From smarter infrastructure to tighter CFO partnerships, IT leaders are finding practical ways to trim budgets while still advancing transformation.

CIOs are in a tough spot. They’re being told to spend less on IT, but at the same time, still expected to drive innovation and keep the business thriving. With the economy on shaky ground and new technologies popping up all the time, it’s getting harder to do both.
But the good news is saving money doesn’t have to mean falling behind. Many CIOs are finding inventive ways to cut costs and still invest in what matters. They’re getting rid of old systems that no longer work, teaming up with CFOs to make better spending decisions, and using AI and automation to get more done with fewer resources. It’s all about working smarter, not just cheaper.
That kind of approach is catching on beyond the big banks. Across industries, CIOs are realizing they can stretch their tech budgets without sacrificing innovation, as long as they stay strategic.
To help get the best of both worlds of reducing costs without hurting innovation, here are five smart tactics to help CIOs exceed expectations:
1. Cut unit costs, free up resources
2. Strategically automate with AI
3. Collaborate with finance
4. Clean up and simplify systems and data
5. Get smarter about vendors and contracts

Based on cio.com story by Linda Rosencrance, JULY 30 2025