NI 2025 Trend Report

As we approach 2025, one thing is certain: the pace of innovation is outpacing our traditional approaches to testing and development. As President of Emerson’s Test and Measurement division, I’m excited to explore this fascinating crossroads in our industry. Navigating the rising complexity of products and systems requires more than just technical know-how; it demands bold leadership, strategic foresight, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines and industries.???

At Emerson’s Test and Measurement division, we are not just observers of this transformation—we are shaping it. With decades of expertise and a relentless commitment to empowering engineers, we’re turning the challenges of an increasingly complex world into opportunities for groundbreaking progress. This isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about leading the charge toward smarter, faster, and more resilient solutions.?

Across industries, the landscape is evolving. Product complexity is growing exponentially, timelines are tightening, and cost pressures remain relentless. At the same time, the demand for higher product quality—ensured through rigorous testing and measurement—continues to become more stringent. As technologies like AI, edge computing, and autonomous systems mature, success increasingly hinges on precision, reliability, and the ability to deliver excellence at every stage—from design to production.?

?The year ahead is brimming with opportunities to be unlocked, and I invite you to join us as we navigate these industry-defining trends together, charting a course toward an innovative future.

Teetering on the Edge: A Quality Tolerance Inflection Point

Quality has always been crucial, but as once “nice-to-have” technologies become “need-to-have,” “good enough” is simply no longer acceptable. As we head into 2025, the new baseline is perfection—especially in sectors like automotive and aerospace, where even minor flaws can carry substantial risks. Rudy Sengupta, NI's VP & GM of Test and Analytics Software describes this trend as the “quality tolerance inflection point.” This inflection point is where product complexity and criticality have escalated to a level that demands significantly higher standards for quality, reliability, and testing.

"The risk associated with failure is exponentially greater with advanced systems like radar and adaptive cruise control than with simpler components,” Rudy explains. “Our customers face unprecedented new and rising quality requirements, and we, along with our partners, are dedicated to helping them meet these elevated standards." Take advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as an example—here, perfection isn’t just a goal; it’s a necessity for safety. These technological advancements are putting immense pressure on test engineers to validate systems under real-world conditions.

But there’s a silver lining: edge computing is revolutionizing traditional testing methods. "We can now bring high-performance computing power directly to the edge, enabling real-time decisions on analog data," Sengupta shares. This leap allows engineers to generate actionable insights and make immediate adjustments, significantly reducing delays and resource demands associated with offsite data processing.

The convergence of this quality tolerance inflection point and real-time edge computing signals the dawn of a new era in test and measurement. This shift is already happening, and in 2025, engineers must be prepared to adapt.

The Key to Unlocking Engineering Efficiency

But as engineers need to adapt, so too do the companies where they work. Luke Schreier, NI’s VP of Sales and Marketing, shares insights on how remote and hybrid work models are expanding collaboration across geographical and generational lines. “We’re seeing a more generationally diverse workforce than ever before,” he notes. This moment in history is underscoring the need for adaptive technologies that support collaborative work across different environments. The shift isn’t just about where people work, but how they expect to work—fostering greater efficiency.

“So, how do we prepare for this change in work behavior?” he asks. For many, this means rethinking traditional roles and increasingly leaning on ecosystem partners to focus on core competencies, allowing in-house teams to zero in on high-impact tasks. “Even if we can do it cost-effectively ourselves, why not engage a specialist to perform the task?” he explains. This approach helps engineering teams stay agile while leveraging specialized expertise.

In addition to collaboration challenges, the role of the individual engineer is also evolving. Complex and time-consuming tasks can now be streamlined with a new, powerful tool – AI.

AI will be key to the future of test and measurement, serving as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human expertise. NI’s Rudy Sengupta describes this as an "expert-led" approach, where engineers maintain oversight while AI handles routine tasks. “The expert remains in the loop; AI assists, but it’s not the decision maker,” he explains. This allows engineers to focus on high-value work rather than getting bogged down by repetitive tasks, boosting productivity while keeping human insight at the forefront.

This is a particularly exciting shift in our industry which will elevate engineers around the world to become empowered creators, utilizing flexible, automated systems to tackle more complex projects. Schreier advises teams to “invest in adaptable architectures that handle compute needs wherever required,” enabling streamlined workflows and sustained productivity. And when the engineers clock out for the day, their work doesn’t have to stop.

NI’s Portfolio Business Unit VP & GM, Jesse Lyles, predicts the future of a fully automated, “lights-out” lab where testing runs autonomously 24/7. "Creating this lights-out factory is what companies should be looking for and seeking support from test and measurement vendors," he says. Jesse sees this level of automation as a key step forward toward a future where labs operate autonomously, running tests seamlessly around the clock. "It just continues to run cycle after cycle after cycle while you sleep or focus on more important things,” said Jesse.

Scaling the Data Mountain with AI: Quantity and Quality Are Key

As we move into 2025, we’re realizing that we don’t have nearly as much data as we need. The assumption that current data suffices for AI-driven insights is outdated, especially as next-generation technologies demand more and more data inputs to enhance predictive capabilities and meet the heightened quality tolerance. In 2025, the companies that thrive will be those that invest in data acquisition, processing, and analytics to drive intelligent, responsive product evolution.

Yes, AI is here to help, but it’s only as effective as the data feeding it. “Data quality and quantity are now foundational, not just for insights, but for real-time, actionable results in the field,” says Robert Manion, NI’s VP & GM for Semiconductor & Electronics. Quite simply, more data allows for a deeper understanding of product performance and optimization but also requires advanced systems to manage data collection, processing, and storage.

“Our customers are collecting more data than ever to gain insights into product performance under varied conditions,” Manion explains. “This additional data enables credible claims about efficiency and durability across the product lifecycle.” In sectors like renewable energy, having access to long-term reliability data is critical. “More data provides a clearer picture of how products will perform over years or decades,” he adds.

But scaling the data mountain isn’t easy. Turning data into actionable insights is even harder. As we enter 2025, AI will be a game-changer in automating data analysis and revealing insights that manual methods can’t match. But as Manion emphasizes, “Without high-quality training data, AI insights will fall short. It’s the quality, not just the volume, that determines the effectiveness of AI-driven insights.”

You Can’t Go It Alone: Partners, AI, and an Ecosystem for the Win

As industries continue to evolve product and test complexity for 2025 and beyond will continue to rise exponentially. Balancing device complexity, accelerated timelines, and pressures to reduce cost add to the challenge. The bad news is that you can’t do it alone, The good news is that you don’t have to.??

The future belongs to those who embrace collaboration—not only through the integration of AI and edge technologies but also by cultivating strategic partnerships within a trusted ecosystem. At Emerson’s Test and Measurement division, we are dedicated to empowering engineers and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.?

?By partnering with our global network, engineers, teams, and technology companies can tackle the increasing complexities of today’s world with confidence.??

?Together, we’ll accelerate product development, broaden expertise, and enable smarter, more responsive testing—unlocking new possibilities for innovation and success. Let’s continue to redefine the future of test and measurement, transforming complexity into a powerful catalyst that empowers industries to achieve more than ever before.

Join us April 28-30, at NI Connect 2025 in Fort Worth to experience firsthand the exciting advancements ahead of us as we shape the future of test and measurement.

NI Distribution Partners worldwide host seminars, tech days, and other events to help NI customers ensure success with NI tools and technology. Join us at an event near you:

Italy: Napoli (12/5), Bologna (12/12) - Test and Measurement Days 2024 hosted by MeasureIT. Register here.