Market Gaps for 2024, Part 4

Market Gap Watchlist: Emerging Trends for 2025 (Part 4)

Introduction

Here we are—the final chapter in our look at industries brimming with potential for 2025. Over the past few blogs, we’ve peeled back the layers on where innovation is happening and, more importantly, where it’s still needed.

In this last piece, we’re rounding out the series by exploring a few more key markets where growth and opportunity meet. Each one comes with its own challenges, but it’s those gaps that hold the real potential. So, let’s dive in and uncover the last set of ideas that could spark the next big move.

1. Analytics-as-a-Service (AaaS)

Data is the new gold, but extracting its value can be a challenge. That’s where Analytics-as-a-Service (AaaS) comes in—a model where businesses skip the heavy lifting of building analytics infrastructure and lean on cloud-based solutions instead. Valued at $11.32 billion in 2024 and set to grow at a 25.6% CAGR through 2030, the AaaS market is proof that more businesses are choosing simplicity without sacrificing insights.

This surge is being fueled by companies wanting smarter ways to analyze patterns in their data—whether it’s improving sales performance, forecasting demand, or managing supply chains. As the need for data-driven decision-making grows, the adoption of cloud-based solutions is making AaaS even more appealing. But despite its rise, there are still gaps that could unlock even greater potential.

Potential Gaps:

  • Seamless Integration: Many businesses struggle to integrate AaaS solutions with their existing data systems, especially when data is scattered across different silos. Tools that make integration simple, even for companies without dedicated IT teams, could be game-changing.
  • Industry-Specific Analytics: Current AaaS platforms often offer generic solutions, but businesses in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics have unique needs. There’s an opportunity to create tailored analytics solutions that align with industry-specific workflows.
  • Cost Transparency: While AaaS is marketed as a cost-saving option, hidden fees for storage or extra processing often catch companies off guard. Platforms offering clear, predictable pricing could help build trust and encourage wider adoption.

2. Intelligent Process Automation (IPA)

Automation’s been around for a while, but let’s be honest—today’s businesses aren’t just looking for “faster.” They want “smarter.” That’s where Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) steps in, blending AI, machine learning, and tools like computer vision to not only streamline processes but also cut down on errors and improve productivity.

With a market worth $14.55 billion in 2024 and growing at 22.6% annually, IPA is quickly becoming a go-to for businesses trying to do more with less. Whether it’s using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to handle mountains of paperwork or natural language processing to streamline customer interactions, the tech is evolving fast. But as with anything, there’s still room for improvement.

Potential Gaps:

  • Making IPA Friendlier for SMEs: Small and medium businesses are often left out of the automation game because most tools are built with big enterprises in mind. A simpler, more affordable version of IPA—tailored for smaller companies—could open the door for broader adoption.
  • Breaking Down Platform Barriers: Many IPA solutions don’t play nicely with older systems or other platforms businesses already use. There’s a big opportunity here for tools that are flexible and easy to integrate, no matter what tech stack a company has.
  • Getting Humans and Machines on the Same Page: Automation is great, but it still needs human input in many cases. Right now, a lot of IPA tools fall short when it comes to blending human oversight with automated processes. Imagine tools that give real-time insights or make it easier for teams to jump in when needed—now that’s something businesses would love.

Potential Market Gaps:

  1. Storage for Small Players: Big renewable projects are solving their storage issues, but smaller users—like households or local businesses—are still struggling. There’s a gap for compact and affordable energy storage solutions that fit smaller setups, making solar and wind power more practical for everyone.
  2. Neighborhood Energy Sharing: Imagine this—your solar panels are producing more energy than you need, and instead of sending it back to the grid, you could share it with your neighbours. Creating peer-to-peer energy trading tools could make renewables more community-oriented and efficient.

3. 5G Services Market

5G is making high-speed, real-time connectivity a reality, transforming how devices, homes, and industries work together. With a market valued at $84.31 billion in 2023 and a staggering 59.4% CAGR projected through 2030, it’s clear this technology is redefining the digital ecosystem.

From smart home energy management systems to interconnected IoT applications, 5G is enabling innovations that weren’t possible before. Industries are already exploring how to leverage this speed and capacity for better efficiency and user experiences. But there are still hurdles to overcome before its full potential is realized.

Potential Gaps:

  • High Deployment Costs: Building and upgrading 5G infrastructure is expensive. The need for advanced technologies like small cells and fiber optic networks makes deployment a costly endeavor, especially in regions with less financial or technical support.
  • Slow Adoption of Advanced Use Cases: While 5G promises game-changing capabilities like ultra-reliable low-latency communication (uRLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC), many of these applications remain underdeveloped. Scaling solutions for industries like manufacturing or healthcare could unlock 5G’s real revenue-driving potential.
  • Consumer Reluctance to Upgrade Devices: Not everyone is rushing to buy 5G-compatible gadgets. High device costs are holding back consumers, which could delay the widespread adoption needed to drive the 5G ecosystem forward.

    4. Healthcare Business Collaboration Tools

    Healthcare is getting a much-needed digital upgrade, and collaboration tools are leading the charge. Valued at $32.53 billion in 2024 and growing at a 23.4% CAGR through 2030, this market reflects how hospitals, clinics, and care providers are embracing tools that make working together faster, easier, and more effective.

    The shift to remote and real-time collaboration isn’t just about convenience—it’s about better patient care. Whether it’s streamlining workflows, enabling telemedicine consultations, or improving communication between healthcare providers, these tools are reshaping how the industry operates. Still, even with all this progress, there’s room for improvement.

    Potential Gaps:

    • Improving Data Interoperability: Healthcare systems often struggle to integrate collaboration tools with existing electronic health records (EHRs) and other legacy systems. There’s a clear opportunity for platforms that prioritize seamless integration while maintaining strict compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
    • Balancing Usability and Security: Collaboration tools in healthcare must juggle two big demands: being easy to use and extremely secure. Current tools sometimes lean too far in one direction, sacrificing one for the other. Solutions that strike this balance without overcomplicating workflows could be game-changers.
    • Expanding Accessibility for Smaller Clinics: While larger hospitals have the budgets for advanced tools, smaller clinics often get left out. Affordable, scaled-down versions of collaboration platforms tailored to smaller healthcare providers could help level the playing field.

    Conclusion

    And just like that, we’ve reached the end of our market gap watchlist for 2025. Across this series, we’ve explored industries that are growing fast, evolving even faster, and leaving behind spaces that are just waiting to be filled.

    The main takeaway? Every gap represents more than just a challenge—it’s an invitation to innovate. Whether it’s solving an old problem with a fresh perspective or pushing an industry into uncharted territory, the opportunities are endless if you know where to look.

    If you’ve missed the earlier blogs in this series, now’s the perfect time to go back and catch up. Each part is packed with insights, trends, and ideas to help you spot the next big opportunity.

    Ivan Zografski

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