Summary:
The technology landscape is poised for remarkable in 2025. Businesses who are harnessing advanced technologies do so to elevate their customer experiences, streamline workflows, and grow operations. Here are my top predictions for how technology will influence both SMBs and larger organizations, and my honest take on what every business leader needs to know.
2025. A year that will be defined by intelligent technologies reshaping industries and rewriting the rules of business. For SMBs and enterprises alike, staying ahead means more than adopting the latest tools—it’s about anticipating how these shifts will impact people, businesses, and communities. I’ve outlined six influences attributing to this year’s business landscape, and how they will collectively shape the future of work and innovation.
- Consolidation across industries is redefining customer experiences
The wave of consolidation isn’t unique to telecom—it’s a hallmark of the entire technology industry. 2024 saw an uptick of major M&A deals with many IT companies looking to expand their technology portfolios to bolster their offerings around AI, security, and more. We’ve seen big players like SAP, Salesforce, Google, IBM, Cisco, and Nvidia all shell out millions and billions of dollars to reinforce their place in the long game against competitors. What’s interesting to note is this trend’s wide-ranging implications for customers—both good…and potentially not so good:
- Bundled services and unified experiences: As companies integrate their services, customers will gain access to more comprehensive, all-in-one solutions. While this could simplify vendor management and improve service reliability, it may also lead to fewer choices in the marketplace.
- Pricing implications: Consolidation can drive economies of scale, potentially lowering costs. However, reduced competition may lead to price increases over time, especially in markets where greater monopolistic behaviors take hold.
- Innovation at scale: Larger organizations with diverse portfolios are better positioned to invest in innovation. Customers can expect advancements in technology solutions, but smaller, niche innovators may struggle to compete, potentially stifling unique offerings.
- Regulatory oversight: Consolidation invites scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The resulting compliance measures could either protect customers from unfair practices or slow down the rollout of new services, depending on the regulatory landscape.
- Businesses lean heavily on AI to drive decisions and enhance operations
Last year, the world became much more familiar with how AI can transform the way businesses operate. This year we will continue to see it become a cornerstone of decision-making and operational efficiency. According to The Information, enterprises will continue to invest in AI, with 74% believing such investments will increase or significantly increase in 2025. Some common ways companies will continue integrating AI tools this year include:
- Automating repetitive tasks, freeing employees for strategic work
- Analyzing vast datasets to uncover actionable insights
- Enhancing customer service through AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants
What will differ from last year is how businesses will push AI further, using it as a stand-in for human expertise in areas like cybersecurity risk assessment and operational planning, for example. This “AI Gold Rush” mirrors the tech boom of the early 2000s, with hyperscalers leading the charge. To capitalize, companies will need robust computing power and scalable infrastructure.
- AI arms both sides in the battle against cybercrime
Google’s Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 report acknowledges many attributing factors to the expanding threat landscape, such as cybercriminals’ use of AI for sophisticated phishing, vishing (voice calls/voicemails) and deepfake identify theft and fraud. Not to mention, the range of targeted vendors will continue to expand, leaving room for more vulnerabilities across more businesses—namely SMBs.
Anyone who has an internet connection will value from greater cybersecurity practices and solutions. Even if your organization’s number one priority is to stay connected, a cyberthreat puts everything at risk. On the flipside, the rise of AI-powered cybersecurity tools is a critical development for businesses of all sizes. It will be a gamechanger as SMBs face heightened risks from cybercriminals moving down-market. These tools can accelerate threat detection and response, automate the cataloging of new threats and disseminate protections and protect businesses from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Cloud-based security will play a pivotal role, offering real-time protection and scalability.
- Enterprise-grade technology levels the playing field for SMBs
Over the past few years, a compelling movement toward democratized technology has emerged—making access to technology more inclusive, affordable and user-friendly for small and mid-sized businesses. This year, affordable, enterprise-grade IT infrastructure will be responsible for helping SMBs compete with larger companies in product and service quality, improve operational efficiency (thanks to automation and AI), and leverage advanced analytics that do things like help tailor meaningful customer experiences. This shift enables SMBs to punch above their weight class while fostering innovation and competition.
- Hybrid environments become the norm for app and process management
Operating entirely in the cloud is no longer practical for most businesses. Instead, going forward, hybrid environments that combine cloud and on-premises solutions will dominate. This approach strikes a balance between cost, performance, and security, allowing businesses to optimize their infrastructure based on specific needs. Expect to see:
- Cloud-native security solutions coexisting with on-premises applications
- Increased focus on determining the optimal balance between local and cloud resources
- Cost-effective and resilient strategies for managing critical business functions
- AR, VR and IoT: The cornerstones of digital transformation efforts
The global augmented reality and virtual reality B2B market is expected to reach a size of approximately $120 billion by 2025, showing a great deal of traction in the business landscape. These tools are powerful because they offer immersive experiences for training, product demonstrations, and remote collaboration. Not to mention, the number of IoT devices is forecast to double by 2030, driving the need for robust infrastructure to support connectivity and security. Businesses will invest heavily in scalable networks to manage increasing data flows, advanced analytics to derive insights and comprehensive security measures to defend against vulnerabilities.
As the workforce becomes increasingly tech-savvy, AR, VR and IoT will critical a big role in transforming how businesses across all industries address customer and employee needs, powering advancements, enhancing engagement, and productivity.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, I see a business landscape defined by relentless innovation and adaptation. Technologies like AI, AR/VR, and IoT are not just reshaping industries—they are fundamentally altering how we live and work. Consolidation will continue to redefine competitive dynamics, with far-reaching implications for customers and the broader market. I am optimistic about the opportunities these shifts present, even as businesses navigate the challenges of transformation. Staying agile and customer-focused will be the key to thriving in this era of unprecedented change.
