Business Continuity Institute report explores future of resilience sector

This ‘future leaning’ report reveals the expectation that resilience will shift from being viewed as a costly response to disruption to a profit enabler that delivers measurable business value.

Key drivers of this expectation include the ability of robust resilience practices to reduce financial outlay, the optimisation of processes through greater understanding of the organisation and its potential to provide effective reputational protection.

Also identified as a key area of future change for the sector is that most think the role of resilience practitioners will evolve to include more understanding of regulatory requirements, the adoption of new technologies and closer cross-functional collaboration.

Overall, the approach to long-term resilience is expected to become more collaborative and shaped by supporting technologies with an increased emphasis on soft skills.

Clear and effective measurement

Performance indicators are expected to transform, indicating the need for a stronger focus on clear and effective measurement in the sector, while practitioners also anticipate top future resilience manager skills will combine strategic insight with practical expertise, particularly so knowledge of the supply chain, which is expected to surpass the need for understanding of cyber security and geopolitical issues.

The profession is also preparing for significant technological advancements. Over the next five years, practitioners anticipate the adoption of new tools and methodologies to enhance resilience planning. These include Artificial Intelligence-driven predictive risk management tools and advanced scenario simulation and planning software in addition to real-time analytics and dashboard solutions for risk monitoring.

In support of these exciting transformations is a strong consensus from the sector that a chief resilience officer role is essential to support the profession’s evolution, positioning resilience firmly at the executive level to ensure that it’s always driven from the top.

Bold step ahead

Maria Florencia Lombardero Garcia, thought leadership manager at the BCI, explained: “Vision 2030 marks a bold step ahead for the resilience profession, shining a light on a future where resilience is not just about withstanding disruption, but about unlocking potential, driving innovation and building stronger more adaptive organisations.”

Dr Stefanie Hauer, senior vice-president of commercial at F24, observed: “As proud sponsor of the Vision 2030 document, we’re excited to contribute towards a long-term perspective on resilience. The developments outlined in this report are particularly exciting. The increasing regulatory complexity, the rising importance of soft skills and the growing emphasis on cross-functional collaboration reflect the need for a more integrated and forward-looking approach to resilience.”

The complete report includes comprehensive statistics and further in-depth insights into how the role of resilience is expected to evolve by 2030.

*Copies of the report can be downloaded from the BCI’s website at www.thebci.org