Fourth Industrial Revolution

There is now a business case for tech convergence

Industrial tech convergence concept.

It's time to capitalize on tech convergence. Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Franck Greverie
Chief Technology Officer, Chief Portfolio Officer and Group Executive Board Member at Capgemini, Capgemini
This article is part of: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
  • Tech convergence, where distinct technologies are merged to create unified composable solutions, is now being embraced by business leaders.
  • Over three-quarters of respondents a recent survey confirm that technology convergence is a top investment priority for their organizations in 2025.
  • Organizations must capitalize on the synergies of tech convergence to drive large-scale transformation and deliver value.

In today's world, technology is no longer just an enabler — it is a cornerstone of business strategy. Organizations across industries are now technology businesses, with technology driving decision-making, value creation and executive priorities.

The evolving role of technology calls for a shift in how companies approach investments. Today, the highest value creation is achieved when technology supports a large-scale business transformation vision, with key technologies orchestrated in a tailored and strategic way for each use case.

Based on a survey of 2,500 executives across 17 countries, Capgemini's newly launched Investment Trends report confirms that tech convergence when distinct technologies are merged to create unified composable solutions is no longer optional. Business leaders are embracing this integrated approach for their investment plans for the next 12-18 months:

• Over half (53%) of executives say their organizations already consider technology in an integrated way when making investments (as opposed to investing in technology on an individual basis).

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) agree that most of the benefits we derive from technology will come from combining technologies, such as AI and augmented reality.

• As a result, over three-quarters (76%) confirm that tech convergence is a top investment priority for their organizations in 2025.

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    A long-term vision to best place technology bets

    Despite this momentum, many organizations still struggle to align their technology strategies with long-term business goals. The fast-moving tech landscape often pressures leaders into a herd mentality, where they chase hyped technologies or mimic competitors' investments. This copycat approach, where investment initiatives or programmes tend to be carried out in isolation among each other, creates a major risk of capital misallocation, poor Return On Investment and innovation burnout – all of which are catastrophic for businesses in today's highly challenging, competitive business landscape.

    By contrast, organizations that approach technology with a strategic, business-driven mindset are better positioned to identify and harness the technologies most critical to their goals. First movers, who place their bets on the right technologies aligned with emerging market trends and client needs, gain a significant competitive edge.

    In this context, the ability to anticipate trends and integrate the right mix of technologies to build end-to-end composable solutions is now a critical leadership skill, ensuring organizations can adapt, innovate and lead their industries.

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    What is the World Economic Forum doing about the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

    AI is accelerating tech convergence

    Over the past few years, AI has emerged as the cornerstone of tech convergence, serving as an accelerator and a unifying force for other technologies. Capgemini's Top Tech Trends report demonstrates how AI accelerates the development of adjacent technologies, such as applications, robotics, IoT or quantum.

    As such, AI is set to become the backbone of tech convergence strategies. It empowers organizations to unlock new possibilities, shaping the future of industries and delivering transformative business outcomes:

    AI + customer experience/front-end technologies — The fusion of AI and AR will enable computing to shift from static apps to dynamically generated, contextual interfaces that appear only when needed, with exactly what's needed – nothing more, nothing less.

    • AI + human digital twin, AR/VR technologies — AI transforms human digital twins and morphs technology into digital humans.

    • AI + robotics — AI elevates robots from programmed machines to adaptive humanoid partners that naturally understand and respond to their environment.

    • AI + IoT — AI converts sensor networks from data collectors to intelligent nodes that think and act locally.

    • AI + quantum — AI accelerates quantum computing from theoretical potential to practical problem-solving, thus helping push solutions in material science, drug discovery and better security.

    These combinations illustrate the power of cross-pollination between technologies, where convergence fuels innovation, scalability and breakthroughs.

    Reaping the benefits of tech convergence

    While the potential of tech convergence is immense, delivering on its promise requires more than strategic vision, solid tech expertise and a focus on business outcomes. It needs an open innovation mindset. Here’s how business leaders can unlock its full potential:

    1. Align tech investments with business goals

    Start with the business outcomes you want to achieve and develop a tailored tech strategy based on specific use cases.

    2. Foster cross-functional collaboration

    Break down silos and encourage cross-disciplinary teams to co-create integrated solutions for complex challenges, ushering a greater focus on cognitive diversity.

    3. Invest in upskilling

    Equip your workforce with the skills needed to assess tech trends, understand business requirements and drive innovation.

    4. Partner with the right ecosystem

    Collaborate with technology providers, startups, academic institutions and other organizations to access expertise, co-create solutions and unlock new opportunities.

    5. Adopt governance frameworks

    Prioritize trust, transparency and shared value creation to ensure convergent technologies are deployed responsibly and sustainably.

    Tech convergence is more than a technological trend — it’s a strategic imperative. By embracing these principles, organizations can capitalize on the synergies of tech convergence to drive large-scale transformation, deliver business value and secure long-term success.

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    The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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