Business and Technology Annual Report

See how business leaders are approaching IT in 2025.

From cybersecurity to artificial intelligence to process automation, technology initiatives are at the center of business strategic growth plans for 2025. Our recent survey found that a staggering 98.4% of company executives predict they’ll need to increase IT staffing to meet business demands, either through in-house professionals, outside vendors, or a combination of both.

But where, exactly, are businesses making those strategic investments? Our survey report explores not only how companies are thinking about their technology goals but also how they’re aligning existing resources and new investments to maintain a competitive edge. Many organizations face a misalignment of definitions and priorities between IT teams and operational decision makers. Use cases, particularly for AI, are often unclear as businesses rush into the adoption of new products without first identifying a problem they need to solve.

Seventy-five percent of company executives we surveyed agreed that information technology is a core component of their organization’s success, with 44% of all executives saying IT is the underlying enabler and driver of their business. Executives were twice as likely as contractors or entry-level employees to describe IT as a core component of driving new revenue streams, building customer loyalty, and creating a competitive advantage. This suggests that company leaders with a big-picture view of corporate strategy and financials are more likely to make decisions about technology in the workplace, and they are generally more inclined to view technology-driven initiatives favorably.

In order to enact those initiatives, however, organizations need a strategic plan that involves all stakeholders and teams. With the rapid pace of technology development, many leaders end up looking left and right at what their peers are doing rather than looking critically at what’s best for their long-term growth.

“The real question isn’t how you compare to others in your industry, but whether you’re leveraging technology to its fullest potential to innovate, adapt, and drive growth.”

Aaron Sherrill

TenHats CTO

Regarding IT budgets, 55% of survey respondents indicated that their company is continuing to increase its investment in IT to exceed the expectations of employees, customers, and partners, as well as to enhance revenue generation, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. While this trend appears promising, 56% of IT professionals identified resource constraints as the primary challenge they face in aligning IT with broader business objectives.

Business leaders face a challenge: How can they align their company’s objectives with the realities of staffing and resource constraints? Is there ever a number that feels like enough to IT teams that have limitless possibilities for digital transformation? Differing priorities and poor communication were rated at the top two challenges company executives face when aligning IT with business objectives.