Ideas move the world. They connect us, spark change, drive progress. And how ideas move around the world reflects the speed of progress—and, in some regards, determines it.
The way people exchange ideas and deliver content is becoming ever faster, broader, and more accessible. It’s curious then, that WeTransfer—a platform made for the instant and effortless sharing of content—found its audience in a decidedly analog way: through word of mouth. People immediately loved it for its simplicity. Businesses loved it because it addressed a range of demands that have only become more pressing as the world becomes increasingly digitalized. And because people share what they love, the customer base grew quickly and globally—cementing WeTransfer’s role as a go-to solution for creative and professional teams.
Because, where once we relied on physical mail or rudimentary file transfer protocols, we now navigate a landscape where billions of files are sent instantly, every day. Reports estimate that by 2025, 80% of enterprise workloads will run on the cloud[1] [2] , reflecting the growing reliance on cloud-based tools for creative output and digital asset exchange. For WeTransfer, this shift represents both an opportunity and a responsibility to lead in redefining file sharing for a world that’s rapidly progressing.
Growing demands in a digital-first world
One of WeTransfer’s enduring strengths is its seamless experience, offering a simple, intuitive design and straightforward functionality. Drag, drop, send—that’s the ethos. Yet behind its simplicity lies a sophisticated infrastructure capable of handling the demands of a digital-first world.
The global workforce is more distributed than ever. With remote work on the rise and cross-border collaboration essential, the ability to share large files seamlessly is now a necessity. According to recent studies, over 70% of organizations report using digital tools to enable remote collaboration.[3] And as teams grow increasingly global, the challenge of transferring large files, sensitive documents, and creative projects reliably and securely becomes ever greater. Traditional methods of file sharing, such as email attachments or physical drives, have proven insufficient in this new era. This is where WeTransfer—with its high-speed file-transfer capabilities, robust cloud infrastructure, and the ability to handle transfers of up to 5TB—has become a trusted partner for millions worldwide.
In addition to speed and functionality, the ability to add brand identity has become an invaluable asset for businesses. Custom branding allows companies to enforce their brand identity in file-sharing interactions. By integrating logos, personalized URLs, and brand-specific visuals, businesses can ensure that every transfer reflects their professional image—strengthening their reputation with clients and collaborators.
Security against evolving cyber threats is another critical consideration. The volume of global Internet data transfer has been increasing significantly[4] , with an annual growth rate of approximately 30% in recent years. [5] And as the volume of digital file sharing grows, so too does the need for robust and adaptable security. A 2023 report revealed that over 60% of companies have experienced a data breach related to file sharing.[6] This underscores the importance of encryption, secure links, and privacy-first design in any file-sharing solution. WeTransfer has responded to this challenge with features like password-protected transfers, file expiry controls, at-rest and in-transit encryption, and compliance with international data protection standards such as GDPR. And in the face of ever-changing risks, maintaining strong security safeguards remains of the highest priority.
The environmental impact of going paperless
Another critical aspect of the shift to digital file sharing is its environmental implications. Previous reliance on physical documents drove significant paper consumption across industries, while traditional methods of transferring data, such as shipping hard drives, likewise contributed to carbon emissions and resource depletion. By enabling instant, cloud-based sharing, platforms like WeTransfer help reduce the environmental footprint of global collaboration.
Yet, digital solutions are not without their own impact—data centers consume vast amounts of energy. To mitigate this, WeTransfer’s parent company is committed to annually offsetting 100% of its carbon footprint at the group level. By balancing innovation with environmental responsibility, digital progress can align with ecological stewardship.
Empowering work across borders, disciplines, and industries
Digital file sharing empowers the working world with efficiency and accessibility, connecting people across borders, disciplines, and industries. By removing technical barriers and speeding up the flow of ideas and assets, it enables professionals—from project managers and directors to artists and designers—to focus on producing their best work. As a result, seamless collaboration has become a cornerstone in industries as varied as telecommunications, real estate, healthcare, law, media, and digital advertising. Making tools like WeTransfer vital for fostering collaboration and driving progress in the digital economy.
WeTransfer was founded in 2009 with the goal of simplifying file sharing. Today, more than 80 million people turn to the platform to share files every month. As the world continues to embrace digital-first solutions, WeTransfer is looking to not just keep pace, but set the standard for what file sharing can and should be.
Oracle, as published in Forbes in 2019: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2019/02/07/prediction-80-of-enterprise-it-will-move-to-the-cloud-by-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Statista: 79% in 2021 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1260623/collaboration-tools-usage-among-workers-category
TeleGeography: Reports a 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for both average and peak international internet traffic between 2019 and 2023. This aligns closely with the growth claim for internet data transfer volumes.
https://blog.telegeography.com/total-international-bandwidth-now-stands-at-1217-tbps
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): Estimates that global mobile and fixed broadband traffic grew at an average annual rate of 30% from 2019 to 2023. This statistic complements the TeleGeography data, confirming the rapid growth in internet traffic and data transfer globally.
https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/statistics/2023/10/10/ff23-internet-traffic
Prevalent, 2024 https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240508397249/en
