Signal 90% say they lose their edge without real-time operation

Summary

IBM opens its first 2026 trend with a survey finding about speed: nine in ten executives believe their organisation forfeits its competitive advantage if it cannot run in real time. The figure is presented as evidence that quick reaction has stopped being optional in a volatile market. IBM argues that operating at market speed is hard for very large enterprises. It depends on adaptable IT infrastructure and a data architecture that routes information to the right people and AI agents at the right moment. The signal therefore frames real-time operation as a baseline condition for staying competitive rather than as a bonus.