Making the Business Case for Platform Engineering: PlatformCon 2025

I recently had the pleasure of speaking on a panel at PlatformCon 2025, where we tackled the increasingly critical question: how do we make the business case for platform engineering?

With budgets tightening and platform teams often still being seen as a “nice-to-have,” we explored what it really takes to shift perceptions; from “developer happiness” to measurable business value.

Key Takeaways:

We unpacked how platform engineering can drive real, tangible outcomes across the business; enabling faster delivery, lowering costs, and improving developer retention. I spoke about the multiplier effect of a great platform: how simplifying tooling and reducing friction empowers engineers to focus on what actually matters - solving business problems.

But the impact isn’t just operational. I emphasised the importance of psychological safety - without trust, we can’t gather meaningful feedback or build the right solutions. And while it might be tempting to rely on surveys and metrics, sometimes it’s the coffee chats and informal check-ins that tell us the most.

We also discussed why product thinking is essential in platform work. I shared my own experience juggling engineering leadership and product responsibilities, and why having dedicated platform PMs can make a huge difference in translating technical value into business impact.

If you’re working in platform engineering, developer experience, or just trying to build better internal tools, this conversation is full of actionable insights.