Tech in transition: Key trends to watch in 2025

As I step into my role as CEO of Interactive Australia, I’m excited to lead the company into 2025, building on the incredible foundation laid by our talented team. In just these first few weeks, working alongside our amazing people, valued partners, and customers has only cemented my confidence in the road ahead. At the same time, I’m keenly aware of the challenges our customers face—and our responsibility at Interactive to help solve them.

2025 is shaping up to be another fast-paced year in IT, cyber security and managed services. Looking ahead, there are several trends set to influence the industry this year. These trends present opportunities for businesses of every size to stay ahead of the curve.

Let’s take a closer look:

Bridging the gap in digital expertise

We’re cognisant of the digital skills shortage and are actively working to address it. One of the ways we’re tackling this is by engaging at the grassroots level—partnering with schools to raise awareness about tech industry careers and helping educators equip students with the skills needed for the future.

Slipstream Cyber has been part of the Edith Cowan University Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement program since 2020. Through this program, students spend their final semester with us, and expand their professional network, improve their technical capabilities by putting their academic knowledge into action, develop their interpersonal skills and much more.

It’s also a priority for us to work with First Nations organisations to increase Indigenous participation in the tech sector and unlock their potential in this realm. For our people, we actively work on diversity and inclusion with a focus on inclusive language, positive role modelling and active awareness of individual’s career trajectories.

The importance of customer centric leadership

Heading into 2025, prioritising customer-centric leadership will be crucial for businesses looking to stay ahead. Today’s customers aren’t just seeking a service provider—they want a strategic partner who understands their goals and can help shape their future. Companies that truly listen, anticipate needs, and consistently deliver value will foster lasting relationships and customer loyalty. At Interactive, we’re committed to a simple but powerful approach: See it. Solve it. Evolve it.

Beyond benefiting customers, this approach also transforms the industry. For any Australian business, success in 2025 will depend on the ability to stay agile, solve real challenges, and continuously evolve. When teams are empowered to go beyond managing infrastructure and instead focus on delivering meaningful impact, it strengthens their sense of purpose and connection to the company. A customer-first mindset encourages strategic thinking, drives better decision-making, and fuels long-term business growth.

Turning AI into tangible outcomes

AI will take centre stage in the Australian technology market. Broadly, I think enterprise still has a reputational battle to fight for the public to realise and feel empowered by AI’s functionality.

Similarly, we continue to focus on building digital skills to keep up with rapid change, though we’re starting at a disadvantage. The challenge is layered—legacy systems and technical debt still pose obstacles, while businesses strive to balance cost optimisation with growth and modernisation. However, I’m confident that 2025 will be a year of progress, with real opportunities to tackle these challenges head-on and drive meaningful change.

Aligning technology with business objectives

Today’s tech leaders are the visionaries who know just how much depends on the decisions they make and the actions they take. This is why embracing technologies that best enhance their adaptability and strengthen their capacity for collaboration will be key to success.

Technology has changed from being the foundation of a business to being at the forefront of nearly every industry. At the same time, companies can’t sidestep discussions about ESG, cybersecurity, and AI. These critical areas of technological investment have evolved beyond being simple hurdles to be cleared – they are now essential pathways to achieving the next level of success.

Falling behind on sustainability commitments or safeguarding private data is no longer an option—especially as businesses begin adapting to the newly passed Cyber Security Bill 2024. A thoughtfully applied solution is one that aims to address the needs of the company holistically, not simply plugging a gap.

Identifying a greater purpose

As an Australian-born company with over 36 years in the industry, we understand how to navigate change—and we’re committed to doing so. The transformation within our industry is more significant than ever, and we’re here to support our customers through it. It’s a source of pride for me that as a company, our higher purposes will be finding ways to leverage change, contribute to the Australian economy, and ensure that the country has the skills to meet the changes ahead and to ensure our work positively impacts Australians going about their day to day lives.

Now is the time to ensure we have relevant, contemporary solutions and services that meet our customers’ ever-changing needs. I’m delighted to be stepping into my new role at Interactive and look forward to the year ahead.