conversion Suite demonstrates how AI can be embedded across the entire transformation lifecycle. From automated data analysis and intelligent mapping recommendations with DCS Analyze, to smart migration with DCS Migrate, and legacy system decommissioning with DCS Retire, AI supports every step of the transformation journey.

For the top performers, the potential of AI is far from exhausted. Nearly 40% plan to expand their use of AI even further in the future.

Conclusion

What matters is not whether companies use AI, but how. The most successful companies apply AI strategically in the areas that matter most, particularly data quality, analysis, and testing, creating the foundation for better transformation outcomes.

Transformation as a leadership mandate

Successful organizations create the right organizational conditions for transformation. One of the most important success factors is strong executive support. Nearly half of all top-performing organizations (46.3%) identify leadership commitment as the single most important prerequisite for a successful transformation. Across the overall sample, only 30% say the same, making it just the fourth most important success factor.

This clearly shows that transformation is no longer just an IT initiative. It is a strategic business priority that requires active leadership from the executive team.

At the same time, transformation is not a purely top-down effort. The study reveals that the most successful organizations place a stronger emphasis on collaboration and well-defined structures. They are significantly more likely to identify the following organizational factors as key drivers of success:

These capabilities enable faster decision-making, earlier risk identification, and greater acceptance of change across the organization.

Conclusion

Successful transformations are not driven by technology alone. They require strong leadership, professional project management, transparent communication, and experienced teams, supported by transformation experts where needed. 

Top performers transform for growth, not cost reduction

Why do organizations embark on a transformation? Here, too, the differences are striking. The most successful organizations do not wait until rising costs or outdated systems become a problem. They transform to strengthen their future readiness.

Their primary transformation drivers are compatibility with new technologies (44.3%) and greater flexibility (41.9%). Cost reduction, by contrast, plays a much smaller role than it does for the overall sample.

These organizations are also more likely to realize tangible business benefits from their transformation projects. A total of 43.9% identify increased efficiency as their greatest transformation success, compared with 29.5% across the overall sample.

Conclusion

Organizations that transform with a clear long-term strategy, rather than in response to immediate cost pressures, create the foundation for greater innovation, increased flexibility, and ultimately achieve stronger efficiency gains.

Transformation success can be planned

Transformation success does not happen by chance. The most successful organizations do not do everything differently, but they focus on the right priorities and plan more realistically. They create transparency across their data, test consistently, use AI where it delivers the greatest value, and treat transformation as a strategic leadership responsibility

Discover the insights you need before starting your next transformation.

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