What’s driving the next wave of tech innovation?
As organizations accelerate digital initiatives to seize new growth opportunities, technology leaders face the dual challenge of driving innovation while managing risk. Today, AI has evolved beyond a trending topic to become a transformative force deeply embedded in many technology stacks. Yet, there are many other technologies that leaders must keep in sight to navigate the future effectively. Drawing from extensive research and industry insights, Wavestone’s Technology Watch consolidates 12 key trends to help CTOs build their 2025 technology roadmap. These trends offer a strategic lens for evaluating both immediate optimizations and long-term transformations.
Foundations for a resilient IT ecosystem
Empowering business transformation
Driving human-centric progress in a digital age
1. Cloud & multi-cloud strategies
Cloud costs continue to soar, pushing spending optimization to the forefront of business priorities. Organizations now understand a fundamental truth: relying on a single cloud provider can’t address their full spectrum of strategic needs. A carefully crafted multi-cloud roadmap not only helps manage costs but also mitigates risks, supports cross-border operations, and accelerates innovation. This is especially critical in today’s landscape of increasing geopolitical and regulatory pressures.

Key trends
Organizations are increasingly adopting a balanced approach between public and private cloud infrastructures. This strategic shift enables cost optimization while maintaining operational flexibility across regions. By thoughtfully distributing workloads, businesses strengthen their resilience and enhance disaster recovery capabilities.
The deployment of computational resources closer to end-users is revolutionizing service delivery. This approach significantly reduces latency and bandwidth costs while ensuring consistent performance for time-critical applications. Industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics are seeing particular benefits, where even millisecond improvements can make a huge difference.
Adopting sovereign cloud strategies to better manage regulatory compliance, reduce legal risks, and maintain customer trust in data protection. Sovereignty also ensures business continuity in the face of unexpected geopolitical disruptions, positioning companies as resilient and reliable in uncertain environments.
2. Cybersecurity evolution & resilience
Cyber threats are not just technical issues, they pose significant risks to business operations, reputation, and even national security. Embedding resilience at the core of a digital strategy enables organizations to quickly adapt to emerging risks, protect critical assets, and ensure operational continuity. In a volatile environment, resilient cybersecurity is not just a defensive measure; it’s a business enabler, ensuring agility and trust in a world of constant change.

Key trends
Artificial intelligence has become a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies, requiring to security new AI usage and at the same time to use AI to boost cyber activities, as the cybercriminals are using AI as well to speed up their attacks. Cyber teams need to increase their knowledge around these new technologies, update their framework and testing strategy and work jointly with risk, privacy and data scientists’ team to build a trustworthy AI.
Beyond prevention, organizations must ensure their systems can recover swiftly from disruptions. IS resilience encompasses robust backup protocols, disaster recovery plans, and supply chain risk management, helping maintain business continuity in the face of cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or geopolitical volatility.
This paradigm shifts from traditional perimeter-based security to a model of continuous verification. Every user, device, and application must prove its legitimacy at every access point, effectively closing vulnerability gaps. By implementing strict least-privilege policies and micro-segmentation, organizations significantly reduce the attack surface.
3. Data democratization & governance
Data excellence stands at the core of market leadership in our digital economy. The disconnect between data’s potential and its actual business value continues to widen. Most organizations struggle with scattered, unreliable data infrastructure, leading to operational bottlenecks, compliance risks, and weakened market positions. The market leaders take a different path – they completely reimagine their data architecture. They build strong governance frameworks, make data accessible through self-service tools, and weave security into the very fabric of their systems. This approach empowers teams to make fast, data-driven decisions across the entire organization. In our increasingly volatile markets, superior data capabilities make the crucial difference. Top performers leverage these capabilities to create lasting competitive advantages that grow stronger over time.

Key trends
This paradigm shifts from centralized data ownership to a decentralized model where data is organized around business domains. By empowering teams to manage their own data as a product, organizations foster accessibility, cross-functional collaboration, and faster decision-making. This approach breaks down silos and enables a more agile, scalable way to harness enterprise data.
The convergence of data lakes and data warehouses into unified platforms is transforming how businesses handle analytics and insights. These platforms streamline data integration, reduce duplication, and enable faster, more accurate decision-making by providing a single source of truth for both structured and unstructured data.
With regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and others becoming more strict, organizations must prioritize data privacy and compliance. Advanced technologies such as automated data masking, encryption, and AI-driven compliance monitoring are critical to meeting these requirements while maintaining customer trust and avoiding costly penalties.
4. 5G and beyond
While non-standalone 5G was all about more bandwidth, stand-alone 5G and private deployment models open a path to transformative applications. Organizations investing early in advanced in these technologies can gain a decisive edge, particularly in businesses where wireless, reliability and automation are keys for a competitive advantage. Meanwhile, telcos are racing into complex transitions (cloud-native architecture, service quality assurance, monetization models) to deliver promised 5G business-class services on top of their radio coverage.

Key trends
Operators are transitioning from Non-Standalone (4G core) to true cloud-native 5G cores, unlocking low latency, network slicing, and mobile edge computing capabilities, as well as hybrid (public/private) deployment models.
Industrial sites and logistics hubs are deploying dedicated radio infrastructure to ensure reliable, secure and performant connectivity required for critical core-business use-cases.
Pilots in 5G SA and private deployments are addressing multiple verticals : industry 4.0, logistics & mining (automated vehicles), ports & airports, public safety (critical communications) and utilities (enhanced remote control & operations).
5. Generative AI & AI agents
Generative AI has the potential to significantly accelerate innovation cycles, a critical advantage in today’s fast-paced business landscape. However, to fully harness its potential, organizations must implement robust safeguards to address risks, ensuring AI-driven processes remain transparent, equitable, and aligned with corporate values.

Key trends
Generative AI is significantly enhancing productivity in the workplace and evolving into a strategic driver of business transformation. It is reshaping core processes, from optimizing supply chains through predictive modeling to elevating customer experiences via hyper-personalization. These innovations are unlocking entirely new opportunities across industries.
AI is progressing beyond conversational capabilities. Emerging “agents” will soon manage entire workflows, pulling data, generating content, and initiating follow-up actions with minimal human intervention. Specialized “copilots” take this further by integrating proprietary enterprise data, providing deeper context and more precise outcomes. As these agents evolve from semi-autonomous (requiring human oversight) to fully autonomous (with task orchestration determined by the agent), organizations must revisit their governance structures, data frameworks, and risk management strategies.
6. Industry 5.0
As industries face increasing challenges—ranging from supply chain disruptions to labor shortages—embracing a human-centered technological approach becomes essential. Industry 5.0 bridges the gap between human flexibility and machine precision, fostering innovation and adaptability in volatile market conditions. This evolution should lead to greater sponsorship involvement, better collaboration between business departments, and more meaning given to everyone’s initiatives and jobs. This is an exciting and necessary development for industry in 2025!

Key trends
Industry 5.0 is a healthy yet challenging evolution in practices. By embracing a more conscious and responsible quest for performance, manufacturers are now able to assess it more finely. While energy efficiency may previously have been a matter of conviction or risk management, it is now directly incorporated into – and not alongside – operational performance, in the service of a true economic reality. It is therefore part of a longer-term approach. The challenge is to directly valorize in industrial performance approaches such as skills management, limiting staff turnover, reducing carbon footprints, material sobriety, etc., which are still sometimes perceived as reactions to out-ofthe-ground regulations.
While Industry 4.0 emphasized digitalization and efficiency, Industry 5.0 takes a step further by incorporating solutions that enhance human creativity, collaboration, and well-being. What’s more, employee well-being should be seen as a guarantee of real productivity. In a slightly futuristic vision, this could include designing employee-centric systems, fostering sustainable practices, and creating environments where technology supports—not replaces—human ingenuity. For instance, adaptive workstations and AI-driven collaboration tools can empower workers to focus on higher-value, creative tasks.
7. Quantum ecosystems, beyond computing
Although still in its early stages, quantum technology signals a future of unparalleled innovation. Organizations that invest now in quantum research, pilot projects, and ecosystem partnerships position themselves as leaders in industries where complex optimization problems or long-term data security are critical. Early adoption not only secures a competitive edge but also prepares businesses to navigate the transformative potential of quantum technology as it matures.

Key trends
Quantum computing is unlocking solutions for complex challenges in areas like logistics, cryptography, and materials science. For example, quantum algorithms can optimize supply chain networks far beyond current capabilities, design novel materials with unprecedented properties, or solve complex simulations critical for drug discovery. These applications hold transformative potential across industries.
The advances in quantum computing could make current encryption methods obsolete. Quantum-safe encryption technologies are emerging as a countermeasure to protect sensitive data from future quantum threats. By adopting these protocols early, organizations can safeguard long-term data security while staying ahead of evolving cyber risks.
8. Workforce Transformation
Talent shortages and changing skills requirements are challenges faced by all business sectors. A robust workforce transformation strategy not only addresses today’s skill gaps but also prepares organizations to pivot quickly in the face of economic, competitive, or technological shifts, securing sustainable growth.

Key trends
The shift to hybrid and remote work is fueling the evolution of AI-driven collaboration platforms and next-generation tools. These platforms enhance team connectivity, streamline workflows, and empower employees to collaborate seamlessly regardless of location. By integrating AI, organizations can personalize workflows, automate routine tasks, and create a more efficient and inclusive work environment.
As technology continues to disrupt traditional roles, companies are investing in upskilling and reskilling programs to prepare their workforce for the future. Development in areas such as AI, cloud computing, data engineering, and cybersecurity ensures that employees stay relevant and competitive in an increasingly tech-driven job market. These programs not only address skill gaps but also help organizations foster a culture of continuous learning.
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), generative AI, and automation are enhancing individual and team performance by providing immersive training experiences, real-time data insights, and intelligent support. These technologies allow employees to access tools, information, and assistance more quickly, improving decision-making and performance in complex tasks.
9. Low-code / No-code platforms
Low-code/no-code strategies drive agility and innovation, but require governance to balance speed with security and coherence. A well-structured framework supports rapid development while ensuring compliance and system integrity, enabling organizations to benefit from decentralized innovation without compromising quality.

Key trends
Low-code/no-code platforms enable “citizen developers” to create tailored solutions quickly by their own, reducing reliance on IT and accelerating development cycles. The challenge for IT teams is to successfully manage the flow of citizen-created applications through effective governance.
While enabling faster application development, low-code/no-code platforms require companies to maintain control over data security, integration points and overall system architecture. By establishing policies for data handling, access controls and application deployment, companies can mitigate risk while enabling innovation. IT Teams have the key role to ensure that citizen-developed applications respect company standards and infrastructure to maintain a high level of coherence and preventing fragmentation across systems.
10. Post-Web3 & meta-economies
Although some Web3 initiatives have faced setbacks, its foundational ideas continue to resonate, particularly in an era where digital trust and transparency are increasingly important. As these concepts mature, they could drive innovation by enabling new business models, revenue streams, and cross-industry collaborations. Embracing these next-generation technologies offers companies the chance to differentiate themselves by capitalizing on decentralization, trust, and user empowerment—transforming the way industries operate and interact in the digital economy.

Key trends
While early Web3 projects struggled with regulatory challenges and unclear return on investment (ROI), the underlying principles—openness, decentralization, and trust—remain valuable. Businesses are now looking for practical Web3 applications that can be integrated into their existing ecosystems, particularly in areas like supply chain transparency, decentralized finance (DeFi), and digital identity verification. These solutions are being designed to scale and provide tangible business advantages without the drawbacks of early Web3 ventures.
As businesses explore new opportunities, the concept of meta-economies is gaining traction. This involves creating interoperable platforms where data ownership is decentralized and tokenization enables new forms of digital value exchange. By focusing on user-centric data models and creating economies based on digital assets, businesses are unlocking possibilities for new revenue streams and collaborative ecosystems. Tokenization of assets, for instance, can enhance liquidity and accessibility, while decentralized platforms enable more direct user participation in the value creation process.
11. Hyperautomation & AI-orchestrated ecosystems
Hyperautomation goes beyond just improving isolated workflows—it orchestrates entire business ecosystems in real-time. This capability allows organizations to eliminate inefficiencies, accelerate time-to-market, and deliver superior customer experiences. In a fast-changing competitive landscape, these advances are essential for companies seeking to gain a competitive edge and remain agile in a context of uncertainty.

Key trends
The integration of cognitive AI with digital twin technology is revolutionizing industries by simulating real-world systems and processes. By combining sensor data with predictive models, businesses can anticipate issues before they occur, optimize operations in real-time, and make smarter decisions. Digital twins, in particular, allow organizations to replicate physical assets or processes digitally, providing valuable insights that drive better performance and lower costs.
The advanced orchestration of business processes by AI systems goes beyond simply automating repetitive tasks. In this vision, AI acts as a central coordinator, intelligently managing the flow of operations, making decisions, and driving optimization across the entire organization in real time. This approach connects various automation tools, human inputs, and organizational data sources into a unified, dynamic ecosystem that continuously adapts and improves.
12. Next-generation sustainable IT
Besides a ESG backlash growing movement in the US, Sustainability has become a strategic imperative, driven by regulatory requirements, consumer demand, and growing investor expectations. Adopting next-generation sustainable IT enables organizations to align profitability with environmental and societal impact, fostering long-term growth while building trust with customers, employees, and investors. By prioritizing sustainable technologies, businesses not only improve their environmental footprint but also strengthen their brand reputation, positioning themselves as leaders in the transition to a more sustainable future.

Key trends
It’s essential not to be technocentric, and to question and evaluate uses in relation to their benefits and environmental/social impacts. Guaranteeing ethics and complying with regulations are also essential.
The IT Department is becoming a key player in the ESG area, by providing the tools and high-performance data bases. It must contribute to prioritizing needs in this area and establishing the main investment priorities. The issues surrounding ESG data also raise architectural questions that should not be overlooked. The key here for the IT Department is to ensure ESG reporting and regulatory disclosure constraints (CSRD, Taxonomy, etc.) are consistent and to be able to derive maximum benefit from the data, as well as to support development of business opportunities.
Author
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Rémi Taniwaki
Associate Partner – France, Paris
Wavestone
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