Digital transformation is often seen as the ultimate destination of technology use, but in reality, it is an ongoing process for businesses.
In 2025, this process must be considered even more strategically, as corporate success does not depend solely on technology adoption, but rather on the maturity with which it is used (whether starting to digitize processes or already exploring the resources of Artificial Intelligence).
According to the “AI Index 2025” report by Stanford’s HAI, Brazil stands out for its annual growth in hiring professionals specialized in Artificial Intelligence (217%). Therefore, it is recognized as one of the leading countries in graduating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals.
Furthermore, the second edition of the Digital Transformation Index Brazil (ITDBr) showed that companies are advancing in this regard, with digital maturity increasing from 3.3 in 2023 to 3.7 in 2024. However, the study highlighted that cultural and structural barriers still limit more comprehensive progress.
This scenario reinforces the urgency to accelerate the technological innovation process so that digital maturity levels can be transformed into tangible competitive advantages.
Understand your digital stage to act with precision
Digital maturity is a journey composed of three stages, and understanding each stage is crucial to mapping appropriate technologies, directing investments, and establishing priorities that will maximize business impact.
- Initial stage: with fragmented processes and low digitization, it is time to create a technological foundation, with basic automation and integration in the IT infrastructure.
- Intermediate stage: with partial digitization and limited integration between areas, the focus should be on connecting systems with more efficient operational workflows.
- Advanced stage: organizations use real-time data, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and automation, prioritizing continuous innovation and personalized customer experiences.
Five indispensable technologies for 2025
This year, some technologies are emerging as pillars of competitiveness for companies at different levels of digital maturity. The five standout technologies for a successfully executed strategy are:
- Artificial Intelligence: a study released by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE) highlighted Brazil as one of the main hubs of Artificial Intelligence in Latin America, with 144 research units operating in sectors such as science, energy, and agriculture. AI is essential for analyzing large amounts of data, predicting demands, personalizing service, and automating critical activities.
- 5G: in Brazil, there is great growth potential from 5G. A report by Opensignal, evaluating 137 countries, showed that Brazil ranks third in average 5G download speed. Moreover, it outperformed first-world countries like the United States, Japan, and Germany. 5G enables real-time decision-making through Internet of Things (IoT) resources and connected experiences, enhancing performance across various economic sectors.
- Cloud computing: migrating data to the cloud increases flexibility, adapting resources according to demand and eliminating the need for high investments in hardware and infrastructure maintenance.
- Intelligent automation: redefines processes by going beyond the execution of repetitive tasks, optimizing operational workflows, and ensuring assertiveness according to the core business of the company.
- Advanced cybersecurity: according to EY, 90% of identity breaches occur due to human error, and to reverse these risks, companies must invest in cybersecurity training programs.
Protecting digital assets ensures regulatory compliance in a scenario of increasing cyber threats. Implementing security policies is mandatory to ensure the integrity of operations and business, avoiding financial and reputational damage.
These five technologies, when integrated intelligently, not only optimize operations but also drive company differentiation in their respective markets.
Technology use requires objective criteria
To achieve real results, each of these technologies must prioritize impact and strategic alignment.
Therefore, adopting new technologies without proper planning is a mistake. It is crucial to define how each technology is used according to the criteria:
- Company size: large organizations require robust and customized solutions, while smaller companies benefit from modular and agile tools, such as Software as a Service (SaaS).
- Tangible Return on Investment (ROI): every technology investment must deliver measurable value. Otherwise, it ceases to be an investment and becomes an “expense.”
- Integration with existing systems: avoiding operational disruption during integration is essential to strengthen productivity.
- Scalability: solutions must keep up with company growth without requiring constant reinvestments.
Regardless of the maturity stage, these criteria are the foundation for sustainable digital growth, benefiting companies with greater operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and strengthening an organizational culture focused on innovation.
Proof of the importance of these benefits is in a McKinsey report, which concluded that companies with continuous investments in innovation, even in uncertain times, tend to outperform their competitors. The differentiators for this outperformance are employee engagement and the proper use of infrastructure, intellectual property, and customer relationships in identifying new market opportunities.
Technology and people: the indispensable combination of digital transformation
Finally, it is worth reinforcing: digital transformation is not just about tools. It’s about people. It’s the synergy between technology, processes, and talent that generates results from these tools.
By placing people at the center of digital strategy, companies become more resilient, adaptable, and ready to operate in a market that demands constant adaptations and reinventions.
In 2025, digital transformation remains an imperative. The question is: is your company just keeping up, or is it ready to lead?
