E-commerce growth, technology advancements and customer experience are just a few trends small business owners need to adopt to thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. That said, now that we have kicked off 2025, here are six top trends on the horizon for small businesses this year and what they can do to embrace them.
E-commerce and Ways to Sell Online
It may come as no surprise in a post-pandemic world, but e-commerce currently accounts for a fifth of all retail sales worldwide, a figure that is only expected to grow to nearly a quarter of all sales by 2027. Traditional e-commerce platforms still process a lot of these sales, however, another one to watch is social commerce, where digital marketplaces merge with social platforms. Social commerce creates a dynamic and powerful sales channel. If a business can offer products or services online, layered in with social media advertising, consider e-commerce and social commerce as an opportunity to boost sales.
With websites, apps and various social media platforms being the primary tools for customer interaction and sales, businesses need to build a strong online presence. This trend isn’t going anywhere in 2025, as social media continues to revolutionise the way Australian consumers shop.
Elevating the Customer Experience
Customer experience can be a key differentiator between a business and the competition, so creating positive experiences at every level can automatically give the upper hand. From communication methods, social media posts and business values to the point-of-sale interaction, every experience shapes the way customers consider a business for future purchasing decisions.
Remember, with increasing competition to choose from, keeping customers is just as important as acquiring them. Business owners could consider a loyalty program, rewards and member-only discounts to give their business that competitive edge and encourage repeat business.
Convenient and Safe Digital Payments
The ways Aussies pay for goods and services have never been more convenient, with a broad range of payment options now available. Specifically, cashless payments have become critical for business owners, giving their customers the choice to pay their own way, fast. Unfortunately, with the ‘tap and go’ convenience for consumers comes a rise in merchant EFTPOS fees for business owners. When it comes to EFTPOS providers, you have other options than your business bank. There are specialist EFTPOS providers in the market, such as Smartpay, whose core focus is EFTPOS and offer a Smartpay Zero Cost™ EFTPOS* solution to wipe away EFTPOS fees. That way businesses can reinvest the savings back into their business for other uses such as staff wages, business overheads, keeping prices down or even a loyalty program for customers!
With digital payments on the rise, a trend that unfortunately isn’t going anywhere in 2025 is scams and fraudulent activity. To help protect the business, it is critical that owners and staff are trained on how to spot a potential scam (you can check out our article on this topic here!). It’s also important to prioritise implementing reliable systems and payment suppliers to minimise risk for customers and the business.
In-house Creative Solutions
Depending on the business’s goals, marketing can seem like a costly exercise, yet it’s so crucial to have a presence in the specific market. Luckily, in-house creative design and marketing practices are taking a front seat and don’t have to be as huge of an investment or require advanced design skills as one may think. Creative software solutions and tools such as Canva, Adobe Suite and other various apps allow businesses to become hands on to easily design both printed and digital collateral without the hefty price tag.
Getting Real On Social Media
There have never been more ways to connect with prospective customers than now, and social media continues to play a vital part in building brand awareness and promoting your products and services. Long-form content will make a return in 2025 as audiences are craving depth and are hungry for content that adds real value and tells a story. Types of content consumers want to see on their feeds include:
The above points outline expectations around the brand and what a business offers beyond the product or service, so customers will keep this business top of mind. Think about how to create relevant content and share it on social platforms to attract new customers and build loyalty with the existing customer base.
AI Isn’t Going Anywhere
With 1 in 4 business owners experimenting with AI tools in 2024 for efficiencies and tasks such as customer service through chatbots and handling routine duties, both consumers and businesses recognise its value and how it is reshaping various industries. AI allows business owners to focus on more complex business issues and is growing increasingly popular among Australian businesses. In a recent Annual Global CEO survey by PwC, 70% of CEOs anticipate AI will increase competition and drive changes to business models and workforce skills. Applying this to the small business landscape, businesses must not only keep pace with this trend but also try to be early adopters of these changes in order to thrive and stay competitive.
In summary, small businesses face a dynamic and evolving landscape shaped by trends such as e-commerce, customer experiences and ever-changing technology. By embracing trends such as the rise of social e-commerce, leveraging cost-effective marketing tools and apps and adopting cashless payment solutions through specialist suppliers, businesses can stay competitive, proactively engage with their customers and ultimately drive growth for the year ahead.
Looking for an EFTPOS partner who provides best-in-class payment solutions? Speak to us about Smartpay Zero Cost™ EFTPOS today. *T&Cs apply.
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