Decarbonisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and ecosystem-level collaboration are the key trends industry, regardless of sector, is considering this year. Amid increased regulatory and investor scrutiny, organisations are looking at doing more with less – and they key to all of these trends is technology; in particular, integrating technology and expertise to address the challenges and opportunities in a world of growing complexity.
Decarbonisation: A Growing Imperative
The urgency for decarbonisation has become undeniable, driven by both political and environmental factors. Since January 1 this year, Australia’s largest organisations are now required to deliver mandatory climate-related reporting, including disclosures on climate-related risks and opportunities, and on greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain. This will soon begin too for medium-sized companies.
Simultaneously, extreme weather events—such as the floods in Brisbane and the 2019 bushfires —have highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on communities and economies. Recently, we’ve seen wildfires in Los Angeles decimate the city, and floods in Valencia have wreaked havoc – both seemingly out of nowhere.
All too often we're seeing the impacts of climate change, and this is increasing the scrutiny on our biggest emitters.
To achieve meaningful progress, Australian organisations – particularly those in heavy industries such as mining, minerals and manufacturing – must embrace technologies which enable precise monitoring, optimisation, and reporting of emissions. Some of these tools include digital twins, energy management systems and carbon accounting technologies.
Those organisations that adopt these and other emissions-focused solutions into their decarbonisation mix will make it much easier to report accurately on emissions and find ways to reduce them.
The Transformative Potential of AI
While AI continues to revolutionise industries, its adoption remains a work in progress. Recent research suggests that, while uptake is increasing, just 35% of Australian organisations are adopting AI at present.
This is no doubt set to change in 2025 – last year, organisations explored generative AI, leveraging large language models to streamline operations and enhance decision-making.
But AI offers much more, particularly for industries grappling with workforce challenges. By codifying organisational knowledge, AI tools preserve and scale expertise, mitigating the skills crisis. However, concerns about job displacement and ethical implications remain. Businesses must balance AI-driven efficiency with workforce transitions and societal responsibilities.
Looking ahead, intelligent agents – autonomous AI systems capable of adapting to dynamic environments – are poised to redefine automation. By 2028, some research predicts these systems – known as Agentic AI – will make 15 per cent of workplace decisions. Moreover, the integration of AI with hardware, such as humanoid robots and drones, is expected to disrupt sectors ranging from manufacturing to defence.
Yet, AI's rapid growth comes with environmental costs. Data centres, powering compute-intensive systems like generative AI, already account for one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With electricity consumption projected to increase by 160 per cent by 2030, responsible AI development must prioritise energy efficiency, cybersecurity, and governance. Quantifying AI's environmental footprint and aligning it with sustainability goals will be essential.
Ecosystem-Level Collaboration
While the nation struggled to maintain growth in 2024 – with economic figures suggesting the country has recently been in a per-capita recession – data creation globally soared, with 263 per cent more information produced than in 2019.
What do these two seemingly unrelated trends have to do with each other? Agility and resilience have become paramount, requiring organisations to adapt quickly to shifting conditions. Thus, collaboration across stakeholders—spanning competitors, disciplines, and regions—has emerged as a key strategy. By sharing secure, interoperable data, businesses can unlock insights that foster innovation and productivity.
Ecosystem-level collaboration enables industries to tackle systemic challenges, from climate action to supply chain resilience. Cross-boundary partnerships break down organisational silos, creating networks that generate new perspectives and solutions. For example, data sharing across value chains enhances transparency, enabling informed decision-making and greater operational agility.
Industrial Intelligence: A Holistic Approach
At the core of these trends lies industrial intelligence—a framework that connects, secures, and contextualises diverse data sources. This approach goes beyond integrating technologies; it harnesses domain expertise to transform information into actionable insights. By fostering trust and collaboration, industrial intelligence empowers organisations to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.
The past year saw a commitment to industrial decarbonisation across industries. Engineers and executives alike embraced AI’s promise while recognising its risks, seeking ways to balance innovation with ethical considerations. Facilities that bridged data silos reaped the benefits of increased agility, turning complexity into competitive advantage.
Those green shoots which emerged in 2024 signal the beginning. By leveraging decarbonisation technologies, responsibly adopting AI, and fostering ecosystem-level collaboration, industries can build a resilient and sustainable future.
The nation isn’t out of its slow-growth phase just yet, but industry isn’t waiting idly by for growth to manifest. Through AI, a keen focus on sustainability and more collaboration, businesses are doing what they can to meet tomorrow’s expectations and drive growth for themselves and the country.
