Our 2025 theme – "Sink or Sprint" – encapsulates the critical inflection point facing organisations today, where rapid technological adaptation has become essential for survival, not just growth. This urgency is amplified by the current macroeconomic and geopolitical climate.

Despite the UK's Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projecting modest economic growth through 2024-2025, organisations must capitalise on this narrow window of opportunity before anticipated headwinds intensify from 2026 onward. Meanwhile, escalating global instability is driving organisations to strengthen their operational resilience in preparation for future disruptions.

We are witnessing organisations take a more measured approach to their technology investments, particularly in AI and GenAI deployment. The focus has shifted from experimentation to execution, with businesses demanding clear evidence that their technological investments deliver tangible financial returns.

Organisations that have already established solid digital foundations find themselves advantageously positioned to accelerate, while others risk falling irretrievably behind. Success in this landscape will demand not merely speed, but precision – choosing the right use cases, deploying appropriate tools, and ensuring robust security measures.

Read the launch report