APAC IT leaders struggle with visibility, putting AI savings at risk
New research commissioned by Crayon shows that a significant majority of Asia-Pacific (APAC) IT decision makers lack full visibility into their IT spend, which is creating challenges for innovation and cost control.
IT cost visibility
The IT Cost Optimisation study, conducted by Sapio Research and commissioned by Crayon, surveyed 500 IT decision-makers from organisations with more than 200 employees across APAC. The findings indicate that over 70% of respondents admit to lacking control over their IT costs, and 78% state they do not have full visibility over IT spend. These results highlight ongoing hurdles as businesses manage growing investments in artificial intelligence and increasingly complex cloud landscapes.
The research further explored how organisations are implementing cost management practices such as FinOps, as well as approaches to software vendor oversight and sustainability initiatives. Although the majority of respondents (66%) recognise the importance of FinOps and optimising cloud costs, only 22% report having a fully integrated FinOps strategy in place.
Risk to innovation and finances
"Working with hundreds of enterprises across APAC, it's clear that many businesses are grappling with uncontrolled and unexpected costs, missed renewals and opportunities, as well as AI governance risks," said Rhonda Robati, EVP APAC at Crayon. "Cost optimisation isn't about cutting, it's about gaining control, surfacing risks early, and ensuring investments deliver long-term value and business outcomes."
The study highlights that 58% of organisations see AI-driven automation as a key mechanism for cost savings, but it also underscores that the lack of governance and transparency around AI spending continues to be a significant obstacle. For 45% of IT leaders, AI expenditure and governance are the foremost cost optimisation challenges, surpassing concerns around software and licensing costs (39%).
"It's no surprise so many leaders highlighted spend in AI and governance as a top priority. This lack of oversight not only increases spending unpredictability but also hinders the ability to fully leverage the benefits of AI for long-term savings and innovation," said Robati.
FinOps adoption and gaps
According to the research, 69% of APAC organisations have implemented some form of FinOps practice, compared to 62% globally. Despite this, only 22% report full integration of these strategies and even fewer have implemented robust AI governance or GreenOps frameworks. The findings suggest a gap between intent and execution, indicating a need for stronger, more integrated financial and environmental approaches to optimise technology investments.
Sustainability measures
The importance of sustainability in IT procurement is increasingly evident, with 96% of surveyed organisations monitoring metrics, most notably energy consumption, which is tracked by 65% of respondents. Sustainability considerations have risen in prioritisation, moving from fifth to fourth as a factor in APAC, compared to global results.
"We know how important sustainability is to business - in fact, 92% of enterprises say sustainability is important in their IT procurement decision making process. Despite this focus, 71% of organisations are still in the early stages of implementing FinOps and GreenOps, meaning most have no systemic control over their spend and carbon footprint," said Robati.
The survey found that 39% of organisations are targeting a Net Zero outcome for their cloud operations in the coming years. Many have already taken at least one step to reduce emissions, with application performance optimisation ranked as the most impactful measure, adopted by 65% of respondents.
"This focus on sustainability is helping to shape the future of IT procurement in the region, but businesses need to accelerate their efforts to align FinOps, GreenOps, and AI governance to maximise cost savings and reduce their environmental impact," said Robati.
Visibility needed for efficiency
The report concludes that having clear visibility and control over IT spend is essential for effective cost optimisation, particularly as organisations look to invest further in AI and automation.
"For the growing number of businesses hungry for AI and innovation, reducing IT costs can be a winning strategy, freeing up budget to invest in AI and automation," said Robati. "Effective IT cost optimisation starts with visibility and control. Organisations need to take charge of their spend and build frameworks that manage not only costs but also AI-related risk, helping them achieve both AI and sustainability goals. With FinOps, businesses can unlock the financial agility needed to drive innovation, reduce costs, and maximise the long-term value of their technology."
The study surveyed IT leaders from Singapore, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and India in May and June 2025, and captured insights into evolving APAC priorities across technology spend, sustainability, and governance.
