Traditional technology analyst firms are facing growing skepticism from enterprises, especially after Gartner’s recent miss in its financial targets. For decades, these firms have shaped cloud computing and technology decisions, but their legacy is marred by a long history of biased and often inaccurate advice. The perception of “pay-to-play” ratings—where vendors may need to pay for favorable positions in reports—has eroded trust in the objectivity of their recommendations. Furthermore, analyst-led conferences are costly, frequently delivering more sales pitches than genuine strategic value, making enterprises question their return on investment.

Many companies can point to high-profile blunders and missed calls by these firms over the years, with some predictions leading to costly mistakes and failed technology adoptions. The rapid pace of technological change now means that real-time, community feedback and direct industry experience offer more reliable guidance than delayed analyst research. Enterprises are increasingly sourcing insights from peer networks and internal expertise, bypassing the need for expensive outside advisors.

While AI now offers objective, real-time data to aid cloud decisions, the larger issue is that the traditional analyst model no longer serves the needs of modern enterprises. The time has come to reconsider their role in critical technology strategy.