UK software deployment delays cost IT teams GBP £107,000 a year

UK enterprises are experiencing an average of four months' delay on software deployments, incurring annual costs of GBP £107,000 per IT team according to a recent study by Gearset.

The research, which surveyed 200 enterprise IT decision makers across the UK, found that 82% of IT teams reported delays in software deployments, with performance lagging behind global benchmarks established by Google's DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) report.

On average, British businesses are deploying software just once every 29 days, with the deployment cycle further extended by an average delay of 3.8 months. The study also reported that the average lead time for software changes is 17 days and the time required to recover from a failed deployment stands at five days. These metrics are below industry standards seen in other markets.

A key reason identified for such delays is a shortage of resources, cited by 51% of respondents. The skills shortage in IT teams affects 87% of surveyed organisations, which impacts the ability of teams to use tools and processes that could alleviate existing pressure. The lack of skilled personnel also has a knock-on effect on automation capabilities, with 43% of respondents saying they are unable to implement or maintain automation tools due to these shortages.

Automation plays a significant role in streamlining software deployments, but the report found that 30% of delays can be attributed to the absence of automation in the development pipeline. Tackling this gap is made difficult by the ongoing skills shortage experienced across the sector.

The study highlighted a disconnect between business leaders and IT teams regarding the perception of software deployment success and the causes of delays. According to the research, business leaders claimed that software deployments at their organisations were far more likely to be delivered early rather than late (40% early versus 10% delayed). In contrast, team leaders reported a substantially higher rate of delayed deployments (52% delayed versus 2% early).

Business leaders were also unique in pointing to the development of artificial intelligence tools as a cause for deployment delays, with 54% citing AI development as a factor. This view was not shared by IT or team leaders, who instead highlighted inadequate automation as a primary cause of delays.

Jack McCurdy, DevOps Advocate at Gearset, commented on the findings: "IT teams in the UK are capable of performing at the elite level with the right people and tools, but misalignment and underinvestment is causing them to stall."

"Breaking the cycle of delays requires businesses to close the gap between leadership and IT teams, to ensure that deployments are considered as a core part of a business' wider strategy. IT teams know what needs fixing: better automation and more skilled staff. But unless IT teams and leadership can bridge the gap to align with those priorities, delays will continue to cost time, money and competitiveness."

The survey investigated enterprise IT organisations with more than 3,000 employees. The data was collected online by Sapio Research and forms part of Gearset's wider research into the state of software development and deployment practices within the UK.

The findings come at a time when the UK tech sector is under pressure to retain talent and prevent businesses from relocating operations abroad for more favourable conditions. Gearset's research suggests the ongoing issues with software deployment cycles may be contributing factors to these wider challenges in the sector.