As the role of technology continues to expand at a significant pace, keeping up with advances can be challenging. Technology can offer opportunities to simplify compliance, create efficiencies, improve recordkeeping, inform better decision-making, and more if used appropriately. Here are some of the top Microsoft 365® technology advances KTL anticipates will be trends in 2025…

SharePoint® Modernization

SharePoint is constantly evolving to provide enhanced functionality to users. In 2016, Microsoft introduced the “modern” experience for SharePoint as a significant improvement, with its more modern interface that integrates better with mobile screens. When it was introduced, converting to the modern interface was optional; companies could continue operating their existing “classic” sites without necessitating significant updates. But in the past eight years, classic sites have become outdated, have limited mobile integration, and are beginning to experience performance issues resulting from limited ongoing support. Further, previous methods of creating custom forms (InfoPath) or workflows (SharePoint Designer) are slowly being phased out in favor of modern replacements, and Microsoft is removing SharePoint 2013 Workflow from existing tenants and fully retiring it in April 2026. 

Because of this, organizations are being pushed to migrate from classic to modern SharePoint to keep their sites running and usable. Beyond responding to the slow depreciation of classic sites, modern SharePoint offers significant enhancements that improve user experience and overall site performance. Transitioning from a classic SharePoint site to a modern one is not considered a “simple” process, because there is no one-to-one mapping between the functionality offered by classic web parts and what is offered on modern pages. But it is worth doing. Modern sites are less costly to create, quicker to implement, easier to manage, and much simpler to edit and update.

Digital Forms

Companies have completed inspections and assessments via paper forms for years. Many still follow this traditional process, creating mountains of paperwork and related inefficiencies. Digital forms are a simple technological advancement that more companies are embracing to improve compliance and productivity. Digital forms allow employees to quickly and easily collect data from a mobile device—from daily inspections (e.g., forklifts) to near-miss information—as it is happening in the plant/field. That data is submitted directly to the system and can then be further analyzed through dashboards to identify concerns and trends. Notifications for identified issues and program compliance can also be configured to create greater visibility.

With digital forms:

• Data can be submitted directly and immediately for review with no manual data entry required.
• Data is stored for future analysis and improvements.
• Issues can be identified quickly and assigned to relevant people for resolution.
• Program compliance is tracked in real time.

Custom Business Apps

Power Apps is Microsoft’s low-code platform for creating custom business apps. Users can create apps, add their own data sources, create custom workflows, design their own user interface—all without extensive coding experience. With its growing popularity, Microsoft is continuing to expand Power Apps’ functionality and help more organizations leverage its flexibility. Specifically in 2025, Power Apps users can look forward to the following advances:

• Deeper integration with Microsoft 365 and other emerging technologies/data sources to create smoother workflows, better collaboration between tools, and an overall simpler user interface and experience.
• Enhanced low-code/no-code capabilities, such as more drag-and-drop features, visual interfaces, and templates to allow for faster development of line-of-business apps, mobile apps, and web apps.
• Improved mobile responsiveness to ensure Power Apps functions well not only on computers, but also on smartphones and tablets.
• Integration with Power BI to allow businesses to develop comprehensive data solutions, manage workflows, and visualize key metrics through dashboards (see below).

Automated Workflows

Microsoft Power Platform® allows businesses to automate workflows and streamline and standardize processes. For example, a document approval workflow can be set up to automatically route documents, assign review tasks, track progress, and send reminders and notifications when needed. It takes documents from development through final approval, ensuring documents are reviewed at the appropriate time by the appropriate party.

Automated workflows can be developed for virtually any business process, and the benefits of doing so are many, including:

• Standardized and streamlined approach for approving and completing tasks.
• Improved accuracy with less opportunity for human error.
• Business efficiencies from automated and streamlined practices.
• Version control and history to create a reliable audit trail.
• Improved access/security for sensitive information.

Data Visualization and Insights

A dashboard is a tool used to quickly display and visualize data, typically using charts, tables, and other graphic elements. Dashboards provide a quick and simplified way for users to understand complex data sets, review key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify trends or patterns.

The data collected in most business processes—ranging from the outputs of an inspection form to the inputs into a companywide sales program—can be displayed in a dashboard. Centralizing and visualizing this data can have significant business benefits, including the following:

• Dashboards provide an integrated view of data pulled from multiple sources into an easy-to-read display.
• Simplified data visualization allows for improved and more efficient decision-making.
• Dashboard metrics provide for monitoring of data that has been collected.
• The collaboration, customization, and transparency provided through dashboards help support organizational objectives.

Getting Ahead in 2025

Traditional processes tend to produce traditional results. Integrating technology can help companies to stretch and empower every limited resource. The key is identifying those traditional processes that will realize benefit from technological integration, such as those outlined above.

The right technology can enhance traditional business practices to create greater efficiencies and enhanced business value. Integrating technology with current business practices not only allows for continual improvement, it also helps create the next level of competitive advantage. Doing so requires businesses to start thinking strategically about these trends now. It also requires working with someone with the technology expertise to design and build scalable systems that allow the organization to more efficiently and effectively manage compliance and business processes. Technology solutions should be designed with the end in mind. That means considering the company’s immediate issues/needs within the context of the overall business need, and then formulating platforms/systems, as required, into an aligned system.