Enterprise Horizons 2025: A glimpse into the future
Ben Elms
Chief Executive Officer
As we navigate through 2025, the global business landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. At Expereo, we are committed to staying at the forefront of these changes, providing our customers with the insights and tools they need to handle the complexities of the modern business world. It’s therefore with great excitement that we today announce the launch of Enterprise Horizons 2025, the third edition of a comprehensive analysis of the key trends and data points shaping the future of business technology.
This year’s report, once again in collaboration with IDC, surveyed more than 650 global technology leaders across Europe, US and APAC, to analyze the key business challenges they expect to face over the next twelve months and the key areas for growth. From AI investments to security, this year’s results offer intriguing insights into the minds of some of the world’s top technology leaders.
AI expectation v reality
Over the past two years, AI has become a transformative force in businesses big and small. This year’s report reveals that 84% of global businesses are now utilizing AI within their organizations, with only 12% reporting that it has fallen short of expectations. Overall, this paints a promising picture for the future of AI, especially as two thirds of businesses believe it will positively impact costs.
That said, the journey towards AI integration is not without its challenges. A significant 33% of global technology leaders feel that their boards have unrealistic expectations regarding the impact of AI on business performance – albeit lower than the 47% who stated this last year. But in addition, 43% of businesses cite concerns over AI governance and ethics as major obstacles (up from 36% last year), alongside resistance from employees (35% - up from 25% in 2024) and the rapid pace of technological change (34%).
Equally, infrastructure remains a critical issue, with 52% of organizations indicating that their network and connectivity infrastructure is not ready to support new technology initiatives. This is compounded by the fact that 94% of companies say their networks limit their ability to run large data/AI project in some aspect.
Despite these challenges, the focus on AI has significantly raised the profile of technology leaders at board level, with 79% reporting an increase in their personal profile – up from 60% last year. And interestingly, while 40% of tech leaders in 2024 believed that a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) role would take over many of the CIO's responsibilities within two years, 87% of businesses have not yet hired a CAIO.
Urgent network upgrades required
Our research also indicates that half of companies' networks are outdated, leading to serious resilience issues and financial impacts. Over the past 12 months, more than half of organizations have experienced financial losses due to network downtime or poor performance. But only half of these organizations believe their networks are ready to support new technology initiatives. Network problems are not only common but also costly, with nearly all (93%) companies that have yet to upgrade their networks feeling direct financial impacts. Additionally, sourcing global networks presents significant challenges, particularly in regions like LatAm, the Middle East, and Africa.
To address these issues, companies are increasingly turning to external partners. Networking is the second most challenging area after cybersecurity for finding or retaining skills. And instead of upgrading these in-house, companies are looking to managed service providers to bridge these gaps. Networking is also the top area in which companies are looking to increase their use of partners. Many organizations already planning to rely more on external partners for networking improvements. This trend is shifting networking from an in-house activity to a managed service delivered by trusted partners. By leveraging external expertise, companies can ensure their networks are resilient, scalable, and capable of supporting future technology initiatives.
Looking ahead
As we launch the Enterprise Horizons 2025 report, we are optimistic about the future. This year’s report offers businesses a strategic insight into the issues and challenges impacting global business leaders, some of which they may be experiencing themselves. The trends we've identified, from AI integration to network stability and skills shortages, are critical areas that will shape the future of business.
We are committed to staying ahead of these trends and providing our customers with the solutions they need to succeed, wherever they are located around the world. Our focus on innovation, robust infrastructure, and strategic partnerships positions us to support businesses in overcoming obstacles and seizing new opportunities. By better understanding the challenges facing global businesses that this report brings to life, organizations will be able to make more informed decisions to overcome the issues in front of them, driving growth and resilience in the process.
Download Enterprise Horizons 2025
We invite you to explore the full report and join us in shaping the future of business technology. Download the full report here and together, we can overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities on the horizon.