Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2025. Read them in this 17th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
By Simon Townsend, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Office of the CTO for ControlUp
As we move into 2025, the Digital Employee Experience (DEX) is set for significant evolution. This year’s top five predictions showcase an exciting shift towards unified, all-encompassing platforms that blend endpoint management, security, and user experience into a seamless whole. From the rise of streamlined desktop management and cost-effective Cloud PC solutions to the expansion of managed services and a move away from vendor lock-in, these trends highlight a future where flexibility, efficiency, and user-centricity define the digital workspace. Here we explore how these innovations will reshape the end user computing landscape.
- The Rise of DEX 2.0 to Include Desktop Management – In 2025, DEX platforms will evolve from being an add-on, (historically focused on solely measuring employee experience) to becoming an all-encompassing workspace management platform. Organizations will consolidate disparate tools into unified DEX solutions that combine endpoint management, security, and user experience monitoring. This shift will save up to 50% in licensing costs and streamline IT operations, delivering a seamless, “Swiss Army knife” approach to how the modern workspace is measured and managed. Less agents deployed will reduce IT infrastructure and remove agent bloat from the endpoint.
- Shadow AI and SaaS Governance Take Center Stage – As shadow IT has transformed into shadow AI and shadow SaaS, organizations will face a growing need for visibility and compliance. Employees’ desire to adopt unsanctioned tools to improve productivity will drive the adoption of DEX solutions capable of monitoring SaaS and AI applications. Enhanced governance and compliance measures will be critical as IT balances user autonomy with organizational security. Tools that help provide such visibility are only going to become more common. Expect vendors to acquire and innovate in this area.
- Cloud PC Adoption Surges as Costs Decline – The cost of Cloud PC solutions will drop in 2025, making them more accessible for enterprises of all sizes. Cloud PC’s simplicity in deployment and management, combined with its ability to offer a secure, flexible experience across diverse devices, will solidify its dominance over traditional VDI. IT teams will embrace these solutions to handle increasingly complex hybrid environments efficiently. The recent release of Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link will only further highlight that Windows belongs in the cloud. With other virtualization vendors increasing costs, DaaS will start to offer more cost-effective alternatives – cheaper to run, but also cheaper to deploy and maintain.
- Managed Endpoint Services Expand Beyond the Virtual Workspace – The rapid growth of managed services in 2025 will extend beyond virtual desktops and continue to include physical endpoint management and security. SMBs and enterprises will rely on managed service providers (MSPs) to handle complex multi-environment setups, including Macs, Chromebooks, and PCs. DEX solutions will become critical for ensuring seamless user experiences across these managed environments. IT teams in smaller organizations will disappear as more of SMB’s IT, as well as some commercial, will be outsourced.
- Flexibility Over Vendor Lock-In – By the end of 2025, organizations will prioritize flexibility when choosing IT solutions, avoiding technologies that lock them into specific ecosystems. DEX solutions that offer adaptability across platforms, clouds, and devices will see widespread adoption. This shift reflects a broader demand for agility in IT strategy as organizations future-proof their digital work environments.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Simon Townsend is Senior Vice President of Marketing & Office of the CTO for ControlUp, the company at the forefront of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management. A prominent end user computing technology evangelist, marketer and thought leader, Townsend leads the company’s marketing strategy and team of digital, field, channel and product marketers and technical experts, worldwide. He joined ControlUp from IGEL where he served as Field CTO for EMEA and Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing field, digital and product marketing functions. With more than 20 years of experience in the end-user computing market, Townsend has held leadership positions in marketing, product marketing, product management and global systems engineering for several enterprise software companies including Ivanti, AppSense, Servo and Westcon UK.
