2026 will prove whether AI checkout is here to stay
This Modern Retail article examines whether AI-powered checkout can move beyond experimentation and become a lasting part of retail operations. It highlights the balance between innovation, trust, and customer experience. Connect with Swerve Limited to discuss how AI can support the future of work in customer-facing environments.
According to a Deloitte survey, 65% of CIOs now report directly to CEOs, a significant increase from 41% a decade ago. This shift indicates a transformation in how technology leadership is perceived within organizations.
CIOs as Strategic Leaders
The research shows that 66% of CIOs who report directly to the CEO believe this positioning enables them to contribute to driving business strategy and results, reflecting their evolving role from technical managers to strategic leaders.
Perception of Tech Departments
The survey reveals a split perception of tech departments, with 52% of respondents viewing them as revenue generators, while 48% see them primarily as service centers. This division highlights the ongoing debate about the role of technology in driving business growth.

2026 will prove whether AI checkout is here to stay
published by Swerve Limited
Swerve is a responsive, 100% Kiwi-owned technology business. We are headquartered in Auckland and service clients across New Zealand.
Our customers are diverse, from the engineering firms that build the infrastructure of the nation, to the Hobbiton team in Middle-earth that warm the hearts of countless international (and local) visitors.
No matter their business, each client enjoys big team capability, delivered with small team agility - and the simplicity of one responsive IT partner for everything.
We believe IT matters
Our purpose: To put people at the heart of technology, as we design, deliver, and support exceptional IT experiences that keep business humming.
Swerve was founded in 1999 and for over 25 years we've taken care of technology because we know IT matters.
IT matters because it powers the engine rooms of the Kiwi economy. Businesses like yours, that is.
IT matters because it protects IP, data, and the lifeblood of livelihoods in an age of sophisticated cyber crime. IT matters for productivity, for communication, for healthy communities, and for everything that keeps New Zealand humming in a digital world.