Widely discussed trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, hyper-personalization of service, leveraging proprietary data, and decarbonization strategies remain prominent in business strategies and continue to shape the market, requiring the attention of leadership and redefining market paradigms. However, just as important as keeping up with already established trends is looking beyond the obvious and identifying new frontiers of innovation to better seize growth opportunities.
“The central challenge for the coming years will be to balance technological sophistication with operational simplicity, while exploring the potential of new economies,” he says.Felipe Novaes, CGO (Chief Growth Officer) and founder of The Bakery Brasil.The scarcity of resources and the growing demand for renewable energy solutions require companies to adopt practices of greater efficiency and sustainability. This analysis aims to illuminate the path for those prepared to lead, not just to follow the movements of transformation, building a scenario where innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility are inseparable," says the executive.
To meet this demand,The Bakery, a global reference in corporate innovation,shares a comprehensive vision for the year ahead, theThe Bakery Radar: What only our experts predict for 2025.The material analyzes current market trends and presents bets that are off the radar of major companies but could redefine the market and surprise many leaders. Check out the highlights below.
- Social networks: the new value of connections
The way society generates and exchanges value is transforming. Social networks and online communities are no longer just spaces for interaction; they are becoming the core of new economies. As people work and collaborate from anywhere, personal and professional connections take on a new meaning.
The economy will no longer be measured only by financial capital, but also by “relationship capital”The economic value will be built based on how each business connects with its target audience and the market. This movement goes far beyond the major platforms. New digital ecosystems will emerge, creating alternative ways to monetize and generate value. Corporations that know how to position themselves in this new economy – creating relationship hubs and interaction platforms – will have a competitive advantage.
- Digital minimalism
Every day, new AI tools, apps, and platforms emerge, promising to improve productivity and transform the way we work and communicate. It's a true explosion of digital solutions, but this technological avalanche is creating a side effect: saturation. In 2025, The Bakery predicts an opposing trend gaining strength: digital minimalism. The search will be for fewer, but better solutions.
Companies and consumers will seek to simplify their digital lives by choosing the few technologies that truly add value. An example of this is the bankMagic, integrated with instant messaging platforms, where customers can manage their finances without needing an additional app. This more focused and simplified approach will become a differentiator.
- Real estate sector
The real estate sector has always been traditional and resistant to rapid technological changes, but this is about to change. By 2025, significant growth is expected in the sector driven by new constructions and the adoption of technologies such as automation, IoT, and augmented reality for property management.
However, the sector still suffers from complex and bureaucratic processes, as well as a high dependence on intermediaries. This creates a window of opportunity for new solutions that simplify transactions, reduce costs, and increase transparency in the market. Platforms that digitize the buying and selling process of real estate, for example, have immense potential to transform the market.
- Metaverse is no longer just hype
A few years ago, the metaverse emerged as a great promise of digital transformation, but it quickly lost prominence, being seen as something distant and too futuristic. However, with the advancement of technology and integration with other innovations, its potential begins to be seen in a different way. Instead of just a virtual space for socializing, the metaverse can become a new channel for business and relationships.
Corporate meetings in immersive virtual environments, customers interactively trying out products before purchasing, ordigital twins (“digital clones” that simulate the behavior and performance of their real counterparts, allowing for better understanding, analysis and optimization)they are becoming close scenarios. Integrated into the daily life of companies, the metaverse can offer unprecedented experiences for consumers and create new revenue opportunities.
One of the major challenges for the metaverse was the creation of 3D environments and content. But generative artificial intelligence is changing this landscape, making the development of 3D experiences easier and making these tools more accessible, which previously required advanced knowledge.
Although investments in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have significantly declined in 2024, this change can be seen as a phase of "rebranding". The market is redefining what truly matters. Specialists now see the technologies behind the metaverse – such as Generative AI, AR, VR, and Web3 – as the foundation for the future of the digital experience. What is expected for 2025 is a metaverseless focused on past hype and more focused on practical, transformative applications.
- Competition redefined
A decade ago, identifying competitors was simple: just look at companies that sold similar products in the same market. However, with digital transformation and business diversification, these boundaries have become increasingly blurred –and this trend is only expected to grow in 2025.
Today, succeeding in the market requires balancing the strengthening of the core business with the creation of new growth avenues. Betting everything on a single area is risky, sinceThe biggest disruptions come not just from traditional rivals, but from unexpected sectors and players. For example, for a beauty company, the competition is no longer just another cosmetics brand, but also platforms likeFree Market, which offer an integrated experience that includes everything from shopping to financial services.
This scenario reflects "transversal competition," where the challenge is not only to lead in a sector but also to expand your presence in the consumer's journey and create value in innovative ways. Giants likeAlibabaThey exemplify this trend well: upon noticing the lack of financial infrastructure for their operations, they launched Alipay, a digital bank. This diversification strategy transformed Alibaba from an e-commerce company into a comprehensive ecosystem that includes finance, technology, and logistics.For large companies, the message is clear: diversification is no longer just about exploring new opportunities – it is now a matter of protecting oneself against market surprises.
To check out the e-book click here:“Radar The Bakery: What only our experts predict for 2025”
