From “green” computing to tackling the shortage of qualified workers

The difficult economic situation across Germany is posing major challenges to business. The digital transformation must address this while remaining competitive in an uncertain market environment.

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In 2024, many German companies realised that the current economic difficulties were more than fleeting, with no significant economic recovery in sight in the months ahead.⁽¹⁾ In this uncertain situation, it is essential for them to focus more than ever on digital transformation. They must take account of the five major trends set to shape the information and communication solutions market in 2025.

1. The shortage of qualified workers in computing and telecommunications infrastructure

The scarcity of IT specialists in the labour market is a major issue. By 2040, there could be 663,000 vacant IT posts due to economic and geopolitical upheavals.⁽²⁾ Businesses will have to invest more in training and retraining, in particular for women and young people, to make up this shortfall. Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation will be crucial for increasing efficiency and improving working conditions. Businesses will also need to establish programmes to promote knowledge transfer between generations.

2. The rapid expansion of broadband

Germany is committed to a national strategy of extending its networks, with the aim of full optical-fibre and 5G coverage by 2030, and 2025 will be a decisive year for assessing the progress made. It will also be necessary to address the administrative barriers, the slow pace of implementation, and the coordination problems between individual states and the federal government. Public authorities, businesses and individuals will all expect rapid progress to keep the digital transformation moving at speed. These efforts, linked in particular to activity and investment in the digitalisation of road and rail infrastructure, will stimulate digitalisation more generally.

In the current uncertain economic climate, it is essential for businesses to focus more than ever on digital transformation.

3. Sustainable technologies and resource-efficient installation methods

From 2025, the European regulation on environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating activities requires companies to report on their ecological efforts. Sustainable technologies and Green IT will be incorporated into the management of digital infrastructure. The expansion of broadband will employ more environmentally friendly installation methods, such as burying cables less deeply, flush drilling, and recycling soil and concrete. These practices will reduce costs and the disruption to local communities, while bringing businesses closer to their carbon-neutrality targets.

4. The fusion of IT and OT

The increasingly close integration of IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) will revolutionise the manufacturing, energy and logistics sectors. The use of artificial intelligence and data analysis will allow increased automation, greater efficiency and lower costs. However, this fusion will also make systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks, and businesses will be obliged to strengthen and adapt their cybersecurity strategies to this hybrid environment. 

5. Cybersecurity is a priority

Cyberattacks will continue to proliferate in 2025, posing an existential threat to businesses. Between August 2023 and August 2024, financial losses linked to such attacks in Germany increased to €267 billion.⁽³⁾ Cybersecurity will become an absolute priority for businesses, which will need to invest in global solutions and increasingly outsource their security services, including for critical infrastructure. The digital sector in particular must be vigilant in the face of increasing cyber threats linked to the digitalisation of infrastructure, such as rail transport networks, and to new technologies such as AI and machine learning.

⁽¹⁾ Deutsche Bundesbank: Monatsbericht 2024

⁽²⁾ Bitkom: Mangel an IT-Fachkräften droht sich dramatisch zu verschärfen

⁽³⁾ Bitkom: Angriffe auf die deutsche Wirtschaft nehmen zu

09/15/2025