KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights

Tech:Aboldsectorthatinnovateswhileleadingbyexample

KPMG.MaketheDifference.

KPMGInternational|

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Executivesummary

Thedigitaltransformationjourneyisanimportantstrategic

considerationforallsectors,nonemoresothantechnology.

Thismeansthetechsectorhastodotwothingssimultaneously:leadbyexampleandrethinkitsownstrategies.

Yet,likeallindustries,thetechsectoralsofaceschallenges—

andopportunities—intherapidlyevolvingtechlandscape.Forexample,the

KPMG2024TechnologyandTelecommunications

CEOOutlook

showedthat,in2024,atop-threechallengefor

techandtelecommunicationsCEOshasbeentheadoptionofgenerativeAI.1

Thetechsector’spositionaheadofothersectorscanbe

attributedtoitsformulaforsuccess.Muchofthetechsector’saccomplishmentsaretheresultofdisciplineandtargeted

investments.Throughstrategicspendingdecisions,suchas

theprioritizationofAIandenvironmental,socialandgovernance(ESG)activities,theindustryhasbecomeskilledatprotectingitstransformationprogressfromvolatility.

ThisandothervaluableinsightsareprovidedinourGlobalTechReport2024—asurveyof2,450executivesfrom26countries,including490leadersfromthetechsector.

Techstandsstrongagainstheadwinds,buthigherexpectationsforthesectormeanthatitisrequiredtorespondwithclarityandstrategicinvestments.

1KPMG2024TechnologyandTelecommunicationsCEOOutlook

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights

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Keyfindings

Thetechsectoristargetingprofitability

Thisyear’ssurveyrevealsanincreaseinthenumber

oftechprofessionalswhosaythattechnologyhasdirectlyimprovedtheirorganization’sprofitabilityoverthepast24months.Someofthemostnotablegrowthinprofitability,withincreasesof10percentagepointsormore,has

resultedfromeffortsinAI,dataandanalytics,everything-as-a-service(XaaS),cybersecurityandmoderndelivery.

ESGgoalsareakeyfocusfortech’sdigitalinvestments

Today’stechorganizationsarerecognizingtheimportanceofusingtechforgood.Aboutthree-quartersoftech

executivesreportthattheirtechinvestmentsdirectlytarget

theirsustainabilityandsocialresponsibilitygoals,surpassingthecross-sectoraverage.

Techsectorplanstomaintainademocratizedapproach

withAIexperiments

Mostsectorsareworkingtowardacentralizedapproach

toAIimplementation.Butthetechsectorplansto

continuedevelopingAIgovernancepoliciesand

experimentationpracticesinademocratizedwayasitbuildsmoreexperienceinthisrapidlydevelopingarea.

2

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Thetechsectoristargetingprofitability

Today’smacroeconomicandgeopoliticallandscapemightbeturbulent,buttechcompaniesarecontinuingtofunddigitalinnovationwith

confidenceandcommitment.Therearegoodreasonsforthis:three-quartersoftechexecutives(76percent)saytheirtotalcostof

ownershipandcost–benefitforecastsareusuallyaccurate.Roughlythesameproportionsaytheyruncalculationstoforecastthepotentialvalueofatechnologybeforetheyinvest,afigurethatisslightlyabovethecross-sectoraverage.

Asaresult,techisoneofthesectorsmostlikelyinoursurveytofeelconfidentinitsabilitytomanageexpendituresothathiddencostsdonotdisruptthedigitaltransformation.

MarkGibson,GlobalHeadofTechnology,Media&Telecommunications,KPMGInternationalandLineofBusinessLeaderforTechnology,Media&Telecommunications,KPMGintheUS,saysweareseeingashiftin

howtechcompaniesspendtheirmoney.“We’reseeingamuchstrongerfocusonoutcomesthanwedidbefore,”saysGibson.“Itusedtobeallabouthowmuchtheycouldinvestinresearchanddevelopment,butastechcompaniesmature,prioritiesareshifting.”

Gibsonsaysthatprofitabilityisparamountintoday’seconomy:“It’saconstantseesawbetweenwantingtoinvestininnovationandneedingtokeepcostsdown.That’swhymosttechfirmsarenowonajourneyof

targetedinvestmentinkeytransformationareas.”

Increasesinpercentageofrespondents(2023comparedto2024)who

repliedthattheirdigitaltransformationeffortspositivelyimpactedtheirorganizations'pro?tabilityin?veimportantinvestmentareas

+28

Moderndelivery

(includinglow/nocode)

+22

XaaStechnologies(includingpublic-ormulti-cloud)

+20

AIandautomation

(includingGenerativeAI)

+20+20

DataandanalyticsCybersecurity

Source:KPMGglobaltechreport2024

Q10.Overthepast24months,haveyourdigitaltransformationeffortswiththefollowingtechnologiespositivelyimpactedyourorganization’sprofitability?Thoseansweringyes,therewasanincrease.

Thisyear’ssurveyshowsanincreaseinthenumberoftechprofessionalswhosaythattechnologyhasdirectlyimprovedtheir

organization’sprofitabilityoverthepast

dataandanalytics,XaaS,cybersecurityandmoderndeliverymethods.

24months.

Thereisnotablegrowthinprofitability,withincreasesof10percentagepointsormorefromeffortsinAI,

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights3

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Casestudy

SierraWireless

HelpingtoensuretrustinIoTsolutions

AsamajorglobalIoTsolutionsprovider,SierraWirelessutilizes

manufacturingfacilitiesaroundtheworld—deliveringinnovative

technologiesthatareenhancingoperationalefficienciesandcustomerexperiencesforsomeoftheworld’sleadingorganizations.

TheCanadian-basedmultinational,whichisparticularlyproudofitsnearly30-yearrecordofbuildingtrustedclientrelationshipsacrossanarrayof

industries,wasforcedtotakedecisiveactionasitsoperations,including

manufacturing,weretemporarilydisruptedinMarch2021byaransomwareattackonthecompany’sinternalITsystemsandcorporatewebsite.

SierraWirelessimmediatelycounteredtheattack—turningtoKPMGfirms’cyber-incidentresponsespecialistsfromCanadaandtheUKtoassistwithresponseandrecoveryefforts.

SierraWirelessleadersworkedcloselywithKPMG’scyberprofessionalstoresolvetherootcauseoftheransomwareattackandcontainandrecoverthedisruptedoperations.Aspartofthelargerrecoveryeffort,KPMGin

CanadaandKPMGintheUKwereabletoprioritizeandrecoverSierra’smanufacturingoperationswithindays.Inthewakeoftheincident,KPMGandSierraWirelessprofessionalsworkedtogethertoenhanceSierra’sIToperationsandcyber-securityprogram.

SierraWireless’IoTsolutionshelpcustomersinindustriessuchas

transportation,healthcare,industrialmanufacturing,andenergytransformandthriveintoday’sconnectedeconomy.Thetimelyactionstakenin

responsetothisincidenthelpedmaintainthetrustofthesecustomersinthesecurityofSierraWireless’IoTsolutions.

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights4

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

ESGgoalsareakeyfocusfortech’sdigitalinvestments

Today’stechorganizationsarerecognizing

theimportanceofusingtechforgood.Aboutthree-quartersoftechexecutives(73percent)saytheirtechinvestmentsdirectlytargettheirsustainabilityandsocialresponsibilitygoals,whichisabovethecross-sectoraverage.

73%

Proportionoftechexecutivessayingtheirinvestments

targetsustainabilityandsocialgoals

Q9:Whichofthefollowingopposingstatementsbestdescribesyourcompany’stechnologyoptimizationactivityforthenext12months?

Source:KPMGglobaltechreport2024

Andperhapsadirectresultofusingtechforgoodistheindustry’sprogressinaddressingenvironmental,socialandgovernance(ESG)

issues.Infact,ourrecent

KPMG2024Technologyand

TelecommunicationsCEOOutlook

showedthatthenumberoftechandtelecommunicationsCEOswhoareconfidentaboutreachingtheirnet-zerogoalsby2030hasincreasedfrom36percentin2023to46percentin2024.Alargepartofthisoptimismcomesfromthesector’stransformationofhowdatacentersarebuiltandrun—andtheirimpactontheenvironment.

ESGeffortsareparticularlyimportanttothetechsector’sworkforce.AsGibsonemphasizes,“Intech,employeeshavehighexpectationsforeachofthethreeareasofESG.Notonlydotheywanttosee

thoughtfulnessaroundenvironmentalimpact,buttheyalsoholdtheindustryresponsibleforthewayinwhichinformationisspread—particularlyaroundkeysocialandpoliticalissues.”

ThegoodnewsisthatKPMGresearchconfirmsthattech

organizationsaretakingtheiremployees’opinionsseriously,withtechbeingoneofthesectorsmostlikelytoprioritizetech

investmentsbasedonemployeefeedback(5percentagepointsabovetheglobalaverage).

Thishasimportantimplicationsforthe‘governance’partofESGasorganizationsworktoensuretheyhaveboththerightpoliciesin

placetoaddressESGchallengesandtheabilitytobeavoicefortheir

workforce.AccordingtoGibson,thetechsectorhasahuge

responsibilityrelatedtocyberprotectionandthewayinwhichthesectormanagesandsharesinformation.“ESGisaboutthefutureoftheindustryfromapeopleperspective,”hesays.“That’swhytechorganizationsmustfocusonprotectingpeople’sdataandhavingtheprocessesandcontrolsinplacetobuildconsumertrustaspartof

theirformulastogettingESGright.”

Intech,employeeshavehighexpectationsforeachofthethreeareasofESG.

MarkGibson

GlobalHeadofTechnology,Media&Telecommunications

KPMGInternationalandLineofBusinessLeaderforTechnology,Media&Telecommunications,KPMGintheUS

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights5

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

TechfirmsplantokeepademocratizedapproachwithAIexperiments

AppetiteforAIisgrowingacrossallsectors,andmanycompaniesaretakingademocratizedapproachwhiletheyencouragetheirworkforcestofindnewwaystouseit.ButastheyscaleAI,whilekeepinggovernance,trustandsecurityat

thecenter,mostsectorsareswitchingtoamorecentralizedapproach.

HowtechexecutivessaytheyplantoscaleAIwithintheirorganizations

40%35%

CentralizingourapproachtoAIexperimentationoncewehavereachedacriticalmassofideasfromtheworkforceforus

34%36%

DemocratizingourapproachtoAIexperimentationaswebuildmoreexperienceinthearea

TotalTech

Q24:HowdoesyourorganizationplantoscaleitsAIwithgovernance,trustandcybersecurityinmind?Source:KPMGglobaltechreport2024

2KPMGglobaltechreport2024

3KPMG’sLeadingthechargeonAI

Here,thetechsectorbucksthetrend,ascentralizationisnotontheroadmap.Instead,techcompaniesplantomaintaintheirdemocratizedapproachtoAIexperimentation,whilecontinuallydevelopingtheirAIgovernancepoliciesastheybuildmoreexperienceinthearea.

Gibsonnotes,“WewanteveryoneinatechcompanyexperimentingandusingAIdaily.Yet,it’simportanttobalancethiswithacentralizedgovernancelayersocompanieshaveaframeworkfortheirworkforcestooperatewithin.ThisshouldallowtechcompaniesthespacetocontinuouslyadaptandrefinetheirAI

strategieswhileprotectingtheirvalues,securityandcustomers.”

Accordingtoour

KPMGglobaltechreport2024

,successfulAIimplementationwillrequirethetechsectortotakeasystemicapproach2thatisbasedoncross-functionaleffort.Frombuildingstrategicframeworkstoupskillingteamsandidentifyingrisks,techisuniquelypositionedtoleadthewayacrossthisnew

frontierwithconfidence.

Theearlieryouappointachiefartificialintelligenceofficer(CAIO),

theeasieritistoshapeandcoordinatethetransformationbefore

businessunitsandfunctionshaveinvestedinsimilarcapabilities.

Inaddition,firstmoversmaysecurescarceCAIOtalentintheexternalorinternalmarketbeforetheybecomeevenmoreindemand.3

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights6

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Keyrecommendations

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Toleadbyexamplewhilefosteringinnovation,techexecutivesshould:

?Prioritizetrustandsecurityintheinitialphasesofdesigning

solutions.Withtechrapidlyevolving,designingandbuilding

solutionsinaresponsiblewayisnowmoreimportantthanever.Includingcybersecurityexpertsatthestartofeveryprojectcanenhancetrustandprotectbrandreputation.Itcanalsohelp

minimizetheriskofdatabreachesandtheneedforcostlyretrofittingofsecurityfixes.

?TurnESGintoacompetitiveadvantagebyimplementingembeddedstrategiesthataddressenvironmentalandsocialriskswhile

capitalizingoncommercialopportunities.

Astechnologyplaysa

crucialrole

4inintegratingESGintostrategicprocesses,thetech

sectorhasanopportunitytothriveandmakearealdifferenceinthisspace.Todoso,itneedstoimproveitsownprocesseswhilealso

buildingsolutionsthathelpothersectorsdobetter.

?LeadsuccessfulAIadoptionbyensuringthatalldepartmentsworktogetherandAIvalueiscommunicatedclearlyandwithastrong

connectiontodepartmentalbusinessobjectives.TohelpthesectormovebeyondtheAIhype,KPMGhasidentifiedfivekeyareasfororganizationstofocuson:deliveringvalue,unlockingcapabilities,buildingtrust,scalingwithconfidenceandarchitecting

transformation.Our

globaltechreport

elaboratesoneachofthese.

Inlinewiththe

KPMG2024TechnologyandTelecommunicationsCEO

Outlook

5,thisresearchshowsthatthereisoptimismaboutgrowthinthetechsector.TonavigatenewtechnologiessuchasgenerativeAI

alongsideenvironmentalandeconomicchallenges,techcompanies

willhavetoremaindisciplinedandstrategicduringtheirtransformationjourneys.

4Tech-drivenESG:Navigatingriskswithprecision

5KPMG2024TechnologyandTelecommunicationsCEOOutlook

7

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

HowKPMGcanhelp

Transformationisanongoingjourney

There’snoquickfixfortoday’sbusinesschallenges.Majorchangesarecommonplaceandoftenhappeninparallel,involvingmorestakeholders,withmoreatriskandmorecomplexdecision-makingrequired.

Allthiscanputrelentlesspressureonyou,yourpeopleandyourbroaderecosystem.Thisjourneyofconstantchangeisunpredictable,buthowyouapproachitshouldnotbe.TheKPMGTransformationJourneyhelpsyounavigatetheseshiftingendpoints,helpingyoutodelivertheresultsthatmatter.

Butthejourneydoesn’tendhere.Wecombineadvancedtechnology,in-depthexperienceandoperationalexcellencetocontinuallyevolveyourprocesses,workingonasubscription-as-a-servicebasis.

WithKPMGManagedServices,wehelpyoucreatenimble,scalablebusinessfunctionsthatevolveasyougrowandpivotquicklyamidchangingpriorities.That’showtoaccelerateandsustainyourtransformationjourneyandstayaheadofcompetitors—whilehelpingminimizedisruptionandrisk.

Learnmore

.

ESG

KPMG,asaglobalorganization,knowstheintrinsicpowerofESGtotransformyourbusiness,andKPMGprofessionalscanshowyouhowtoenhancetrust,mitigateriskandunlocknewvalueasyoutransformandworktobuildasustainablefuture.Ourservicesareholisticandpractical,andweareabletoguide

yourteamstodrivesustainableinnovationacrossyourorganization.

Throughindustry-leadingexpertise,data-driventechnologyandglobalalliances,KPMGprofessionals’experienceacrosscriticalESGissuesmeanswecanassistyouincreatingtherightroadmapforyourjourney,puttingESGatthecoreofyouroperations—whereitshouldbe.

Learnmore

.

YoucanwithAI

IntheAIera,anythingseemspossible—untappedvalue,constantinnovation,newfrontiers.Especiallywithaknowledgeableguidebyyourside.

WehelpclientsharnessthepowerandpotentialofAI.Fromstrategytoimplementation.Smallstepstohelpingsolveseeminglyimpenetrableproblems.Underpinnedbytrust.

YoucandiscoverendlessopportunitieswithAI.LetKPMGshowyouhow.

Learnmore

.

KPMGTrustedAIFramework

KPMGTrustedAIFrameworkcanhelpwithdesigning,building,deploying,andusingAItechsolutionsinaresponsibleandethicalmanner,seekingtoacceleratevaluewithconfidence.

Learnmore.

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights8

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b

y

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Methodology

Morethan20countries/territories:

"aw

31%

Americas

29%

AsiaPaci?c(ASPAC)

40%

Europe,MiddleEastandAfrica(EMEA)

organizationswithannualrevenuesaboveUS$100million.

ThetechnologysectorperspectivesoftheKPMGglobaltechreport2024drawsontheviewsof490technologyleaders.Surveyrespondents

representedadiversegroupoftechleaders,suchaschiefdigitalofficers,CIOs,CTOs,CISOs,chiefAIofficers,andothers.

wereboardmembersormembersofthe

C-suite.

helddirectororseniormanagerlevelpositions.

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights9

?2025CopyrightownedbyoneormoreoftheKPMGInternationalentities.KPMGInternationalentitiesprovidenoservicestoclients.Allrightsreserved.

Techfirmsplantokeepademocratized

approachwithAIexperiments

ESGgoalsareakeyfocus

fortech’sdigitalinvestments

Thetechsectoris

targetingprofitability

Keyrecommendations

HowKPMGcanhelp

Abouttheauthors

Executivesummary

Methodology

Abouttheauthors

MarkGibson

GlobalHeadofTechnology,

Media&Telecommunications,KPMGInternationalandLineofBusinessLeaderforTechnology,Media&Telecommunications,KPMGintheUS

MarkistheGlobalHeadandtheUSSectorLeaderfor

Technology,Media,andTelecommunications(TMT)andalso

servesastheGlobalLeadPartnerforaKPMGintheUSfirm

clientthat’soneofthelargesttechnologycompaniesinthe

world.Previously,heservedastheOfficeManagingPartneroftheSeattleofficeofKPMGintheUSfrom2011to2020.Duringhis30-yearcareer,hehasworkedwithclientsinthe

telecommunications,technology,consumerproductsandretailindustries,andnowcollaborateswithTMTteamsacrossaudit,taxandadvisoryinover15differentcountries.

AnnaScally

Partner,InternationalTax&TMTSectorLeadforKPMGinEMAKPMGinIreland

AnnaisanInternationalTaxPartneratKPMGIreland.SheisalsoKPMG’sTechnology,MediaandTelecoms(TMT)SectorLeaderinEMA.ShehasalsoledKPMGinIreland’sFintechpractice.Annahas20years’experienceatpartnerlevel

advisingIrishandinternationalcompaniesontaxmatters,

includingM&A,financing,groupstructuring,R&D,IPand

internationaltaxmatters.Anna’sclientsincludecompaniesinthetechnology,media,telecommunications,fintech,

pharmaceuticalandlifesciencessectors.Sheisalso

passionateaboutinnovationandscalingambitiousstart-ups,andadvisesanumberofearlystagecompanieson

fundraising,shareholdingarrangements,rewardingfounders,incentivizingemployeesandgrowingglobaloperations.

AtulGupta

PartnerandHead

DigitalTrustandCyberKPMGinIndia

AtulisaPartnerwithConsultingServices,KPMGIndiaand

leadstheDigitalTrustPractice.HeisalsoaleaderforCyberintheTMTindustry.

Atulhasmorethan25yearsofexperienceintechnology

consultingwithadeepfocusoncyberanddigitaltrustcoveringstrategy,governance,large-scaletransformation,automationatscale,AI-ledself-healingsolutions,championingTrustedAI

Frameworkandestablishingresilientandtrustedorganizations.Atul’sexperienceisacrossawiderangeofindustries,includingTelecom,FinancialServices,Technology,EnergyandIndustrialMarkets,acrossglobalgeographies.AtulhasalsoworkedwithKPMGintheUS(SiliconValley).Heispassionateaboutgrowthanddevelopmentofthedigitaltrustdomainandhasbeen

activelycontributinginthedevelopmentandprogressoftheprofessionbyassociatingwithmultipleindustryforums.

KPMGglobaltechreport:Technologyinsights10

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