Tech trends shaping SME success in 2025

From AI-driven automation to cybersecurity, data analytics, and blockchain, 2025 presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses willing to adapt. Vanessa Leite explores the key tech trends shaping SME success and why now is the time to act.

I once heard a CEO of a major multinational share a valuable insight: one of his biggest mistakes was not paying enough attention to technological change and innovation, and taking too long to embrace them. He noted that many leaders make the same error, believing that sticking to established methods is the safer option. However, history has shown that when it comes to technology and innovation, resisting change is no safe option at all. Companies that delay adaptation often miss out on growth opportunities and risk becoming obsolete.

This reality applies not just to large corporations but also to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). While big businesses may have greater resources for technological adoption, SMEs can often implement new technologies more efficiently, allowing them to embrace innovations early and reap the benefits sooner.

As we approach 2025, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and cybersecurity are reshaping the business landscape. For SMEs keen to grow, scale, and stay ahead of the competition, keeping up with these trends is no longer optional – it’s essential.

Here are the key technology trends I believe will shape SME success in 2025.

Artificial intelligence  

They say AI will disrupt everything, and if that’s true, you’ll want to be using it when that happens.

As an SME, in 2025 you can take advantage of a range of pre-built AI tools to analyse data, gain insights, and automate repetitive tasks. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft Azure AI can help with everything from customer support (via chatbots) to content creation and sentiment analysis. Additionally, these models can be fine-tuned to fit your specific needs. For instance, a legal firm could customise a model for tasks like contract analysis or legal research. Just keep in mind that fine-tuning these models usually requires a specific subscription and can come with extra costs.  

Companies can also use tools like Copy.ai for generating creative content. You can input a few keywords or topics, and it will generate various content options (e.g. product descriptions, blog outlines, email templates). There are also tools like Surfer SEO, which uses AI to analyse search results and suggest keyword strategies to improve content creation. It helps create SEO-optimised content that ranks higher in Google search results. 

With so many AI and AI-powered tools available today, SMEs have the chance to enhance several aspects of their operations and uncover opportunities they might not even know exist. 

Cyber security and privacy  

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) responded to 1,905 cyber incidents in New Zealand in CYQ3 last year, a 58 percent increase from the previous quarter. Direct financial losses of $5.5 million were reported in just one quarter. NCSC says that many cyber-attacks still go unreported.   

What’s even more alarming is that these figures typically represent only a portion of the financial losses – mainly direct costs like stolen funds and IT repairs. Indirect costs, such as legal fees, reputational damage, and intellectual property theft, are often not included but can quickly exceed the direct losses. 

As we look ahead to 2025, investing in cyber security is key, not just for preventing financial or reputational losses, but for building trust with consumers who are increasingly concerned about their privacy and security. Business that prioritise cyber security and privacy can gain a significant competitive edge over those that don’t. 

Companies that prioritise privacy, collect only necessary customer data, are transparent about its use, and protect it, are more likely to attract and retain customers in 2025. This is equally important in B2B interactions, as many large organisations require from their partners a certain level of security and due diligence standards. 

Adopting recognised cyber security frameworks like the NIST Cyber Security Framework (CSF), collaborating with experts to implement best practices, and obtaining certifications such as ISO 27001, can set businesses apart in procurement processes with larger organisations, including with end users.  

Data analytics and business intelligence

Data is key for informed decision-making and avoiding opinion-based decisions. While the benefits of data driven decision-making are well documented, research shows that many leaders and organisations aren’t fully leveraging data yet. Smaller companies, or those in less tech-focused sectors, may still rely more on intuition or experience when making decisions. The issue here is that when decisions are made in this way, they may not be highly accurate, could be biased, and might not fully align with potential growth opportunities. 

In 2025 SMEs can’t afford to fall behind larger corporations in harnessing the power of data. With today’s wide array of data analytics and business intelligence (BI) tools, turning data into useful insights is easier than ever. This shift enables smarter and more effective decisions that can drive growth and competitive advantage.  

For instance, tools like Google Looker Studio, Microsoft Power BI, and Tableau can be used by SMEs for creating interactive dashboards and reports. They help businesses track KPIs, monitor trends, and optimise operations. Zoho Analytics and QuickSight are other options of tooling that provide affordable, cloud-based solutions that integrate with a range of apps.  

There are also tools like Kissmetrics, which focus on customer behaviour analysis to improve marketing and retention. Or Hotjar, that focuses on user experience and website behaviour. This helps you to understand how users interact with your website and improve their overall experience. These tools can empower SMEs to analyse data more effectively, cut costs, and improve customer experiences – and this, without the need for complex infrastructure or hefty financial investments. 

Blockchain and cryptocurrency

You’ve probably heard of blockchain, which is a secure digital ledger that records transactions across many computers. You’ve also probably heard of cryptocurrency, which is digital money that uses blockchain to work. These technologies have gained significant popularity, and while they may seem complex at first, SMEs should make an effort in 2025 to understand and potentially use them. This is because when leveraged correctly, they can significantly transform and enhance business operations. 

There are two main ways to use blockchain. The first is by adopting blockchain technology itself, which would likely involve some level of development, customisation, and technical expertise. SMEs can use platforms like Ethereum or Hyperledger to add blockchain to their systems.

For example, an e-commerce company could use smart contracts on Ethereum to automate payments, holding funds in escrow until delivery is confirmed. This could reduce transaction fees, enhance security, and eliminate intermediaries. Additionally, while blockchain interactions use cryptocurrency for fees and records, payments can still be made with traditional money. 

The second way to use blockchain is by engaging with blockchain-based solutions or other platforms built on blockchain technology, like cryptocurrencies. This is often the best option if you want to integrate with existing systems and add value for your customers, without the need for custom development, and deep technical expertise.  

For instance, a small online store can use a payment processor like BitPay to accept cryptocurrency payments. BitPay is a crypto payment processor that reduces transaction fees and allows international customers to pay without worrying about exchange rates. If you use e-commerce platforms like Shopify or Magento, you can easily enable cryptocurrency payments by installing available plugins or add-ons directly from the platform. This could give your business an edge over competitors who only use traditional payment methods. 

Read more: Tech up for success

2025: The time to act is now

In 2025, it’s time for you as an SME to embrace technology solutions that can improve your efficiency, scalability, and customer experience. This will not only help you streamline operations but also enable you to compete with larger players in ways that weren’t possible before. Although some of these trends, like AI, have been around for a while now, they’re still in the early stages of adoption, creating untapped opportunities and value. 

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, survival and growth aren’t just about keeping up with the competition – they’re also about staying ahead of the curve. Embracing innovation early can give companies a significant competitive edge. The good news for SMEs is that their smaller size allows them to adopt changes more quickly and test new solutions with greater agility, compared to larger organisations. SMEs that are willing to take this leap are more likely to thrive in the 2025 digital landscape.