The IT industry closes 2025 amid a profound reset, following a year of restructuring, budget adjustments and stricter project selection criteria, according to an analysis by software development company OVES Enterprise. Cited by Wall-Street, company representatives note that IT budgets have been reallocated toward initiatives with clear strategic value, particularly those supporting security and critical infrastructures.
High-volume projects fade as companies focus on strategic, mission-critical initiatives
In 2025, investment decisions shifted from volume to relevance. Generic projects with no direct operational or security impact were gradually phased out, while remaining budgets were channelled into a limited number of essential initiatives.
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This shift has directly affected the traditional outsourcing model, as many companies chose to internalise resources for critical projects, increasing pressure on IT service providers, including those in Romania.
Despite widespread public discourse around artificial intelligence, real adoption remains modest. Eurostat data show that around 20% of EU companies use AI technologies, while Romania ranks last at 5.2%. Excluding basic uses such as conversational tools, the share of companies deploying advanced or agentic AI solutions is even lower, particularly in high-security environments.
Against this backdrop, applied AI, cybersecurity and defence projects are attracting the largest budgets, often built on five- to ten-year timelines. This market shift is also reflected in OVES Enterprise’s performance, with the company targeting global revenues of approximately €25 million in 2025, up 22% year on year. Defence, AI and cybersecurity revenues now match the commercial segment.
“If we look at 2025 as an industry balance sheet, we see a far more demanding market, where high-volume projects have been eliminated and budgets are focused on initiatives with real stakes. Technology has become critical for security, control and continuity,” said Mihai Filip, CEO of OVES Enterprise.
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