Annual Report
STATE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
LEVERAGING MOMENTUM
As 2025 begins, digital transformation (DX) continues to shape the competitive landscape across industries in Asia-Pacific. Organisations navigate a constantly evolving technological landscape, where agility, innovation and resilience are no longer competitive advantages but essential capabilities for survival.
The convergence of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, machine learning and automation technologies has accelerated the pace of change, enabling businesses to reimagine processes, enhance customer experiences and unlock new revenue streams. This progress, however, comes with heightened challenges, including cybersecurity risks, regulatory complexities, talent shortages and sustainable requirements.
For C-suite leaders, the stakes have never been higher. Decisions about technology investments are not just about staying current—they define the trajectory of the organisation’s growth, efficiency and relevance in an increasingly competitive global market. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of digital transformation in 2025, highlighting key trends, and actionable insights to guide strategic decisions.
Digital business transformation is not just about technology—it is about creating value and securing long-term growth. As you read this report, consider how the digital transformation trends outlined can help your organisation achieve its strategic goals and thrive in an ever-evolving market.
DIGITAL LEADERS in Asia-pacific transform AND Thrive
Navigating Economic Uncertainty
Spending plans for 2025 reflect a deliberate and systematic approach to driving growth and resilience as organisations refine their digital transformation strategies.
Macroeconomic factors such as inflation and ongoing talent shortages continue to influence strategic decision-making. Our research examines how organisations manage these dynamics, balancing ambitious transformation goals with pragmatic financial and operational planning to position themselves for long-term success.
Systematic Approach to Spending
Organisations anticipate inflationary pressures and talent shortages to impact spending, but confidence is high that digital transformation investments will meet the expected return on investments.
of organisations plan to increase technology spend in 2025.
Shifting Priorities in Digital Transformation Goals
Improving customer experience has been a core tenant of digital transformation trends in the last several years and remains a priority, however this year it has been supplanted by four other digital transformation goals.
For 2025, organisations will focus on enhancing employee productivity and reducing operational inefficiency. While percentage differences are negligible, they’re a good indicator of how organisations may shift focus to addressing processes fraught with inefficiencies and implementing tools—particularly artificial intelligence—that improve productivity as they seek competitive advantage and return to profitability. AI technologies grab the headlines, but the drag of technical debt remains a burden organisations must address.
Although digital transformation can greatly enhance employee productivity by optimising workflows and automating tasks, it is crucial for organisations to remain attentive to the effects of new digital tools and processes on employee experience.
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202520242023Top DX Goals in Asia-Pacific
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32%**Enhance employee performance / productivity.
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31%36%36%Reduce operational inefficiency.
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31%28%28%Replace or upgrade legacy IT systems.
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30%41%42%Improve customer experience and engagement.
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30%38%32%Transform existing business processes.
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28%**Gain competitive advantage.
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27%34%30%Increase / achieve innovation.
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21%23%30%Introduce new business models / revenue streams.
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18%24%31%Increase speed to market of existing products or services.
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18%23%23%Introduce new products or services.
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17%29%22%Bolster cybersecurity.
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14%23%16%Improve employee experience.
Navigating the Complexities of Digital Transformation
Digital transformation efforts present significant challenges that organisations must strategically navigate. As companies strive to leverage new technologies and realise the value of enterprise transformation, they face numerous obstacles within increasingly complex technical and business environments. The complexity of current environments and siloed mindsets ranks first.
Creating a culture of continuous learning and upskilling or reskilling the workforce has become more pressing ranking second. Additionally, high or unforeseen costs associated with digital business transformation have risen as a concern up two spots, placing third.
Aligning digital transformation with business objectives and KPIs has also grown in importance, up six places from last year.
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202520242023Top Challenges in Asia-Pacific
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162Operating-model transformation complications (current business process are too rigid).
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211Complexity of current environment / siloed mindset and behaviours.
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35*Creating a culture of continuous learning / upskilling or reskilling workforce.
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473Gaps in technical talent.
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536High or unforeseen costs associated with digital transformation.
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6810Change management and implementation complications / aversion to risk.
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7**Lack of strategy around digital initiatives.
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825Security concerns and compliance constraints.
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99*Lack of internal alignment (digital vs. traditional business)
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104*Aligning digital transformation with business objectives / KPIs.
PEOPLE, PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY
The Digital Business transformation Framework:
of organisations report needing many new types of talent, or the need to completely revise the nature of their talent base.
People: Building a Modern Workforce for the Future
Technology skills gaps are not exclusive to the IT department; they transcend the entire organisation. Use of artificial intelligence, low-code/no-code development platforms, and data visualisation tools means every employee must be equipped with the right skills to be productive in a digital organisation.
To bridge skills gaps, companies need innovative and comprehensive talent strategies. This approach enables them to acquire and develop crucial skills to modernise their workforce.
organisations say it takes 10+ months to fill IT roles.
Process: Taking an Iterative Approach to Business Transformation
The strategic use of technology to innovate and scale business processes is a core tenant of digital transformation initiatives. Organisations must take an iterative approach, involving strategic planning, continuous design, prototyping, feedback loops and refinement. This approach ensures business outcomes are fully optimised to realise their value potential.
Technology: Transformation Enabled by the Cloud With AI-Driven Innovation
As digital transformation accelerates in 2025, organisations increasingly will use technology as a key competitive advantage. Cloud computing serves as the foundation of these transformation efforts, with cloud-native platforms essential for agility, scalability and innovation. Cloud-native platforms are included in the most impactful technology over the next 12 to 24 months, underscoring their vital role in enabling seamless operations and fostering innovation.
These technologies provide flexibility and scalability for businesses to adapt to shifting market demands, support hybrid work models and accelerate development cycles. Their widespread adoption reflects their ability to serve as a foundation for other transformative technologies, such as AI, automation and analytics.
Top five most impactful technologies for organisations over the next 12 to 24 Months
- Artificial Intelligence and machine learning tools (48%)
- Automation technologies (42%)
- Big data analytics (37%)
- Generative AI tools (35%)
- Software as a Service (SaaS) (33%)
Gen AI tools are the most likely to be piloted in 2025, with 27% of organisations experimenting with them. This enthusiasm stems from their potential to revolutionise content creation, enhance customer experiences and automate complex tasks. The fact that 18% of organisations have already scaled Gen AI to multiple units or across the enterprise signals its transformative impact. However, organisations must identify and define specific business outcomes for AI to get the expected ROI. These tools rapidly reshape workflows and offer personalisation solutions, advanced data analysis and real-time decision-making.
As digital transformation advances, organisations will prioritise technologies that provide both immediate productivity improvements and long-term scalability. Cloud-native platforms, IaaS and Gen AI tools are central to these initiatives, allowing businesses to innovate quickly and adapt to changing market conditions. By the end of 2025, the convergence of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and automation will create a more agile, efficient and innovative enterprise landscape.
state of artifical intelligence
AI Powered Transformation
Artificial intelligence is an essential driver of digital transformation, empowering organisations to innovate, enhance efficiency and assert their competitiveness in the market. As businesses confront the challenges of evolving market demands, AI—especially generative AI—emerges as a valuable tool for achieving strategic objectives.
Thirty-five percent of organisations intend to leverage Gen AI in 2025, accentuating its pivotal role in digital transformation strategies. This widespread adoption reflects a belief of AI’s capacity to unlock new value and optimise operations.
of organisations plan to ramp up AI-related expenditures in 2025.
Improving employee productivity is a primary focus for organisations, directly aligned with the top goals of digital transformation. AI-driven solutions are being actively implemented to automate repetitive tasks, enhance decision-making and deliver real-time insights. This approach not only liberates employees to focus on higher-value initiatives but also significantly boosts efficiency and job satisfaction while driving innovation. Organisations can ultimately balance AI’s strengths with irreplaceable human capabilities like critical thinking and creativity.
Primary Use Cases and Challenges of AI Technologies
As businesses intensify their investments in AI, decision-makers must establish robust infrastructure, data strategies and governance frameworks. By strategically embracing AI technologies, organisations can accelerate their digital transformation journeys and achieve concrete gains in productivity, agility and long-term growth.
TEKsystems' Tips to Digital Transformation Success
CONCLUSION
Mastering the Momentum
Digital transformation remains essential for businesses to succeed in a fast-changing market. Cloud computing, generative AI and automation technologies help improve efficiency, encourage innovation and focus on customer needs. Digital leaders take the initiative by using these tools strategically and connecting them to clear business goals to achieve measurable ROI.
Organisations face challenges in this process. Talent shortages, outdated technology and the change management struggles highlight why investing in people, processes and technology is crucial for ongoing transformation efforts. Companies must also balance short-term gains, like increased productivity, with long-term goals, such as building resilience and agility.
As you consider the insights in this report, understand that taking a systematic, outcome-focused approach to digital transformation can help your organisation grow and succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
About the Research Overview
TEKsystems conducted an online survey from November to December 2024 with 855 technology and business decision-makers. Respondents included members of the C-suite, company executives, vice presidents, directors and managers who have final decision-making authority and/or influence on their organisation’s digital transformation efforts. The sample includes a balance of decision-makers in enterprise IT and line-of-business functions in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, India, Singapore, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom across a broad spectrum of industries.
Digital transformation is the strategic use of technology to innovate business processes, foster a forward-thinking culture and elevate customer experiences, all in response to shifting market demands.
Response details by market
- Asia-Pacific (n=220)
- Australia (n=60)
- China (n=59)
- India (n=51)
- Singapore (n=50)
About TEKsystems
We’re partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a committed team working with over 6,000 clients across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. As an industry leader in talent solutions and technology services, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That’s the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.
