PUBLISHER: IDC | PRODUCT CODE: 1582659
PUBLISHER: IDC | PRODUCT CODE: 1582659
IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business 2025 Predictions
This IDC study presents IDC's top 10 predictions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for 2025 and beyond. IDC defines small businesses as those with 1-99 employees and medium-sized businesses as those with 100-999 employees."This IDC FutureScape examines 10 key future technology trends for SMBs over the next five years. It offers perspective backed by data to help SMBs cultivate their IT strategies and unveils new tools, technologies, and tactics to help SMBs better compete," says Katie Evans, senior director, Worldwide Small and Medium Business Markets for IDC. "From fresh AI strategies to seeking out vendors with specific SMB solutions to exposing the benefits of hybrid cloud, this year's IDC FutureScape for worldwide SMB provides a strategic IT glimpse into the future for tomorrow's SMB leaders."
IDC FutureScape Figure
Executive Summary
IDC FutureScape Predictions
- Summary of External Drivers
- Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
- Prediction 1: By 2025, 70% of SMBs Will Demand Clear Use Cases from Vendors or Managed Service Providers Marketing AI Capabilities Before They Invest In and Implement New AI/GenAI Technologies
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 2: By 2027, 50% of SMBs Will Significantly Adjust Their IT Budgets to Factor In AI as the Technology Improves, Vendors Solidify Their AI Pricing Strategies, and AI Becomes Essential to Compete
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 3: By 2026, 70% of Medium-Sized Companies Will Accelerate Investments in Digital Platforms for a Majority of Functions to Streamline Operations, Improve Efficiency, and Enhance the Customer Experience
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 4: By 2028, 70% of SMBs Will Boost Investments in Hybrid Cloud Due to Rising Security Demands, Including Enhanced Data Protection, Regulatory Compliance, and Support for Remote Work Environments
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 5: During 2025, 30% of SMBs Will Refocus Their Sustainability Positioning to Concentrate on Initiatives That Provide Tangible Business Benefits and Demonstrable Cost Efficiencies
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 6: During 2025, 50% of SMBs Will Prioritize Tactical AI Use Cases and Investments That Break the Correlation Between Business Expansion and Head Count Growth and Help Them Mitigate Internal Skills Shortages
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 7: By 2026, 70% of AI-as-a-Service Technology Vendors Will Provide Dedicated SMB Solutions with Pretrained Models, Limiting Their Need for Heavy Investments in Dedicated Infrastructure
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 8: By 2028, 65% of SMBs Will Develop and Manage Digital Business Models as Part of Their Business Corporate Strategy to Create New Revenue Streams and Enable Sustained Growth
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 9: By 2027, Due to an Increase in Cyberattacks, 60% of SMBs Will Deploy Sophisticated, AI-Enabled Cybersecurity Solutions, Including Endpoint and Network Security Solutions
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 10: By 2027, 60% of SMBs Will Be Investing In Connectivity Technologies That Incorporate AI to Increase Automation of the Network, Accelerate Planning, Improve Experiences, and Optimize Network Security
- Associated Drivers
- IT Impact
- Guidance
- Prediction 1: By 2025, 70% of SMBs Will Demand Clear Use Cases from Vendors or Managed Service Providers Marketing AI Capabilities Before They Invest In and Implement New AI/GenAI Technologies
Advice for Technology Buyers
External Drivers: Detail
- AI-Driven Business Models - Moving from AI Experimentation to Monetization
- The Drive to Automate - Toward a Data-Driven Future
- AI-Driven Workplace Transformation - Building Tomorrow's Workforce Today
- Regulatory Flux - Navigating Compliance Challenges in a Shifting Policy Landscape
- Expanding Digital Security Frontiers - Fortification Against Multiplying Threats
- Geoeconomic Reordering - Rethinking Globalization, Supply Chains, and Macroeconomic Challenges
- Customer Experience Squared - Consumer and Citizen Expectations for Digital Services
Learn More
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