Trends to Watch in 2025: How Technology, Innovation, and Adaptation are Shaping Key Sectors

Estimated reading time:? 3.5 minutes

Written by: Judith Harrington , Tiarnan McCaughan , Eoin Hughes , Samantha Warner , Sophie O'Grady , Niall Casey and Libby Ryan

EdTech – Gen AI

Generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) are consistently used outside the classroom, often without the approval of educators. We are now starting to see these tools integrated into classroom settings, where they facilitate a better learning experience for all students.

After an initial ban of ChatGPT in Australian schools (which has since been lifted), education providers are now embracing Gen AI tools to improve student outcomes. One instance of successful implementation was in September 2024, the New South Wales government launched NSWEduChat, a Generative AI tool that guides students to the correct answers through prompts rather than providing them answers directly.

These tools tailor the learning experience to individual students, improve outcomes, reduce teacher workloads, and offer personalised feedback. These tools can act as personalised tutors, alleviating pressure on teachers. This is crucial given the predicted shortage of 4,100 teachers across Australia in 2025.

Fintech & Financial Services

Fintech and Financial Services is a fast-moving area in both Ireland and Australia. Already this year there is plenty of debate around payment and card-surcharging regulation and business, while the Tranch 2 KYC reforms have been passed and many businesses have begun working out how they will become compliant.

Cryptocurrency is going increasingly mainstream, and we can expect more of the price swings, but the finance industry is more focused on deploying the technology behind it for stablecoins and faster cross-border settlement.

As AI is increasingly deployed to make decisions and create efficiencies across financial institutions, Australian regulators have flagged intent to scrutinise that it is being deployed fairly. Fraud and scams are unfortunately not going away, and similarly banks are looking for ways to protect their customers while preserving a usable digital-first experience.

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Consumer

The Australian Consumer sector in 2025 looks to be defined by technological advances such as VR shopping, sustainability (say no to fast fashion!) and a growing focus on health and wellness – goodbye anxiety.

How will companies continue to advertise their products in the market? There will be a rise of products being discussed and advertised in podcasts, more opportunities for the use of VR, with consumers being able to visualise products in their home or even try on clothing virtually. The rise of mobile and in-store experiences, will also continue to grow and become more creative to influence shoppers to spend, as well as social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram being used to influence consumers.

Buy Now, Pay Later services such as Afterpay will remain a dominant feature of Australian retail as consumers look for convenient ways to pay during the cost-of-living crisis.

If businesses can adapt to what consumers want, while integrating technological advances, ethical practices, and personalised offerings, they will be well-positioned to succeed in 2025.

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Agriculture

In Australia, agricultural production was heavily impacted by varied seasonal weather conditions across the country in 2024, in particular in the dairy sector where drought conditions in Western Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia greatly affected pasture growth. This along with lower farmgate prices has led to tighter margins for dairy farmers, which combined with high interest rates and reduced tax incentives for capital investments has led to a slowdown in the agrimachinery market.

However, rainfall is expected to improve in the first half of 2025 which will increase grass growth, and above average production is expected in horticulture and cropping, while beef and lamb production are expected to increase with demand. In addition, it is hoped that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate, which has remained at 4.35% since November 2023, will finally be cut in February, reducing the cost of borrowing for higher value farm equipment.

On another positive note, the Australian federal government’s On Farm Connectivity Program is incentivising farmers to adopt digital solutions and install connected machinery/equipment on their farms and presents an opportunity for Irish agritech companies with products that help to boost productivity and improve farm safety. A third round of the program has just been announced, providing a further $20m in rebates for farmers.

In New Zealand, a strong farmgate milk price set by Fonterra at the end of 2024 will increase dairy farmers’ earnings which, combined with falling interest rates (the Official Cash Rate has been cut by 1.25% since July) should boost investment in dairy farm machinery and technology.