Top Digital Trends Set to Take 2025 by Storm

By Hardy Sidhu, Founder and CEO of new-age digital product studio, Format-3 

The new year has kicked off with the promise of fresh opportunities and innovations – particularly in the world of digital tech, where emerging trends might just constitute the next big leap.  

Far from the exception to this rule, 2025 promises great success for businesses ready to adapt and adopt, with everything from super apps to generative AI transforming brand outcomes in line with consumer expectations.  In fact, the future of digital product development is more auspicious than ever, with the following dynamic currents reeling in benefits no growing company can afford to ignore.  

Generative AI 

From DALL E 3 to Adobe Firefly, we embraced plenty of generative AI platforms throughout 2024. In the year ahead, we can expect to see these solutions increasingly transform from simple tools for creating art and answering queries to an integral driver of operational efficiency, consumer engagement and personalised app experiences.  

Platforms like DALL E 3 empower brands to integrate visual creativity directly into their apps, enabling features like customised marketing assets and real-time branding solutions. Conversational AI in apps is likewise revolutionising consumer interactions, with chatbots increasingly capable of nuanced, empathetic exchanges in multiple languages, reducing the reliance on human support – whilst bettering the experience overall.  

Far from inflated hype, 73% of organisations are now investing in AI technologies to remain relevant according to Forrester, with Deloitte confirming that the AI market is expected to reach $109.37 billion in value by 2030 – all evidence that adopting these tools and embedding AI capabilities into bespoke platforms not only generates efficiency but also unparalleled differentiation in crowded and competitive markets.  

Super apps 

It’s all about retaining competitivity by digitally enhancing customer convenience. That’s why super apps are the next big thing in the tech world, with single apps that can handle everything from booking and banking to shopping and messaging reshaping worldwide consumer expectations. Originating in Asia in platforms like WeChat and Grab, super apps have made themselves indispensable in consumers’ lives by combining multiple functionalities into one unified ecosystem. WeChat, for example, integrates messaging, social media, e-commerce and payment systems, whilst Grab encompasses ride-hailing, food delivery and financial services.  

With the super app trend now expanding to Western markets, with companies like PayPal and Uber exploring super app models, competitive businesses must look at developing their own bespoke apps that replicate such integral utility, even on a smaller scale.  

Uber has recently added services like Uber Eats, Uber Freight and Uber for Business to its existing offer, for example, and is currently exploring financial services, as the traditional payment processing platform, PayPal, continues to add features aimed at making it a one-stop-shop for individuals and businesses through acquisitions like Honey, which allows for price comparison and coupon application. Smaller companies can replicate this super app model by focussing on creating a unified platform that offers a variety of services tailored to their customer base. It’s all about imagining, adding and creating continuous consumer value with indispensable sticky features that lead to higher usage and retention for the best possible ROI.  

Personalisation 

Keeping things personal is another great way to hold onto customers, with people now expecting digital experiences that are tailored to their individual needs. Companies that fail to deliver this risk irrelevance, with AI-driven personalisation adding a new layer to the bespoke digital game. A key example of this is Spotify Wrapped, which uses data to create a personalised year-end review.  

According to Salesforce, 63% of consumers now expect businesses to tailor experiences to them, so companies that create similar bespoke platforms that integrate advanced data analytics can expect to perform well.  

Embedded finance 

Of course, digital investment has to come with returns – and what better way to generate these than integrating your own ways to pay? Digital wallets and in-app payment systems are no longer niche but the standard, with platforms like Shopify increasing brand stickiness by simplifying user transactions.  

According to McKinsey and Company, annual embedded finance revenues will grow to $230 billion by 2025 – driven by a surge in e-commerce and consumer preference for fast, seamless in-app transactions. Businesses looking to capture market share must therefore consider built-in financial capabilities when building their platforms.  

Sustainable tech 

Naturally, sustainability is an ongoing concern in digital development, as well, with an increasing number of consumers demanding environmentally responsible practices. From apps that promote carbon tracking to platforms that optimise supply chains for sustainability, the focus on green innovation is redefining the digital business. By 2025, in fact, 76% of consumers will choose brands based on their sustainability efforts according to Deloitte’s 2023 Global Consumer Insights Survey – so businesses that integrate green into their platforms, be it through transparency dashboards or eco-friendly options – will gain a future-proof competitive edge.  

Seizing opportunities in digital innovation 

As consumer expectations evolve, brands must ensure their digital products keep pace. The trends reshaping 2025 – from AI-powered customer chatbots to the all-encompassing promise of super apps – demand an approach that’s both innovative and strategic. Companies that partner with experts in digital product ideation and creation will thus be better positioned to succeed in a market where staying ahead isn’t just about knowing the trends but about also turning them into tangible business opportunities and products.