Modern Software Adoption in 2025: Trends Businesses Can’t Ignore

In our latest episode of The Digital Roast Podcast, we sat down with Marie Webb from MYOB to talk about what’s shaping the future of ERP and business software in Australia and New Zealand.
This short blog dives deeper into the themes Marie Webb of MYOB highlighted — from cloud adoption to AI, and why the pace of change is forcing businesses to rethink their approach.
1. Cloud Adoption: Why Is It Still a Question in 2025?
Marie was candid in her surprise that mid-market businesses still hesitate to move to the cloud. She put it simply: “Why is this still a conversation in 2025?”
Enterprises can afford IT teams to manage servers. Mid-market businesses can’t — they should be focused on running their business, not managing hardware. The cloud isn’t a future trend; it’s a present reality, and businesses that delay are adding unnecessary risk and complexity.
2. The Hidden Cost of Tech Debt
Tech debt, as Marie described, is like compound interest in reverse. The longer you delay modernising your systems, the more expensive and disruptive it becomes to catch up later.
Businesses that stick with outdated, heavily customised systems may think they’re saving costs in the short term, but in reality, they’re limiting agility, scalability, and competitiveness.
3. Business Growth Needs Scalable Systems
Marie noted that mid-market organisations are ambitious:
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56% are expanding,
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44% are going international,
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45% are chasing higher revenues.
But scaling with outdated systems is like trying to sprint in concrete shoes. Modern ERP platforms like Acumatica or MYOB Advanced are designed to grow with businesses, not hold them back.
4. AI Is Already Here
AI isn’t just hype — it’s already transforming ERP. Marie described three areas of focus:
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Automation — removing repetitive, manual tasks.
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Advisors — surfacing insights in real-time.
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Assistants — enabling smarter, faster decision-making.
The caveat? “If your data isn’t ready, AI can’t save you.” Clean, structured data is the fuel that makes AI valuable.
5. Security and Trust in the Cloud
Marie made a sharp point: would you trust “Joe down the road” with your server security, or world leaders like AWS?
Cloud platforms partner with global specialists who deliver enterprise-grade security — a level that’s nearly impossible for mid-market businesses to replicate with in-house or ad-hoc IT resources.
Final Thoughts
Modern software adoption isn’t optional anymore. Whether it’s avoiding tech debt, leveraging AI, or ensuring scalability and security, the businesses that succeed in 2025 and beyond will be the ones that embrace change today.
As Marie put it, it’s time to stop asking “what is the cloud?” and start asking “how fast can we move?”
Keen to learn more? Catch the full episode in Spotify or YouTube and get to learn more about ERP can help businesses.
Thinking of ERP for your business?
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