How many times have you heard about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industrial IoT, and Artificial Intelligence? In this article, we will explore the trends of 2025 and the global evolution of emerging technologies.

Years ago, the idea that machines could communicate and exchange data seemed like science fiction, but today it’s a well-established reality thanks to IoT.

Companies adopting smart technologies are experiencing significant improvements in process efficiency and resource utilization. In this blog post, we analyze the current state of technologies in 2024. Keep reading to discover more!

Industrial IoT Today

The Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as a network of physical objects connected via the internet, equipped with sensors and software to collect and exchange data. IoT, born in the 1990s, initially involved adding sensors and processors to everyday objects, opening up new possibilities across various fields and gaining more traction in different sectors.

According to a report by Activant, by 2025, over 40 billion IoT devices are expected to be connected, ready to send and receive data. Among these, Industrial IoT (IIoT) stands out as the version applied to industry. By utilizing smart sensors, IIoT allows for optimization in production processes.

In the past, factory operations were often limited by outdated machinery, making data analysis complex, manual, time-consuming, and prone to human error. Today, thanks to IIoT, companies can overcome these challenges, significantly improving operational and production efficiency.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Combined with Industrial IoT

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized industrial applications, integrating with Industrial IoT to redefine the rules of the game. The main goal is to transform data into tools that simplify and automate operational decisions, making them faster and more accurate.

By combining AI with IIoT, the data extracted from machines becomes increasingly valuable, allowing industries to become more agile, responsive, and sustainable. Data-driven strategic decisions become the heartbeat of a more efficient production.

Zerynth, for example, has integrated AI into its platform with Zero, the industrial AI copilot. Zero, perfectly integrated within the Zerynth Industrial IoT & AI Platform, offers a multimodal experience, enabling users to explore data and monitor KPIs intuitively.

Fig. 1 Interactions with Zero

Thanks to the combination of AI and IoT, companies can simplify management, identify inefficiencies in production departments, and receive improvement suggestions.
Zero also enables operators to interact in real-time, providing updated information on production and plant status, facilitating data-driven optimization strategies.

IIoT Trends in 2025

Activant conducted an in-depth study, mapping the IIoT ecosystem and positioning various players along a value chain. The segmentation identifies several areas, including smart devices, components, connectivity, IoT/Cloud platforms (like Zerynth), and applications, as illustrated in the following image.

Fig. 2 Activant Value Chain – the view of IIoT

Many companies are redefining the IIoT landscape, focusing strongly on interconnecting their products and increasing connectivity levels.
Activant also analyzed IIoT platforms, positioning them on a graph based on two variables: market growth and innovation level.

In this mapping, IIoT platforms are considered the “central nervous system,” connecting industrial devices, collecting data, and turning it into valuable insights for companies.
As seen in the image, Zerynth is positioned as an IIoT platform with a high degree of innovation and solid market growth.

Fig. 3 Activant Thesis Map on IIoT

According to Gartner, by 2025, 25% of industrial companies will acquire or invest in an IIoT platform. McKinsey predicts that global IIoT spending will grow from $290 billion in 2024 to $500 billion in 2025.

Modern technologies like IIoT and Artificial Intelligence are already revolutionizing the manufacturing sector, offering significant benefits in terms of efficiency and sustainability.

Industry 5.0: A Major Trend in 2025. What Role Does Zerynth Play?

Industry 5.0 is set to be one of the most important trends for 2025. But what makes it so relevant for the future of businesses?

Unlike Industry 4.0, which focused on automation and digitalization, Industry 5.0 emphasizes environmental sustainability and human-machine integration, aiming to reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy-powered production systems.

Zerynth provides solutions to help companies access 5.0 incentives, reduce energy consumption, and ensure greater sustainability. With Smart Reports, businesses can track their progress and document improvements, facilitating reporting and access to tax credits

Sustainability of Production Processes… Even for SMEs

One of the main trends for 2025 will be sustainability in manufacturing industries, driven by the recent legislative decree that incorporates the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), extending reporting obligations to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Traditional non-financial reporting is being replaced by more comprehensive sustainability reporting. This new approach will provide crucial information about the impact of companies in terms of sustainability and how these dynamics affect their overall performance.

The introduction of this regulation represents a significant step towards greater corporate transparency. As a result, companies will need to invest in more rigorous review processes and reporting systems that comply with the new rules.

Zerynth has introduced Smart Reports, powered by Zero, which allow large volumes of data to be easily analyzed, generating comprehensive automatic reports. These reports are available in PDF or Excel/CSV format and can be downloaded individually or on a periodic basis.

Fig. 4 Smart Reports

Smart Reports simplify the preparation of corporate sustainability reports and the documents required by ESG regulations and the Industry 5.0 certification. With Smart Reports, you can streamline the analysis of production processes using pre-configured models designed by our experts to meet the main business needs. You can configure various types of reports and download them in the format you prefer.

Additionally, with our team of experts and our network of consultants and partners, you can easily develop customized models to suit any need.

Fig. 5 Co2e Smart Reports

Want to learn more about Zerynth and how it can help you digitalize your business? Contact us!