Quantum computing has ceased to be a futuristic concept and has become a strategic axis for technological investment worldwide. According to data from The Quantum Insider, investment in quantum computing companies surpassed $1.25 billion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the same period last year. This figure reflects that governments, major corporations, and venture capital funds have recognized that the next big leap in computational capacity might come from this technology.
In this context, the digital-native company Globant (NYSE: GLOB), specializing in reinventing businesses through innovative technological solutions, has identified six major areas where quantum computing, although still in its early stages, promises to transform how companies operate: from the cloud to finance, logistics, healthcare, and, of course, cybersecurity.
1. Cloud-based Quantum Computing: QCaaS as an Entry Point
The first major leverage won’t be quantum computers installed in offices but access to this computational power via the cloud, under the Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) model. Tech giants are already working to integrate quantum accelerators into their cloud platforms, enabling companies to:
- Launch pilot projects without significant initial investments.
- Reduce payback times on advanced AI projects.
- Experiment with new quantum algorithms with limited financial risk.
According to estimates by SNS Insider, the QCaaS market could reach $4.35 billion by the end of 2025 and grow to about $74.36 billion by 2033. A clear signal that the industry expects this technology to move from labs to real-world use cases within the next decade.
2. Process Optimization and Operational Efficiency
Optimization problems—choosing the best route, resource combination, or most efficient design—are natural grounds where quantum computing can make a difference. Quantum algorithms allow exploration of vast solution spaces much more efficiently than classical algorithms.
Globant cites several concrete examples:
- Logistics and Transportation: designing more efficient routes, managing smart fleets, and optimizing operations, especially in the aerospace sector where major aerospace companies are already exploring quantum algorithms to improve planning and fuel consumption.
- Manufacturing: optimizing production lines, reducing waste, and fine-tuning parameters in real-time.
- Energy: designing more efficient distribution networks and searching for new materials for energy storage.
Beyond economic efficiency, these improvements could lead to significant reductions in global energy consumption associated with IT systems, a critical point in the era of generative AI and high-consuming data centers.
3. Finance and Risk Management: The Natural Laboratory for Quantum
If there’s a sector that has quickly embraced quantum computing, it’s finance. According to the Evident AI Index, nearly 80% of the 50 largest banks analyzed have already incorporated quantum computing at some level—whether through pilots, innovation labs, or limited-production projects.
The most prominent applications include:
- Risk Management: more accurate simulation of extreme scenarios and asset correlations.
- Portfolio Optimization: seeking optimal investment combinations under multiple constraints.
- Complex Investment Strategies: modeling derivatives and sophisticated structures with more variables than a classical system can handle efficiently.
- Fraud Detection: analyzing large volumes of transactions in near real-time to identify anomalies.
The ability to process massive, interdependent datasets simultaneously makes quantum computing a natural ally for banks, insurers, and asset managers.
4. Advancing AI and Data Analysis
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another field where quantum computing aims to multiply capabilities. According to a Globant study, algorithms like Grover’s or the Quantum Fourier Transform (QFT) could represent a turning point in AI model development.
The combination of AI and quantum computing opens the door to:
- Training more complex and sophisticated models in less time.
- Accelerating the analysis of structured and unstructured data.
- Detecting anomalies with greater sensitivity—key in security, predictive maintenance, or financial monitoring.
- Improving classification and segmentation in large volumes of noisy information.
This isn’t just theory: a recent SAS survey cited by Globant indicates that over 60% of global business leaders are already actively exploring opportunities related to what many call “quantum AI”.
5. Innovation in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
The quantum promise in healthcare and pharmaceuticals is particularly compelling. The ability to simulate molecules and biological processes with greater precision could revolutionize:
- Drug discovery: reducing research times and trial phases.
- Personalized treatments: optimizing therapies tailored to individual patients.
- Early diagnosis: using quantum AI models to identify complex patterns in medical images, genetic data, or clinical histories.
This potential translates into a market projection of over $3 billion by 2034, up from just $121 million in 2024, according to Towards Healthcare. This growth reflects high expectations about the technology’s ability to shorten R&D cycles and lower the costs of bringing new treatments to market.
6. Cybersecurity: Opportunity and Threat at Once
Like all powerful technologies, quantum computing is dual. It can serve as a defensive tool or an offensive weapon. A recent Capgemini report states that nearly two-thirds of companies worldwide see quantum computing as the most critical cybersecurity threat in the coming five years.
The central concern is clear: many current encryption systems—especially those based on public-key cryptography—could become vulnerable once large-scale quantum computers capable of executing algorithms like Shor’s become available. This would impact:
- Banking and e-commerce communications.
- Corporate networks and VPNs.
- Government and military communications.
At the same time, quantum computing will enable the development of new, more robust cryptographic schemes and advanced intrusion detection systems, provided companies and regulators proactively address the transition to post-quantum cryptography in time.
A Competitive Edge for the First Movers
“Although quantum computing is still in its early stages and regulations are yet to be established, it’s essential to acknowledge its rapid progress and transversal impact on any industry,” emphasizes Agustín Huerta, SVP of Digital Innovation for Globant’s Enterprise Core Studio.
The company believes that technology leaders should adopt an open and innovative mindset when evaluating these opportunities, as quantum computing is shaping up to be the next great competitive advantage. It’s not about automatically replacing all current systems but identifying processes where quantum can provide a qualitative leap: optimization, simulation, advanced analysis, or security.
Additionally, Globant reminds us that technology alone won’t suffice: specialized talent, infrastructure partnerships, new regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations regarding the impact of these capabilities on markets and societies will also be necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions about Quantum Computing and Businesses
1. What exactly is quantum computing in the cloud (QCaaS) for companies?
A model where organizations access remote quantum hardware via cloud providers, paying per use or through subscriptions. It allows testing algorithms, launching pilots, and exploring business cases without investing in private equipment or highly specialized infrastructure.
2. How does quantum computing differ from traditional AI in data analysis?
Traditional AI runs on classical hardware and is limited by CPU and GPU processing capacities. Quantum computing leverages properties like superposition and entanglement to explore many solutions in parallel, potentially accelerating tasks such as optimization, searching large databases, or identifying complex patterns.
3. Why is quantum computing a cybersecurity threat today?
Because many current public-key encryption systems (like RSA or ECC) rely on mathematical problems that are hard for classical computers but could be solvable by sufficiently powerful quantum machines. Without migration to quantum-resistant cryptography, encrypted communications and data could be decrypted in the future.
4. Which business sectors are early adopters of quantum computing?
The most active sectors include finance (banking, insurance, asset management), logistics and transportation, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and large technology and telecommunications companies—all seeking to solve complex optimization problems and process large data volumes almost in real time.
via: The Quantum Insider