What is IT's role in owning budget for marketing/CX technologies in organization's today?

We currently function as a capability to our business partners or another capability partner.  I believe partnership is important, where IT can bring platforms alternatives, resources, security, identity, etc expertise in providing an outcome for marketing as an owner.  Ultimately, they own the spend in this example.

IT ownership becomes more relevant when technology crosses functions and departments. Integration often exceeds what marketers can oversee, necessitating IT's involvement. IT can act as the ears on the ground for cross-functional tools, ensuring smooth integration and operation. This alignment is crucial for broader organizational success.

I strongly believe that marketing should own the budget for marketing tools. This allows for better ROI tracking and accountability. However, IT should be a partner in this process, supporting the implementation and integration. The only exception is if the tool is used beyond marketing. In those cases, a shared budget might be more appropriate.

Co-ownership or shared responsibility between IT and marketing is beneficial. Marketing should budget for the tools they need, while IT handles implementation and management costs. This approach builds relationships and cohesiveness towards common goals. It ensures that neither group bears the full burden and promotes collaboration. Shared responsibility has worked well in my experience.

Personally, I prefer IT to be more of a consulting partner rather than owning the budget. Marketers need to push the envelope, while IT focuses on cost efficiency. It's about alignment and understanding the big goals. We need to hear IT's perspective but ultimately drive the marketing initiatives ourselves. This balance can lead to interesting debates but is necessary for progress.