Companies in the U.S. plan to keep investing in digital initiatives for sustainability and ESG despite political change and uncertainty, according to a new research report by Information Services Group (ISG), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2024 ISG Provider Len Sustainability and ESG report for the U.S. finds the market for digital solutions to improve environmental and social sustainability and corporate governance is rapidly evolving, with some federal regulations likely to be scaled back while others survive under the current administration. Surveys indicate U.S. enterprises will continue to carry out digital sustainability initiatives to maintain brand value, reduce risks and save money.

IDC predicts that AI spending will grow at 1.7x the rate of overall digital technology spending in the next three years, generating an APEJ economic impact of over $1.6 trillion by the end of 2027.

IDC’s prediction emphasizes that AI has transitioned from an emerging technology to a cornerstone of business strategy, with generative AI (GenAI) amplifying this shift. However, this accelerated growth comes with challenges, such as digital skills shortages and the imperative for responsible AI adoption.

As the global energy landscape undergoes rapid transformation, utility companies on both sides of the Atlantic are rethinking how they manage and modernize aging power grids. According to new research from Information Services Group (ISG), an AI-focused technology advisory firm, utilities in North America and Europe are embracing advanced software platforms and third-party services to improve resilience, enable sustainability, and meet the growing expectations of customers and regulators.

According to the report IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Retail Predictions 2025 Implications, by 2027 50% of Asia/Pacific retailers will leverage GenAI-enabled content creation and delivery for dynamic product content, boosting conversion rates, and cutting content management costs by 30%. Generative AI is expected to drive efficiency, personalization and business growth.

As retailers integrate GenAI into their content strategies, key considerations include ensuring data accuracy, seamless system integration, and adherence to brand identity and local market nuances. With AI-driven content creation becoming a strategic advantage, Asia/Pacific retailers are poised to set new benchmarks in digital engagement and operational efficiency.

Worldwide smartphone shipments are forecast to grow year-over-year in 2025, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. The increase will represent the second successive year of improvement after growth in 2024. Related to this, TAM slightly increased from prior forecasts thanks to acceleration of the Android market, particularly in China where national subsidies and pent-up demand for device upgrades reversed earlier years of decline. Growth is expected to continue throughout the forecast period due to increasing smartphone penetration, lengthening refresh cycles, and headwinds from the growing used smartphone market.

Enterprises in France are facing competing pressures, prompting them to reassess their public cloud investments to balance the need for AI-driven innovation and cost optimization, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2024 ISG Provider Len Multi Public Cloud Services report for France finds the need to adopt and integrate generative AI (GenAI) and data analytics for business process innovation is driving greater use of cloud platforms. At the same time, Europe’s challenging economic and political landscape, coupled with territorial conflicts, are contributing to enterprise uncertainty and a continuing focus on cost optimization. Complicating matters, France faces a shortage of skilled AI resources and increased data sovereignty regulations.

IDC report, Worldwide Digital Business and AI Transformation 2025 Predictions — India Implications, IDC predicts, AI spending will grow at 2.2x the rate of overall digital technology spending in the next three years, generating an India economic impact of over $115 billion by the end of 2027. IDC also forecasts that by 2027 business executives will demand a minimum 70% success rate on their GenAI initiatives, to achieve operational efficiencies and drive new revenue growth.

IDC has reduced its traditional PC forecast in 2025 and beyond. Global PC volume is now expected to reach 273 million in 2025, still growing +3.7% over the prior year though this is a slight reduction from the prior forecast. Beyond 2025, IDC forecasts sub 1% growth each year through 2029 for the traditional PC market, due in part from volume stabilization following Windows 11 migration. Meanwhile, tablets are not expected to fare much better as shipments are anticipated to shrink 0.8% in 2025 to 143.3 million and the market faces a slight gradual decline, reaching 141.6 million units by the end of 2029 due mostly to consumer saturation.

Enterprises across Europe are increasingly turning to managed network services providers to advance their digital transformation agendas, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Enterprise Managed Network Services report for Europe finds firms are seeking managed network services (MNS) providers to help them address the growing complexity of modern ICT infrastructures and the growing threat of cyberattacks, often because they lack the internal skills to manage their networks.

The 2024 ISG Provider Len Advanced Analytics and AI Services report for Brazil finds companies are beginning to use generative AI for some analytics use cases, even as traditional AI retains a major role in their data toolkits. Debate over the risks of AI has shone a spotlight on the importance of data-based decision-making and data-driven efforts to remain competitive, making Brazilian businesses more mature users of the technology.

“Many companies in Brazil have been lost in a sea of information, struggling to turn raw data into valuable insights,” said Kathy Rudy, head of the ISG Data, Analytics & Technology Office. “They are using the power of advanced analytics to make better use of information, often in partnership with consulting and services providers.”

Only 14% of security & risk management (SRM) leaders can effectively secure organizational data assets while also enabling the use of data to achieve business objectives, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. While 35% of survey respondents secure data assets and 21% use data to achieve business goals, only one in seven can effectively do both.

The survey was conducted among 318 senior security leaders across organizations of different industries and sizes worldwide.

IDC predicts that by 2028, 80% of foundation models used for production-grade use cases will include multimodal AI capabilities to deliver improved use case support, accuracy, depth of insights, and inter-mode context. This is just one of the predictions unveiled in the report titled, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide AI and Automation 2025 Predictions — Asia/Pacific Implications. This shift underscores a broader trend toward more sophisticated AI systems that can process and integrate multiple data types—text, images, audio, and video—enabling enterprises to unlock new levels of intelligence and automation.

New BCG Survey Reveals Cost Management Remains Top Priority for Executives Around the World for Third Consecutive Year—up 8 Percentage Points from 2024

Despite Years of Navigating Disruptions, 40% of Business Leaders Feel Unprepared for Market Shocks in 2025; Still, Many Express Optimism About the Growth Potential for Their Markets. Following the US Election Outcome, 31% Have Launched Contingency Plans for Tariff and Regulatory Changes. 86% of Executives Plan to Invest in AI and Advanced. Analytics for Cost Reductions in Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, and Supply Chains this Year.

According to Forrester’s Global Tech Market Forecast, 2024 To 2029, software and IT services combined will account for 66% of global technology spend in 2025, fueled by increased investment in cybersecurity solutions and the modernization of legacy systems. Software alone will grow at a rate of 10.5% and is expected to capture 60% of global tech spend growth by 2029, making it the fastest-growing tech sector.

The India tablet market shipped 5.73 million units in 2024, up 42.8% year-over-year, according to new data from the (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. The detachable and slate tablet categories grew by 30% YoY and 47.2% YoY, respectively. The market, however, declined by 17% YoY in 4Q2024 due to delays in some government manifesto deals.

The consumer segment grew by 19.2% YoY in 2024, driven by strong eTailer promotions, discounts, and cashback offers. Samsung led the eTailer channel in 2024 with a share of 24.4%. The commercial segment grew by 69.7% YoY, fueled by a remarkable 104.5% YoY growth in the Education segment driven by increased government-funded education projects despite a 9.9% YoY decline in the Very Large business segment.