KLAS Global HIT Trends 2026 Report: Artificial Intelligence Becomes the Top Investment Priority

AI as Top IT Investment Priority: The KLAS Global HIT Trends 2026 Report highlights artificial intelligence as the number one investment priority across international regions outside the U.S., capturing 57% of emerging tech focus.
Shift Towards Public Cloud Technology: There’s a significant shift towards active public cloud deployment with 73% of international health networks leveraging cloud environments, moving beyond storage to core clinical systems.
Decline in External Consulting Engagements: Organizations are increasingly relying on internal resources, with plans to hire external consultants dropping to 25%, marking a four-year low as budgets tighten.
Governance and Strategy for AI Implementation: Despite the high priority on AI, 37% of organizations are focusing on foundational AI strategies, governance frameworks, and data readiness before actual deployment.
Emergence of Ambient Voice Technology: Ambient clinical voice technologies dominate emerging technology interest, offering clear relief from clerical tasks and helping combat physician burnout.
Clinical Workflow Reimagining: Global health systems are pivoting towards more focused and streamlined neural infrastructures, emphasizing AI to handle labor shortages and patient volume surges.

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