IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Industry Ecosystems 2025 Predictions
This IDC study provides IDC's 2025 top 10 predictions for future of industry ecosystems."For the next five years and beyond, we expect ecosystems to continue playing a critical, strategic role for organizations in every industry. Whether this is streamlining the delivery of patient care, responding more flexibly to the demand for manufactured products, or easing access to Smart City services, for the optimal outcome and experience, ecosystem participants must bring their systems, processes, and people together. This will not be for every initiative, need, and opportunity but rather for a defined set of use cases that is optimized by this collegial approach," said Jeffrey Hojlo, research vice president, Future of Industry Ecosystems.
IDC FutureScape Figure
Executive Summary
IDC FutureScape Predictions
Summary of External Drivers
Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers
Prediction 1: By 2026, 50% of Marketplaces Will Expand Community Capabilities with Fair-Value Monitoring to Incent Collaboration and Expand Data and Application Inventory and the Other 50% Will See Participation Decline
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 2: By 2027, Global Organizations Will Triple the Average Number of GenAI Production Launches from 5 to 15 Annually, Layering in Industry-Specific Model Gardens with General-Purpose Models
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 3: By 2029, 70% of Industry-Specific B2B Ecosystems Will Be Orchestrated by SMBs, Accelerated by Digital Investments in Cloud-Based Platforms and AI
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 4: By 2027, 65% of Ecosystems Involved in Physical Infrastructure Will Collaboratively Leverage AI-Powered Digital Twins to Increase the Yield and Sustainability of Asset Development and Operations
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 5: By 2026, 55% of Manufacturers Will Use GenAI to Share Data Across B2B2C to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, Resulting in Lower Costs, Supply Chain Resilience, Sustainability, and Regulatory Compliance
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 6: By 2029, 45% of Organizations Will Construct a Digital Twin of Their Ecosystem in the Metaverse, Enabling Simulation of Innovation and Experiences for a 5% Lower Cost of Quality and 35% Higher CSAT Scores
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 7: By 2029, 80% of Industry Ecosystems Will Leverage Blockchain-Driven Distributed Ledgers for Multiparty Capital Workflows, Enhancing Interoperability, Transparency, and Cost Efficiency
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 8: By 2028, 30% of CISOs Will Share Data and Expertise with Governments, Partners, and Competitors to Enhance Third-Party Risk Management and Threat Intelligence and to Comply with Cyber-Resilience Laws
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 9: By the End of 2025, Half of G2000 Organizations Will Enable Bespoke, Dynamic Customer Experiences Through the Connection of Multiple Partners and Data Models on a Single Digital Commerce Platform
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Prediction 10: By 2027, 40% of G2000 Industry Ecosystems Will Enable AI-Driven Governance to Predict and Mitigate Partnership Risks, Leading to a 10% Reduction in Operational Disruptions and Greater Ecosystem Resilience
Associated Drivers
IT Impact
Business Impact
Guidance
Advice for Technology Buyers
External Drivers: Detail
AI-Driven Business Models — Moving from AI Experimentation to Monetization
The Drive to Automate — Toward a Data-Driven Future
Future Proofing Against Environmental Risks — ESG Operationalization and Risk Management
AI-Driven Workplace Transformation — Building Tomorrow's Workforce Today
Expanding Digital Security Frontiers — Fortification Against Multiplying Threats
Geoeconomic Reordering — Rethinking Globalization, Supply Chains, and Macroeconomic Challenges
Customer Experience Squared — Consumer and Citizen Expectations for Digital Services
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