The software industry is entering a new phase. Technologies that once seemed futuristic are now being deployed at scale, while business models built around licences, seats and development hours are coming under growing pressure. This raises key strategic questions: How can software companies — and Germany as a software location — remain competitive? How will value creation need to change? Which capabilities must companies build, and what policy choices are needed today to strengthen competitiveness for the future?
These are the questions addressed in the study report The World of Software 2036, developed within Bitkom’s Software Engineering & Software Architecture committee. It is based on qualitative interviews with executives and decision-makers from companies with a range of different focuses, including software services, software products, in-house software departments, and related areas. The report is not a forecast. Instead, it highlights possible developments, future scenarios, and emerging perspectives to provide guidance for decisions being made today. It also identifies strategic areas for action for both business and policymakers.
