After a decade of sustained growth, the digital market in France is entering a phase of maturity, according to the Numeum and PAC report of December 2024. Growth of 4.1% is expected in 2025, reflecting a stabilisation in the IT sector. This growth will be driven mainly by continued investment in digital transformation and business modernisation, with two catalysts: the cloud and AI. Discover the main technological trends for 2025.
Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI will continue to advance in 2025, radically transforming many sectors. According to the Gartner report published in October 2024, by 2028, 15% of day-to-day business decisions will be taken autonomously by AI agents.
This development will mark a turning point in the way businesses operate and make decisions. AI agents will be particularly useful for automating complex technical projects. In the field of software development, these agents will be able to generate code, detect and correct bugs, or suggest performance optimisations. This will allow developers to concentrate on more creative and strategic tasks.
According to a McKinsey study published in November 2024, business units related to customer service, marketing and sales, software engineering and R&D would account for 75 % of the total annual value generated by the AI use cases studied.
Since August 2024, the European Artificial Intelligence Regulation, or AI Act, has been in force with the aim of ensuring the safe use of AI, while promoting innovation and the competitiveness of European industry.
The regulations have been drawn up using an approach based on an assessment of the risks associated with the various AI systems. The obligations will come into force gradually, with certain AI systems banned from 2 February 2025. These include, for example, social rating systems and systems offering automated decisions in sensitive areas. General-purpose AI systems (GPAI) are not left out and are also affected by the text. A Europe-wide code of practice is expected this year.
Cybersecurity
According to a Statista study published in June 2024, The damage caused by cybercrime is expected to reach $175 billion in France by 2025.
To counter this threat, businesses will have to invest massively in advanced technologies. AI will play a crucial role in proactive threat detection. AI systems will be able to analyse massive amounts of data in real time to identify suspicious behaviour and prevent attacks before they occur.
Biometric authentication will also become more widespread. According to a study by Juniper Research, biometric authentication will account for more than $3 billion in payment transactions worldwide by 2025.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing will continue its rapid expansion in 2025, becoming an increasingly central part of corporate IT strategies.
Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud will be the dominant approaches. Companies will be looking to optimise their costs and performance by using a combination of public, private and on-premise cloud services. According to Gartner, 90% of businesses will adopt a hybrid cloud approach by the end of 2027.
Edge computing, an extension of cloud computing, will also gain in importance. This technology, which brings data processing closer to its source, will be crucial for applications requiring low latency, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial IoT. Allied Market Research estimates that the global market will reach $16.557 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.8% since 2018.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
AR and VR will extend far beyond the realm of video games in 2025. According to a Statista report, the European AR and VR market is expected to reach $198.2 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 43.8% between 2021 and 2025.
In the training sector, AR and VR will offer immersive and interactive learning experiences. For example, surgeons will be able to train for complex procedures in ultra-realistic virtual environments.
In industry, AR will be used for predictive maintenance, enabling technicians to visualise potential problems before they occur.
Retail will also be transformed. From virtual fittings to 3D shop tours, AR and VR will redefine the online and in-store shopping experience.
Super Apps
Super apps, offering a multitude of services within a single interface, will develop rapidly by 2025. Gartner estimates that 50 % of the world's population will be using Super Applications on a daily basis by 2027.
These applications will integrate functionalities such as payments, messaging, shopping and booking services. For example, a single app could allow a user to order a meal, pay bills, book a trip and communicate with friends, all without leaving the app.
Super apps will represent a challenge for regulators in terms of data protection and fair competition. However, they will also offer new opportunities for businesses to create integrated digital ecosystems.
The year 2025 therefore promises to be a period of accelerated digital transformation. Technologies will continue to redefine the way we work, interact and do business.