Interim CIO: Dr. Claus Michael Sattler
IT consulting 2025, trends in medium-sized companies
As an interim CIO with more than 45 years of experience in IT consulting for SMEs, I would like to give you an insight into the most important IT trends that will affect SMEs in 2025. The rapid pace of technological development presents companies with major challenges, but also offers enormous opportunities for growth and innovation. My job as an IT consultant is to help companies take advantage of these opportunities and position themselves optimally for the future.
Artificial intelligence as a game changer
One of the most significant trends that will shape IT consulting in 2025 is undoubtedly the progressive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business processes. AI will no longer just be a technical add-on, but will become the basis of many business models [source: 1] [source: 4]. As an interim CIO, I see SMEs increasingly using AI-powered automation, predictive analytics and natural language processing (NLP) to increase efficiency and make data-driven decisions.
IT consulting will focus on supporting companies in the implementation of AI solutions that are easy to integrate and scalable. I see great potential for SMEs, particularly in customer service, production maintenance and the development of comprehensive multi-agent systems [source: 4].
Cloud strategies and multi-cloud solutions
Another trend that will have a significant impact on IT consulting in 2025 is the increasing importance of multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies. As an experienced IT consultant, I recommend that SMEs use different cloud providers in order to benefit from the best services of each platform while minimizing risks [source: 2].
The IT consultancy will focus on developing customized cloud solutions that guarantee reliability and meet compliance requirements. The first German cloud options will also play an important role as an alternative to US providers [source: 2].
SAP transformation and new technology options
In the area of enterprise software, SAP transformation will continue to be a key topic in IT consulting. As interim CIO, I see a high level of planning and implementation pressure in companies to transform their existing SAP systems to S/4HANA solutions [source: 2].
IT consulting will focus on choosing the right transformation approach and making optimal use of new technology options such as the Business Technology Platform (BTP) and public cloud approaches. This calls for comprehensive expertise, which I can bring to projects as an experienced IT consultant.
Microsoft solutions and AI integration
Microsoft will continue to be a key partner for the digital future of SMEs in 2025. As an IT consultant, I see an important focus on Microsoft Copilot, the AI-supported assistance that is seamlessly integrated into the entire Microsoft product range [source: 2].
The IT consultancy will focus on supporting companies in the implementation and use of these AI-supported solutions. The aim is to use AI to support employees in completing tasks more quickly and efficiently, thus creating space for more creative activities.
Managed services as a strategic partnership
One trend that will have a major impact on IT consulting in 2025 is the evolution of managed services into strategic partnerships. As an interim CIO, I have observed that companies are increasingly turning to managed services to outsource the operation and further development of their IT infrastructures [source: 2].
The IT consultancy will focus on building genuine strategic partnerships that drive innovation and efficiency gains. Core areas such as cloud integration, archiving of “legacy systems” and business-focused application management will play a central role in this.
IT security and compliance
In view of the increasing threat of cyber attacks, IT security will continue to be a key topic in IT consulting in 2025. As an experienced IT consultant, I see an increased need for IT security services, particularly in the area of ransomware protection [source: 3].
IT consulting will focus on developing holistic security concepts that not only include technical solutions, but also take organizational and procedural aspects into account. Legal requirements such as the NIS2 guidelines also play an important role here [source: 3].
Sustainability and green IT
One trend that is becoming increasingly important in IT consulting is the topic of sustainability and green IT. As an interim CIO, I see that companies are increasingly looking for solutions to make their IT infrastructure more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
IT consulting will focus on developing strategies that take both ecological and economic aspects into account. This includes, for example, the optimization of data centers, the implementation of energy-efficient hardware and the development of software that uses resources efficiently.
Digital transformation and process optimization
Digital transformation will remain a key topic in IT consulting for SMEs in 2025. As an experienced IT consultant, I can see that many companies are still facing the challenge of digitizing and optimizing their business processes.
The IT consultancy will focus on developing customized digitalization strategies that are tailored to the specific needs and resources of the respective company. This involves not only the implementation of new technologies, but also the adaptation of organizational structures and the promotion of a digital corporate culture.
Data management and analytics
Another trend that will shape IT consulting in 2025 is the topic of data management and analytics. As an interim CIO, I see that companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of their data and how they can use it to make informed business decisions.
The IT consultancy will focus on supporting companies in the development and implementation of data strategies. This includes the implementation of data governance structures, the introduction of data lake architectures and the use of advanced analysis methods such as predictive analytics and machine learning.
Skills shortage and skills management
One topic that will be a major concern for IT consulting in 2025 is the ongoing shortage of IT specialists. As an experienced IT consultant, I can see that many SMEs are struggling to find and retain qualified IT specialists.
IT consulting will focus on developing strategies to counter this shortage. This includes the development of training and further education programs, the promotion of diversity in IT teams and the use of managed services to compensate for resource bottlenecks.
Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing
The increasing networking of devices and machines through the Internet of Things (IoT) will continue to be an important trend in IT consulting in 2025. As interim CIO, I see great potential for SMEs to optimize their processes and develop new business models through IoT solutions.
IT consulting will focus on supporting companies in the implementation of IoT solutions, paying particular attention to security and data protection. The integration of edge computing solutions, which enable data processing closer to the source, will also play an important role.
Conclusion and outlook
As an interim CIO and experienced IT consultant, I can see that the IT landscape in SMEs will be characterized by a variety of trends in 2025. From artificial intelligence and cloud strategies to sustainability and IoT – the challenges and opportunities are many and varied.
IT consulting will focus on providing companies with holistic support in overcoming these challenges. This involves not only the implementation of new technologies, but also the adaptation of processes, structures and corporate cultures.
As interim CIO, I see my role as supporting companies in this transformation and helping them to make the right strategic decisions. This is the only way for SMEs to remain competitive in the future and make the most of the opportunities presented by digital transformation.
IT consulting will play a key role in shaping the digital future of SMEs in the coming years. As an experienced IT consultant, I look forward to accompanying companies on this exciting journey and developing innovative solutions together.
Sources
- https://otobo.io/de/10-trends-im-service-management-2025/
- https://www.affinis.de/fachartikel/digitale-transformation/it-trends-2025/
- https://neomerge.de/blog/herausforderung-im-it-services-sektor-und-ausblick-2025
- https://www.assecor.de/blog/it-trends-2025
- https://www.aptaro.de/blog/read/deine-neue-it-strategie-fuer-2025
- https://hws-gruppe.de/it-trend-2025-7-trends-die-man-auf-dem-schirm-haben-sollte/
- https://www.security-insider.de/cybersicherheit-trends-2025-vorbereitung-fuer-mittelstaendische-unternehmen-a-422380dcebf51e500a19c044ef4c26c5/
- https://blog.materna.de/it-trends-2025-investitionen-herausforderungen-und-die-rolle-von-kuenstlicher-intelligenz/
- Image: ChatGPT
Dr. Claus Michael Sattler
