Top 10 Skills/Technologies for 2025: Implications for Healthcare and Beyond (2024)

What You Will Learn From This Article?

• What are top 10 skills/technologies of future?
• How they can impact Healthcare and Pharma?
• What are current tool related to those skills/technologies?

Introduction

In today's digital age, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Even if you are not in IT sector, it has become increasingly important, regardless of your role or field of work, to stay up-to-date and have understanding of latest tools and advancements. By being aware of the latest technological advancements and future skills individuals can increase their competitiveness and value.

This article presents top 10 skills and technologies for 2025 based on industry reports, surveys, and job market trends. These sources typically take into account factors such as emerging technologies, industry demand and job growth to identify the most sought-after IT skills and technologies.

Below are top 10 skills/technologies that are in demand along with their brief introduction, application in Healthcare sector and examples of tools for each technology:

1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
2. Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR)
3. Data engineering and cloud computing
4. Blockchain technology
5. Low code no code programming
6. Coding / Programming skills
7. Social media management and content creation
8. Design and visual skills e.g. User experience (UX) design
9. Robotics and automation
10. Cybersecurity and information security

Technolgies MAY NOT replace you, but the person who effectively uses them.. WILL.. 

1.Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

a.Brief Overview: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are computer programs that can learn from data and improve over time. They can be used to analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns and make predictions.

There are different types of AI technologies in development such as: (i) Deep Learning: training artificial neural networks to recognize patterns and make predictions, (ii) Generative Adversarial Networks: training two neural networks against each other to create new data that is similar to existing data, (iii) Reinforcement Learning: make decisions and take actions based on rewards and punishments, (iv) Natural Language Processing: understand and interpret human language, (v) Computer Vision: interpret and analyze visual data, (vi) Neural Machine Translation: use of deep learning models to translate text from one language to another, (vii) Speech Recognition and Synthesis: conversion of spoken language into text and the conversion of text into spoken language. (viii) Quantum machine learning: In quantum computing, utilizing quantum algorithms to train machine learning models.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: AI and ML have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by improving diagnosis accuracy, predicting patient outcomes, and even developing new treatments. For example, AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT (OpenAI) can help doctors and health care professionals in differential diagnosis and management. AlphaFold is a deep learning system developed by DeepMind that can predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences which is accelerating drug discovery process.

2.Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

a.Brief Overview: Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) are computer-generated simulations that enable users to interact with a virtual environment. AR adds digital elements to the real world, while VR creates an entirely immersive virtual environment that users can interact with such as metaverse. AR/VR technology has become increasingly popular in recent years, with applications in entertainment, education,Communication, Design and more.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: In healthcare, AR/VR can be used for surgical simulations, training, and patient education. AR/VR can help doctors and nurses to improve their skills, reduce the risk of medical errors, and provide patients with more immersive and engaging experiences.

3.Data Engineering and Cloud Computing

a.Brief Overview: Data Engineering involves building the systems that store and process large amounts of data, while Cloud Computing involves using remote servers to store and process data instead of relying on local hardware. Together, they enable businesses to collect and analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, leading to more informed decision-making and better outcomes..

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: Data engineering and cloud computing are essential for analyzing large medical datasets, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and genomics data. They can help to identify disease patterns, improve patient outcomes, and develop new treatments.

4.Blockchain Technology

a.Brief Overview: Blockchain technology is a way of storing and sharing information in a secure and decentralized manner. Instead of having a central authority controlling the information, a blockchain is made up of a network of computers that work together to validate and store information in blocks. Each block is linked to the previous block, forming a chain of information that is difficult to tamper with or modify.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: In healthcare, blockchain can be used to secure and share electronic health records (EHRs) across different providers and institutions, reducing the likelihood of data breaches and unauthorized access. It can also be used to secure clinical trials data, which can be a target for cyberattacks due to its sensitive nature.

In the pharmaceutical industry, blockchain can be used to ensure the authenticity of drugs and medical devices. By creating a tamper-proof record of the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to distribution to consumption, blockchain can prevent the circulation of counterfeit drugs and protect patient safety. It can also be used to streamline the distribution of drugs, reducing costs and improving the efficiency of the supply chain.

c.Current Tools: Some of the most important blockchain platforms are Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin.

5.Low Code No Code Programming

a)Brief Overview: Low code no code programming is a development approach that enables non-technical users to create software applications using visual interfaces and pre-built templates, rather than writing code from scratch. It allows users to create complex applications quickly and easily, without requiring extensive programming knowledge or expertise.

b)Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: Low code no code programming can help healthcare professionals to create custom software solutions without the need for extensive technical expertise.

6.Coding / Programming

a.Brief Overview: Programming refers to the process of creating software, applications, or other computer programs using various programming languages. It involves writing code to solve problems, automate tasks, and create custom software solutions.

Behind majority of skills mentioned here programming is a foundational skill that can be applied to many of them. For example, programming is an essential skill for developing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, creating software for data engineering and cloud computing, and building applications for blockchain technology.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: Basic programming skills can help healthcare professionals to automate repetitive tasks, analyze data, and create custom software solutions. While it might be not everyone's cup of tea but a basic understading of coding and programing language can be helpful.

7.Social Media Management and Content Creation

a.Brief Overview: Social media has become a powerful tool for people to connect and engage with each other on a global scale, as well as for businesses and organizations to reach and interact with their target audience. Social media can take many forms, such as social networking sites (e.g., #facebook, #linkedin ), micro-blogging platforms (e.g., #twitter), image and video sharing sites (e.g., #instagram , #youtube ), and many others. Social media management involves managing an organization's social media accounts, creating content, analyzing metrics, and engaging with followers. Content creation involves creating visual and written content that resonates with the target audience.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: Health care organizations can use social media to not only build their brand but also to engage with patients, and provide educational content. Social media can also play a significant role in improving clinical trial diversity by raising awareness, providing education, and increasing engagement with underrepresented communities. Social media can also play a significant role in patient centricity as it allows patients to engage with healthcare organizations, share their experiences, and participate in discussions about their health. It provides a platform for patients to express their needs and preferences, giving healthcare providers valuable insights into how to improve patient care. Social media can also be used to raise awareness about health issues, promote healthy behaviors, and provide educational content. Additionally, social media can be used to recruit patients for clinical trials and gather feedback on new treatments or therapies.

c.Current Tools: Some of the top Social Media Management and Content Creation tools include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social and HubSpot.

8.Design and Visual Skills (e.g. User Experience Design)

a.Brief Overview: Design and visual skills refer to the ability to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces for digital products and websites. User experience (UX) design specifically focuses on creating products that provide a positive and seamless experience for the user.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: As health care industry is moving fast towards digitization Design and visual skills are important. They can improve the user experience of patients and healthcare professionals when interacting with digital health products such as telemedicine platforms, mobile health apps, and electronic health records. Good design can increase patient engagement, improve usability, and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

9.Robotics and Automation

a.Brief Overview: Robotics and automation refer to the use of machines and computer programs to automate processes and tasks. It involves the design, construction, operation, and use of robots to automate processes and tasks. Robotics can be used in a variety of fields, such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and even space exploration. The use of robotics can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and increase safety in various industries.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: In healthcare, robotics can be used in surgery, rehabilitation, and patient care to improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience. Robotics and automation can improve efficiency and accuracy in healthcare and pharma by automating routine tasks such as medication dispensing and laboratory testing. They can also be used in surgery and rehabilitation to assist with patient care. Post COVID-19 there is a growing need for contactless care, robotics and automation have become even more important.

10.Cybersecurity and Information Security

a. Brief Overview: Cybersecurity and information security refer to the practice of protecting digital information from unauthorized access, theft, or damage. This involves using various tools and technologies to secure networks, systems, and data.

b.Impact in Healthcare and Pharma: Cybersecurity and information security are critical in healthcare and pharma to protect patient data, intellectual property, and other sensitive information. Breaches of security can result in financial losses, legal liabilities, and damage to reputation. The increasing digitization of healthcare data and the rise of telemedicine have made cybersecurity even more important in recent years.

Summary and Conclusion:

Staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements has become increasingly important in today's digital age. This article provides a brief introduction to top 10 skills/technologies for 2025 and their application in the healthcare sector with examples of current tools and platforms. Offocurse this doesnt cover everything. Some of other notable mention include, 3D printing, Internet of things etc.

These technologies have the potential to revolutionize every industry and healthcare being no exception, making it crucial for us to stay informed and adaptable to the latest technological developments.

• What do you think about these skills/technologies?
• Did I miss something?
• How they will impact health sector?