Propel Software Unveils Top 2025 Business and Technology Trends

Innovative Leader in Product Value Management Identifies the Five Key Trends to Watch in the New Year

Propel Software shares 2025 business and technology trends - highlighting five trends to watch in the New Year that will impact the corporate landscape.

Propel CEO, Ross Meyercord, outlines his top predictions for 2025 below.

AI Moves from Flashy Experiments to Solving Real World Problems

The next phase of AI evolves from unstructured and unpredictable LLMs looking for problems to solve to more process simplifying use of agents to improve productivity and decision making. Agents will take proactive steps, executing based on natural language processing, and chaining together a sequence of actions to perform complex tasks. These agents will finally realize the long promised productivity benefits of AI for business users. Furthermore, the AI landscape will be defined by a stark divergence between models that share information publicly versus those that keep enterprise data protected. Keeping data and proprietary models secure within the ecosystem, and safeguarding sensitive information is what will differentiate science projects from enterprise ready applications.

Thriving or Surviving? The Fate of Green Tech in a Subsidy-Free Future

An interesting dichotomy to watch will be “green sectors” that have historically received government incentives and subsidies. President-elect Trump has signaled a desire to remove these protections: industries such as solar, wind, electric cars and the like. It is probable there is enough consumer demand for these products to survive and even thrive on their own. How will removing subsidies impact price and ultimately demand? This could be a real win where these industries thrive and become globally competitive without significant subsidies.

The “X-factor” in green tech will be the influence of Elon Musk on the future Trump administration, as Musk has deep financial interests in solar and electric cars. It will be unlikely for a Trump administration to attack these sectors.

Vietnam Will Steal Manufacturing Crown from China

The incoming Trump administration has identified China and its manufacturing prowess as a key national security risk. Many U.S. and Western companies have already, or will soon plan their exit, or at least partial withdrawal from China. With robust infrastructure and manufacturing expertise already in place, Vietnam is poised to be the next Asian manufacturing champion. Vietnam is leveraging AI to overcome the last major hurdle—language barriers—to fast-track its global manufacturing ambitions. Vietnam’s ascent as a manufacturing leader will accelerate, solidifying its role as a critical player in the future of global production.

Mexico Tames Wild West: Infrastructure Improvements Spur Manufacturing Hub

Mexico’s strategic proximity to the U.S. is more than a geographical advantage, it’s a game changer. The country’s investment in infrastructure is transforming the region into a high-tech manufacturing hub, with modernized roads, enhanced facilities, and a skilled workforce ready to meet global demand. Guadalajara reigns as Mexico’s Silicon Valley, as the country continues to attract high-tech manufacturing at an unprecedented rate. By slashing supply chain cycle times and alleviating risk, its proximity to the U.S. makes Mexico an unrivaled choice for high-tech and complex manufacturing – representing a powerful convergence of convenience, speed and forward-thinking economic investment.

Construction to Production: Domestic Manufacturing Gets to Work

Fueled by landmark legislation like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, new U.S. manufacturing is rapidly transitioning from construction to production. After significant infrastructure investment, factories are moving to the next phase—equipping facilities, hiring skilled workers, and integrating advanced technologies to support a surge in domestic manufacturing. With bipartisan support for supply chain security and reducing reliance on foreign sources, the U.S. is positioning itself as a powerhouse for high-tech manufacturing in an era of global economic shifts. As one of the largest recipients of the CHIPs Act, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), is blazing the trail with U.S. yields outperforming Taiwan counterparts. Its brand new Phoenix-based facility recently reported a 4% increase in usable chips compared to output from Taiwan plants, which previously had been considered the gold standard of productivity.