Sustainability and AI are hot business trends for 2025

In a Forbes article, “The 5 Biggest Business Trends For 2025 Everyone Must Be Ready for Now,” Bernard Marr, author of the article and 20 business advisory books, concurs. “Driven by both regulatory pressure and consumer demand, the move towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices is certain to be a key driver of change in 2025,” wrote Marr. “Most pressing of all, though, is the need to keep pace with changing customer demands, with data overwhelmingly showing that green credentials are a key factor in buying decisions.”

Try AI for business development

More advice from me: Give AI for business development a test drive. Gil Cargill is an industry consultant who I’ve talked about before. He’s developed programs specifically for vending, OCS and micro market operators, and he’s offered VendingMarketWatch.com readers and listeners a favorable program that allows an operator to dip their toe in the water and give AI for business development a serious shot.

“We’ve spent the last couple of years being wowed by the potential of generative AI and hearing about how it’s going to change the world. But 2025 is the year I believe we will start to see organizations move beyond the hype and start integrating generative AI into business strategy,” wrote Marr. In “Human Plus AI: Redefining Work In The Age Of Collaborative Intelligence,” Marr noted that “according to Accenture’s research, generative AI will transform more than 40% of working hours across industries, with six business functions seeing over half of their work hours reshaped through automation, augmentation, and collaboration.”

As Cargill points out, now is the time to begin the use of AI as a business development tool. “The operators who are early adopters will enjoy a significant competitive advantage,” he said.

Marr also beats the same drum we have been hearing in the convenience services industry for years: Customer experience is king, and he advocates the use of AI to generate greater insights.

By 2025, customer experience will be the defining factor that sets businesses apart in an increasingly competitive marketplace. As industries evolve and consumers become more selective, companies that prioritize seamless, highly personalized and memorable interactions will gain a significant edge. Beyond traditional competition on price and quality, today’s consumers expect brands to engage with them on their terms — delivering consistently exceptional service tailored to their individual needs, Marr wrote.

Using AI and data analytics can help businesses understand the experience that customers are seeking. “AI and data analytics let businesses gather deeper insights into customer preferences and behavior, enabling ‘hyper-personalization at scale.’ Every interaction is informed by real-time data, ensuring that customers feel they are treated as valued individuals,” Marr said. “Omnichannel strategies are also becoming more sophisticated, ensuring a smooth transition between online and offline touchpoints and providing a unified brand experience, regardless of where or how they choose to engage. This means businesses that put customer experience at the heart of everything they do will reap the rewards in 2025.”

Marr encourages businesses to focus on resilience, and again, AI is a key element. Resilience goes beyond simply enduring challenges, he says, requiring the ability to adapt swiftly and integrate flexibility into core operations. Navigating disruptions such as supply chain breakdowns, skills or labor shortages and the potential for external crises demands a proactive approach. Understanding these risks is essential for companies aiming to stay ahead. With their predictive power, technologies like artificial intelligence can play a crucial role in shaping this preparedness, he added.

“More than just ‘weathering the storm,’ resilience means developing the capability to respond to the unexpected, pivoting swiftly when conditions make it necessary into the foundations of the business. Understanding how risks like supply chain disruption, skills shortages, and even the likelihood of future pandemics could impact operations is critical in order to build the capacity to respond proactively. With its predictive capability, technology like AI is sure to play a role,” wrote Marr.

Marr adds, “As we move into 2025, it’s clear that businesses must be ready to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape. From leveraging generative AI to embracing sustainability and enhancing customer experiences, the trends shaping the future are both exciting and transformative. By staying proactive and building resilience in the face of uncertainty, companies can position themselves to not only survive, but thrive in the coming year.”