Even though 2024 has seen rapid advancements in the way AI is used to make business processes even more efficient, AI will continue to play a major role in 2025.

If you ask Egon Cesar Coradini, Sales and Marketing Director at AlfaPeople, he foresees two major trends in 2025.

First, he expects the market to be heavily focused on AI with an even stronger emphasis on generative AI. Second, he expects a greater democratization of AI for data-driven decision-making, thus enabling a shift to automated decision-making.

»These two trends – generative AI and data-driven decision-making – will drive cross-industry change,« Coradini says.

C-level must be on top of the technology

As AI drives changes across industries in 2025, it will become increasingly important for C-level executives to stay on top of the technology. Otherwise, Coradini argues, they risk falling behind their competitors.

»AI enables competitive advantages. If leaders don’t pay attention to it, they may not outright lose, but they’ll certainly lag behind the competition. Staying informed and embracing AI is essential to remain competitive,« Coradini says.

Not only does AI drive innovation and operational efficiency, contends Coradini, but it also reduces costs and improves ROI by increasing revenue or cutting expenses. However, he warns that management and C-level must collaborate with specialists to understand how innovation can transform operations.

»The key is understanding how to turn new technology into operational efficiency: how to use innovation to reduce costs and improve revenue,« Coradini says.

According to data from AlfaPeople’s report Microsoft AI Solutions in Business Processes: Outlook 2025, 52 percent of respondents are currently utilizing AI features in their business processes. Some 40 percent are not, and 8 percent are unsure.

Coradini believes that the 40 percent not utilizing AI risk falling behind and losing market relevance because staying relevant is critical to success in a competitive landscape.

»If competitors do a better job integrating AI, those lagging behind will struggle. Market relevance is directly tied to opportunities: whether optimizing operations or enhancing customer engagement,« Coradini says.

Challenges and key opportunities

AI might be steaming ahead in 2025, but Coradini believes that some challenges are preventing businesses, particularly small to mid-size ones, from implementing AI.

For SMBs, the main challenge is limited technical expertise. While companies like AlfaPeople can support them, many lack the in-house expertise to implement AI.

Another challenge is cost. While AI is far more accessible than it was decades ago, there are still costs – both for software and the specialized personnel needed to implement and manage it.

The last major challenge, according to Coradini, is resistance to change. Humans naturally resist change, and some leaders may hesitate to overhaul existing processes. Yet, change is necessary to remain competitive.

However, Coradini believes that the challenges are heavily outweighed by the opportunities AI presents.

According to Coradini there are three key opportunities associated with AI:

• Improved decision-making through data analytics. While data-driven decisions aren’t new, AI enables insights at an unprecedented scale – especially with big data.
• Cost reduction through hyper-automation. AI automates repetitive tasks, freeing up employees for smarter activities and reducing operational expenses.
• Personalized customer experiences at scale. AI allows businesses to deliver tailored experiences, potentially to millions of customers, which was previously almost impossible.

Key areas to focus on in the AI journey

AI can benefit all industries, but its impact is particularly strong in sectors with large data volumes and repetitive transactions, such as retail, banking, insurance, and commerce.

In industries like logistics and manufacturing, AI enhances processes through predictive maintenance or route optimization. Conversely, AI adoption may take longer to mature in areas requiring creativity or subjective judgment.

Coradini explains that businesses looking to start their AI journey in 2025 should focus on four key areas to succeed.

• Define clear business goals for AI. Identify the problems you want to solve and the ROI you aim to achieve. AI isn’t just a trend – it must deliver measurable results.
• Start small and focus on impactful projects rather than overhauling everything at once. This creates early wins and maintains momentum for larger transformations.
• Workforce training is also critical. Employees must understand and trust the data-driving AI solutions. Invest in training to build confidence and competence within your teams.
• Ensure you have a robust data infrastructure. AI relies on high-quality, integrated data – without it, even the best AI tools won’t deliver value.

How can Microsoft Dynamics play a role in the AI journey?

If you ask Coradini, Microsoft applications can play a central role in the AI journey of a business. Microsoft is a leader in AI innovation and infrastructure, integrating AI seamlessly into tools like Dynamics 365, Office, and Teams. With Azure, it also provides the processing power and scalability needed for AI.

»Microsoft’s strength lies in its ability to bridge AI with existing systems – whether legacy or modern. This integration unlocks insights, improves workflows, and enhances business processes across the board,« Coradini says.

So, it strengthens the existing technology infrastructure, regardless of whether a company uses legacy or newer systems.

»Microsoft enhances and integrates with what is already there, making it a central piece in modernizing technology infrastructures.«