Macro trends shape business leaders’ 2025 strategies, Personiv finds
TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Macroeconomic headwinds are steering business strategy across industries this year, with many leaders rethinking financial priorities and investment plans, according to a new survey by finance talent outsourcing firm Personiv.
Interest rates and uncertainty drive decisions
The report, which polled 290 financial leaders, chief executives, and business owners during the third quarter of 2025, reported 62% agreed macroeconomic shifts had had “extremely significant effects” on first-half 2025 planning. Among the shifts, interest-rate movements became the top contributor to decision-making, followed by tariffs, economic uncertainty, and inflation.
The forecasting has proved to be the most challenging area, which, according to 64% of respondents, has been impacted by macroeconomic trends. Supply chain management (56%), top-line revenue, and pricing strategies have also been impacted (46% each).
Despite the challenge, companies are being proactive about preparing for changes. Nearly 57% of respondents reported that they had already accelerated capital investments over the first two months, and a subsequent 25% plan to do so within the next six months. Nearly 55% reported growing operating expenses and swelling tech expenditures (48%), which indicates that many companies view innovation as crucial for staying robust.
“Most organizations are showing agility as market conditions change, despite the extreme impact many companies have felt from recent shifts,” said Matt Wood, global head of finance and accounting outsourcing at Personiv.
Companies balance caution with growth
The survey results suggest cautious optimism. Although macroeconomic uncertainty remains a challenge for leaders’ planning, many are embracing growth opportunities rather than braking hard. The increase in investments in technologies and capital reflects a strategic shift toward automation, data-driven forecasting, and operational effectiveness—agendas that characterize the next era of global competitiveness.
For companies like Personiv, which specialize in business outsourcing, such increased interest in flexibility and financial strength is especially revealing. As companies struggle with economic uncertainty, business partners specializing in financial and operational expertise are likely to see an increase in demand.
The context highlights how macro trends not only put internal planning to the test but also reshape the world outsourcing ecosystem, driving providers, no less than clients, towards innovating for stability and sustainability.
Personiv ranked #130 in the OA500 2025, an objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies.
