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Dreamforce 2026 Sees AIforce Unveiled as a Bold Opportunity for Both Salesforce and Its Partners

Douglas Hayward — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study shares the takeaways from Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce customer conference, held September 15–17 in San Francisco, California, United States. During the event, the company introduced AIforce, a live interface layer that enables users to access Customer 360 and Data 360 via Slack, Claude, Agentforce Coworker, and custom apps, signaling a shift toward intuitive, conversational enterprise software. Revised Agentforce pricing, deferred partner license charges, and the FDE Partner Network aim to deepen partner collaboration and reduce implementation risks, creating new opportunities for CX services providers to deliver value through data readiness, workflow design, and multisurface integration. “What if the future of enterprise software is not about logging in, but about intelligent conversational interfaces delivering business value from outside of the traditional app environment? That is the direction of travel for at least some users, and Salesforce’s services partners must plan accordingly,” says Douglas Hayward, senior research director for CX Strategies and Services at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Digital Identity Services 2026 Vendor Assessment

Joel Stradling — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study provides a comprehensive evaluation of global service providers supporting enterprise digital identity transformation. This assessment analyzes vendors across critical capabilities including identity governance and administration (IGA), privileged access management (PAM), access management (AM), customer identity and access management (CIAM), and emerging areas such as non-human identity (NHI) and AI-driven identity operations.

The study leverages IDC's rigorous MarketScape methodology, combining quantitative and qualitative criteria to assess vendor strategies, innovation, delivery models, ecosystem partnerships, and customer outcomes. This document highlights the increasing complexity of identity environments, the shift toward zero trust architectures, and the growing adoption of AI and automation to address operational efficiency, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Key findings include:

The market is highly competitive, with both global systems integrators and specialized managed service providers offering differentiated value propositions.
Enterprises are prioritizing modernization, automation, and unified identity fabrics to address hybrid, multicloud, and regulatory requirements.
Leaders demonstrate good execution, innovation in AI/ML, and the ability to deliver at scale across diverse industries and geographies.

This IDC MarketScape provides actionable guidance for organizations evaluating digital identity partners, emphasizing the importance of aligning provider capabilities with business objectives, regulatory needs, and future readiness for AI and non-human identity management.

"Given the complexity of modern identity systems and the breadth of requirements across IGA, PAM, AM, and CIAM, enterprises are increasingly turning to specialized managed service providers to streamline operations and reduce the burden on IT and security teams," said Joel Stradling, senior research director, Global Security and Trust at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Supply Chain Planning for Discrete Industries 2026 Vendor Assessment

Eric Thompson — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study uses the IDC MarketScape model to provide an assessment of providers participating in the worldwide supply chain planning market for discrete industries. The IDC MarketScape is an evaluation based on a comprehensive framework and a set of parameters that assesses providers relative to one another and to those factors expected to be most conducive to success in a given market during both the short term and the long term.

"Supply chain planning is a critical capability in a resilient discrete industry supply chain. The ability to plan demand and supply, while optimizing inventory positions, and then agreeing to a consensus plan through S&OP, are all critical components in managing an efficient and effective supply chain," says Eric Thompson, research director, Worldwide Supply Chain Planning at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Supply Chain Planning for Distribution Industries 2026 Vendor Assessment

Eric Thompson — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study uses the IDC MarketScape model to provide an assessment of providers participating in the worldwide supply chain planning market for distribution industries. This IDC MarketScape is an evaluation based on a comprehensive framework and a set of parameters that assesses providers relative to one another and to those factors expected to be most conducive to success in a given market during both the short term and the long term.

"Supply chain planning is a critical capability in a resilient distribution industry supply chain. Planning demand and supply, optimizing inventory positions, and then agreeing on a consensus plan through S&OP are all critical components of managing an efficient and effective supply chain," says Eric Thompson, research director, Global Supply Chain Planning at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Supply Chain Planning for Life Sciences Industries 2026 Vendor Assessment

Eric Thompson — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study uses the IDC MarketScape model to provide an assessment of providers participating in the worldwide supply chain planning market for life sciences industries. The IDC MarketScape is an evaluation based on a comprehensive framework and a set of parameters that assesses providers relative to one another and to those factors expected to be most conducive to success in a given market during both the short term and the long term.

"Supply chain planning is a critical capability in a resilient life sciences supply chain. The ability to pair an accurate demand forecast to a credible supply-side plan, while optimizing necessary inventory positions, and then agreeing to a consensus plan through S&OP, are all critical components in managing an efficient and effective supply chain," says Eric Thompson, research director, Worldwide Supply Chain Planning at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Vertical AI and Industry Cloud Professional Services 2026–2027 Vendor Assessment

Nadia Ballard — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study provides an assessment of select professional services vendors that offer vertical AI and industry cloud solutions and services. Using the IDC MarketScape model, we have based our evaluations on both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback from the vendors' partners and clients to build profiles that summarize each vendor's industry-specific strategy, current offerings, strengths, and opportunities.

"The record 17 vendors included in this year's document speak to the growing interest in AI-enabled vertical solutions and platforms among buyers, and the ongoing shift in service providers' delivery models toward more asset-based and automation-driven engagements," said Nadia Ballard, research director for AI Verticalization and Industry Cloud Strategies. "This updated and expanded study offers an objective assessment tool for organizations looking to engage their professional services partners in AI-first modernization of their most mission-critical, industry-specific systems and processes."

The Transformation Mandate Is Back Across EMEA Organizations, But Not as a Single Office

Lapo Fioretti — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Perspective examines two questions: whether AI is bringing back the transformation mandate and whether that mandate is returning through a central role or office. Drawing on IDC survey data and insights from IDC’s EMEA Digital Leaders Hub, it finds that the mandate is back, but there is no broad return of a dedicated office: the transformation mandate is instead spread across business units, shared teams, and new roles, with a central coordinator, most often the CIO. That form is better at driving execution, but leaves process redesign without a business owner, and short payback expectations pull it toward efficiency and technology delivery.

“The transformation office is not coming back at scale, but the transformation mandate is. Its real test is whether the business owns the redesign of its processes,” said Lapo Fioretti, EMEA lead analyst, AI-Fueled Business Strategies at IDC.

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Airlines Professional Services 2026–2027 Vendor Assessment

Ravikant Sharma — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study analyzed the solution offerings and go-to-market strategies of professional services firms that serve airlines and airports worldwide.

“Airlines and airports are under growing pressure to modernize passenger experience, operations, and enterprise systems, even as budgets and timelines stay tight. Given the scale and complexity of that work, they rely on professional services partners not just for delivery capacity but for owned platforms, AI-augmented delivery models, and pricing structures that reflect how the work actually gets done. Vendors that can pair that capability with durable technology partnerships and a track record in aviation standards work will be positioned to lead this market,” said Ravikant Sharma, research director, IDC Public Sector.

IDC FutureScape: Imaging 2027 Predictions

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC FutureScape highlights the top 10 predictions shaping the imaging market for the next five years.

"The imaging market is no longer defined by devices, but by the intelligence embedded in and around them. As AI moves into every layer of print and document infrastructure, printing devices become connected platforms that optimize user experiences, orchestrate business workflows, and drive future-ready compliance. Organizations that audit their fleets now, weigh security and compliance risks, and lock in favorable vendor terms will be best positioned to compete," said Robert Palmer, research vice president, Imaging, Printing, and Document Solutions.

IDC FutureScape: Quantum's Enterprise Agenda 2027 Predictions

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC FutureScape presents the 2027 predictions for quantum's enterprise agenda. Quantum computing is moving from isolated experiments toward production use, and how enterprises buy it will shape their results as much as the technology does. Quantum is becoming one part of a hybrid stack with AI and high-performance computing, and most organizations will reach it through cloud services and integrated platforms rather than their own hardware. That convenience has a cost. Dependence on a small number of providers, from development tools to sensors, makes switching harder over time. A shortage of quantum specialists is pushing firms toward AI-enabled platforms that let existing developers do more of the work. Security adds pressure because autonomous AI systems and sensitive data need protection against future quantum attacks. Supply constraints on scarce materials also reward buyers that avoid betting on a single hardware design. Pharmaceutical research leads early adoption. Technology leaders should prioritize portability, architectural flexibility, and early cryptographic planning.

"As quantum becomes invisibly integrated with AI and HPC, quantum advantage will evolve into enterprise advantage, delivering tangible business value through existing technology ecosystems." — Heather West, senior research manager and global quantum computing research lead, Semiconductor and Enabling Technologies, IDC