Engineering and Outsourcing Trends Among Leading Software and Internet Enterprises

In 2024, software and internet companies faced a volatile landscape marked by persistent economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Yet, amid these headwinds, firms remained committed to future-focused investments, particularly in generative AI, real-time data systems, cloud-native infrastructures, and secure platform engineering. The rise of multimodal AI, zero-trust architectures, and sustainable computing reflects the industry’s enduring emphasis on innovation and resilience.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of Engineering Research and Development (ER&D) spending and outsourcing strategies among the top 100 global software and internet firms. It offers insights into how companies are allocating budgets, scaling innovation, and leveraging external partnerships to advance product and platform development. By examining trends across company size, geography, and key verticals, this research identifies strategic patterns in spend intensity, outsourcing behaviors, and modernization priorities. Additionally, it offers insights into future growth trajectories, emerging trends, and their strategic implications for providers, enabling them to navigate the shifting market landscape and seize new opportunities.