Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2025. Read them in this 17th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
By Robin Smith, SVP Engineering, TravelPerk
As we look ahead to 2025, it’s clear that
emerging technologies – particularly AI-driven development tools – are set to
fundamentally reshape the way engineering teams work. Over the last few years,
we’ve witnessed the introduction of tools like GitHub Copilot and finely tuned
large language models (LLMs), which have already begun to transform how
engineers write, review, and debug code.
In 2025, these AI-driven tools will move
beyond their current role as “assistants” and evolve into genuine
co-creators. This transformation will enable engineering teams to delegate even
more repetitive, mundane, time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on
creative problem-solving, strategic decision-making, and architectural design.
These changes will redefine the culture and workflow of engineering teams
across industries.
AI as a
Co-Creator in Engineering
The transition of AI from assistant to
co-creator is a game-changer. Imagine a future where context-aware code reviews
can analyze not just isolated snippets of code but entire repositories,
documentation, and even design references. These tools will flag
inconsistencies, identify potential security risks, and suggest improvements,
all while maintaining a deep understanding of the project’s goals and
requirements. Such capabilities will drastically reduce the time spent on
debugging and reviewing, enabling teams to release more robust software faster
than ever before.
AI-driven development tools will also enhance
the creative potential of engineers. By automating repetitive tasks – such as
boilerplate coding or simple bug fixes-developers will have more time and
mental energy to focus on innovation. This shift will likely lead to a surge in
groundbreaking ideas and solutions, as teams are no longer bogged down by
mundane tasks.
Data
Quality: The Key to AI’s Success
While the promise of AI is immense, its
effectiveness hinges on one critical factor: data quality. AI tools are only as
good as the data they’re trained on, and generic models can only take teams so
far. To unlock the full potential of AI, companies must make strategic
investments in training the technology on high-quality data, thorough
documentation, and custom fine-tuning.
At TravelPerk, we’ve seen the benefit of
training AI on our own data to serve us better. Our legalbot, for example,
accesses the entire history of our legal and privacy knowledge base. In
combination with extensive automation this bot has transformed the onboarding
process for new customers, who are now onboarded 80% quicker. By ensuring that
our AI tools have access to rich, relevant, and well-structured datasets, and
by careful consideration of the end user’s needs, we’ve been able to achieve
better outcomes for our teams and customers. Companies that fail to prioritize
data quality and the customer perspective risk falling behind, as their AI
tools will struggle to deliver meaningful results.
Security
and Privacy in the Age of AI
As AI becomes more deeply integrated into the
workplace, it also raises important questions about security and compliance.
With new regulations emerging worldwide, engineers will need to adopt a privacy
and security by design principles approach. These principles ensure that
regulatory requirements and security best practices are integrated into every
stage of development, from initial planning to final deployment.
Interestingly, AI itself will play a crucial
role in achieving these goals. Advanced AI systems can monitor compliance in
real-time, identify vulnerabilities, and adapt to changing regulations. It’s a
fascinating paradox: AI tools that ensure the responsible and ethical use of
AI. At TravelPerk, we’re proud to lead by example in this area.
Building
Engineering Teams for the Future
While technology is evolving rapidly, the core
traits that make great engineers remain timeless. Curiosity, adaptability, and
a willingness to embrace change are the qualities that drive innovation and are
particularly important for driving TravelPerk’s innovation. Whether it’s
working on AI today or cloud technology a decade ago, these qualities will
remain key.
As our team grows we’ll continue to prioritize
hiring individuals who fall in love with the problem, not just the solution. We
look for team members who thrive on discovery and are excited by challenges.
These foundational qualities ensure that our teams are resilient and are ready
to own and tackle whatever the future may bring.
TravelPerk’s People function under the
leadership of our VP of People, Felicia Williams have been instrumental in
fostering a culture of curiosity and creativity across the company. By
encouraging a first-principles thinking approach, we’ve been able to stay agile
and deliver exceptional service and value to our customers. Technologies will
come and go, but these human qualities will remain the bedrock of successful
engineering teams.
The
Road Ahead
So what’s next for us? The convergence of AI,
data-driven innovation, and robust security practices promises to revolutionize
the engineering landscape. The companies that succeed will be those that
embrace these changes strategically, investing not just in tools but in the
people and processes that make innovation possible.
AI isn’t just making us faster or more
efficient – it’s redefining what’s possible. By fostering a culture of
adaptability and continuous learning, we can ensure that our teams are ready to
harness the full potential of these transformative technologies. At TravelPerk,
we’re excited to be at the forefront of this evolution, and we can’t wait to
see where the journey takes us next.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Robin Smith, Senior Vice President (SVP) of
Engineering at TravelPerk, a hyper-growth SaaS business travel platform. He
leads the company’s engineering, security, and data teams, driving the
technological vision and ensuring effective scaling of the platform to meet the
demands of global business travelers. With over 15 years of experience, Robin
was ClickTravel’s first engineering hire, where he developed their first online
booking platform before advancing to leadership roles. His expertise in software
architecture and leadership has been instrumental in advancing TravelPerk’s
technical capabilities, including the establishment of robust API connections
and innovative architecture. Under his guidance, TravelPerk continues to set
industry standards, ensuring a secure, scalable, and data-driven platform that
leads the market.
