CIO 100 Awards Showcase Technology’s Impact on Business
The annual CIO 100 Awards recognize exceptional IT initiatives that demonstrate technology’s ability to drive business value. The 2026 winners exemplify how strategic IT investments can transform operations, enhance customer experiences, and generate measurable returns.
This year’s cohort includes projects from diverse industries leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to solve complex challenges and create new opportunities. Several key themes emerged:
Democratizing AI Across the Enterprise
ABB’s ABBY platform allows employees to build and deploy custom AI agents for specific tasks, addressing concerns about job displacement while empowering workers with new capabilities. The initiative expanded from 100 users in 2025 to over 63,000 today—representing more than 75% of the company’s workforce.
Connecting Manufacturing Operations
Belcorp’s Smart Factory initiative digitized its manufacturing processes with a connected platform that provides real-time visibility and control. By integrating IoT devices, MES systems, and quality management tools, Belcorp achieved greater operational efficiency, reduced errors, and strengthened compliance—generating over $1 million in financial benefits in the first year.
Other Notable Initiatives:
- Cohesity’s replatforming enabled commercial growth following acquisitions by creating a unified data platform across disparate systems
- Projects focused on enhancing cybersecurity resilience, improving customer engagement through digital channels, and optimizing IT service delivery
The 2026 CIO 100 winners demonstrate that technology investments with clear business alignment can deliver significant value while positioning organizations for future success.
Want to learn more about these winning initiatives? Join us at the CIO 100 Awards & Conference in Frisco, TX—limited seats remain. Register here: [link removed]