Report > The State of DevOps Report 2026
Conclusion
Mature DevOps Key to AI Success
DevOps is not dying. It is becoming the economic and operational foundation for AI at scale.
The data shows the same pattern across every domain: AI succeeds when delivery systems are standardized, centralized, automated, and measurable. Where those foundations are weak, AI magnifies existing gaps in coordination, governance, auditability, cost, and outcomes.
DevOps practices are widespread but uneven. This split explains why DevOps is simultaneously described as "solved" and "broken." For organizations with mature practices, DevOps works. For those with incomplete implementations, it doesn't. AI doesn't change this dynamic. It amplifies it, widening differences in outcomes, reliability, and cost.
Success requires commitment to maturing DevOps practices: standardizing workflows where consistency matters, centralizing governance where fragmentation creates risk, automating what can be automated, and building the measurement infrastructure that makes AI outcomes verifiable.
In this AI era, organizations doing the work to improve their DevOps maturity see AI compound their advantages. Those who skip it see AI multiply their inefficiencies.
Authors
Anjali Arora
EVP, Product & Development
As EVP of Product and Development, Anjali is responsible for product management and development. She has 27 years of experience leading global teams in dynamic environments from private equity growth to publicly traded companies, including Oracle, Allscripts, Rocket Software, and CA Technologies (now Broadcom). A champion for women in technology, Anjali is a high-energy leader with a history of bringing innovative products to market.
Anjali holds a B.A. from St. Stephen’s College in India and a master’s in Computer Applications from the University of Delhi.
Jake Hookom
Executive VP, Product Management
With over two decades of experience in product development, technology innovation, and business strategy, Jake is an accomplished leader with a proven track record of building world-class products. His visionary approach and passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences align seamlessly with our company values.
Stephanie Fairchild
Account Director & Strategist, Panterra Research
Stephanie is an account director and strategist at Panterra Research, where she leads tech-focused projects for enterprise and high-growth clients. She specializes in survey design, advanced quantitative and qualitative analysis, and turning complex technical trends, such as AI adoption, DevOps maturity, and cybersecurity risk, into clear, actionable narratives. With deep expertise in sample design and quality, she builds high-integrity research frameworks that power product strategy, executive decision-making, and market-shaping thought leadership. Stephanie’s work sits at the intersection of data, storytelling, and emerging technology, helping organizations understand not just what is happening in their markets, but why it matters.
About Perforce
Perforce Software delivers the modern DevOps tech stack built for high-stakes, revenue-critical applications where failure isn’t an option. Perforce empowers teams to design, deliver, and govern the AI ecosystem at the speed of light. Built on governance and context, Perforce solutions enforce guardrails across code, quality, infrastructure, and data—enabling innovation without introducing risk. With a global footprint spanning more than 80 countries and including over 75% of the Fortune 100, Perforce is the trusted partner for innovation. Harness the power of AI and accelerate your technology delivery without shortcuts.