Quantum computing: Is it a conversation leaders should have now?

The growing momentum of quantum computing

Quantum computing has been steadily gaining momentum in the technology industry over recent years, and rightly so. It’s a field that presents both enormous potential and significant challenges. While wider adoption is still in its infancy, the question is less about whether quantum computing will become important and more about how and when. As business and technology leaders, is it time to more seriously consider how this technology might shape strategies for organisations across every sector in the years to come?

The UK’s quantum economy is booming with a current turnover of £10.7bn and it is growing at an impressive 7.3% per annum. At the heart of these developments is the National Quantum Technology Programme (NQTP), a collaborative initiative bringing together academia, industry and government to leverage combined expertise and develop practical, game changing solutions.

Oxford University is leading the way with the National Quantum Computing Hub, one of five hubs developing technology for real-world applications. CGI is proud to be an industry partner, contributing technical insight and creative problem-solving to the Oxford QCi3 Hub, supporting the advancement of quantum computing beyond the lab and into practical implementation.

Demystifying quantum computing

One of the biggest misconceptions is that quantum computing is simply a faster version of traditional computing, which is based on binary bits – ones and zeros. To be clear, I am certainly no expert in this area, but I am endlessly fascinated by the subject when I speak to our CGI experts, who take the time to educate me.

Quantum computing is a completely different way of processing information. It uses ‘qubits’, which can exist in multiple states at once thanks to the principle of ‘superposition’. This opens the possibility of solving specific types of complex problem exponentially faster than the most powerful supercomputers today. This will require significant scaling of quantum technologies and completely different and new skill sets.

The adoption of quantum computing

Despite rapid advancements, quantum computing remains a sparsely available computation power, with limited capacity for solving the real-world problems. Performance in this space is largely dominated by governments, research institutions, and a handful of technology giants. As cloud-based quantum services expand, business leaders will need to reconsider when and how they might incorporate it into their long-term strategies.

Cyber security and post-quantum cryptography

Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionise materials, science, health, logistics, financial modelling, and sustainability – it also poses many risks to encryption standards.

Current cyber security protocols rely on the challenge of factoring large numbers – an issue that quantum computers could potentially solve in a fraction of the time. This has led to greater attention being given to post-quantum cryptography, as organisations must consider how to future-proof sensitive data. Governments, technology providers, and cyber security experts are already working on quantum-safe encryption methods, but the transition will need to happen more quickly than many anticipate, and leaders need to be aware of the potential implications to their organisation, employees, clients, and shareholders.

Reshaping technology and business strategy

For the technology industry, quantum computing is not just a distant consideration – it has the potential to reshape the next era of computing, much as AI is doing today. However, it will also require a rethink of infrastructure as organisations look to integrating quantum capabilities into their existing IT environments. Organisations that are heavily reliant on algorithmic data processing and optimisation should be begin exploring how quantum computing might impact their businesses and identify pain points which have the complex characteristics amenable to quantum enhancement. For example, what would the business look like if something that took a week to do, could be done in a day, in an hour, or immediately?  It is not just about immediate return on investment – it is about ensuring organisations are prepared for the shift when the technology matures.

Why business leaders should stay engaged

At CGI we naturally closely monitor emerging technologies to help our clients navigate the future. This enables us to offer better support and innovation, upskills our workforce, and ensures we advance our own operations. Staying ahead of technological change is not about chasing trends; it is about being prepared for a potential transformation in computing power and capability.

For business leaders, this does not necessarily mean making immediate investments. Instead, it means identifying relevant opportunities, assessing risks, and preparing to exploit quantum computing as its transformative power emerges.

Keeping the conversation going

This is an ongoing discussion with many unknowns and unanswered questions. The business case for quantum computing is not yet fully formed, but the technology sector must consider its long-term implications.

Quantum computing is about more than just speed. It will impact the way we secure data. How we balance the promises of energy efficient computing from quantum computers against the increasing energy demands of super computers and large language model processing in the equation of net-zero initiatives. How to approach complex problem solving; and, how we fundamentally prepare for a new computing paradigm. However you view it, it is exciting and world changing, and we should dive in and find ways to invest.

At this moment, I remain curious about the possibilities and challenges we, as technology leaders face. I believe it is crucial to keep the conversation going so that we are ready for the advent of quantum computing as it moves from the lab to the boardroom.

I would love to hear your thoughts on quantum computing. Is your organisation preparing for its potential, or does it still feel too far in the future? Let’s keep this discussion going.