(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
Business Tech News #1: Trump tariffs could raise laptop, tablet prices by 46%, cut sales by 68%.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is forecasting record sales for the tech industry in 2025. The impending tariffs as proposed by President-elect Donald Trump will have significant impact on technology imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. According to the CTA’s report, these tariffs could lead to a 46 percent increase in laptop and tablet prices and a 68 percent decrease in their sales. Gaming consoles and smartphones could see price hikes of 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively, with corresponding drops in sales. The bigger picture — the CTA warns — tariffs could reduce US consumer purchasing power by $90 billion to $143 billion, disrupting supply chains and potentially leading to a global economic downturn. (Source: Computerworld)
Why this is important for your business:
While the overall impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs are yet to be realized (or understood) it’s probably that prices of many goods will be increasing and that certainly will impact technology products. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Most tech companies are making products outside of China to avoid the highest level of tariffs and as I write this an inordinate amount of products are being shipped and warehoused in the U.S. Regardless, if your company is considering a significant purchase of tablets, laptops and desktops in 2025 it’s best to do this earlier in the year while inventories of products at lower prices are still available. I’m personally in the market for a new laptop and will likely be purchasing sooner rather than later.
Business Tech News #2 — Autonomous businesses will be powered by AI agents.
Salesforce’s Chief Digital Evangelist –Vala Afshar — highlighted a report from Accenture that details how AI-powered autonomy is shaping the future of businesses. Four key trends are highlighted: The Binary Big Bang, Your Face in the Future, When LLMs Get Their Bodies, and The New Learning Loop. These trends focus on how AI agents are becoming central to enterprise technology, personalizing customer interactions, reinventing robotics, and fostering a collaborative relationship between people and AI.
The report emphasizes that unlocking the true benefits of AI is dependent on trust — citing 77 percent of executives who believe AI must be “built on a foundation of trust.” AI agents are expected to drive new levels of autonomy, transforming business operations and creating opportunities for innovation and growth. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
As I’ve written previously 2025 will be the year of AI agents, so get ready. How? By talking to your software vendors and understanding these new AI tools that they’ll be rolling out. Test them, understand them and then deploy them to increase the productivity of your existing workers and hopefully stave off the need to hire additional employees.
Business Tech News #3 — Reddit introduces business analytics tools and AMA ads.
Reddit has introduced two new tools aimed at businesses: Reddit Pro Trends and AMA Ads. Reddit Pro Trends allows businesses to track real-time conversations about their brands, visualize conversation volumes, and monitor discussions across approximately 100,000 “smart” keywords. Early adopters like Wayfair and the NBA have seen a 12% increase in post creation using this tool. The AMA Ads format lets businesses promote their Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions directly through Reddit’s ad dashboard, complete with RSVP tracking capabilities. This new format aims to make AMAs more discoverable and engaging, allowing businesses to participate in authentic community discussions. Reddit has hit a milestone of over 100 million daily users. (Source: Search Engine Land)
Why this is important for your business:
I’m on the CRM sub-reddit a few times a week, which I find extremely valuable for my business, not only as a place to find opportunities but to get more educated on the newest tech in the space. I also follow a few personal sub-reddits that make me laugh. And I get ads pushed to me. And I can’t help but notice them. Reddit is fast becoming a marketing opportunity for both B2C and B2B companies and the company knows it.
Business Tech News #4 — Microsoft would really like you to replace your old Windows 10 PCs this year.
Microsoft has declared 2025 as “The Year of the Windows 11 PC refresh.” Windows 10 is reaching its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11, promoting its new AI capabilities, enhanced security, and modern performance benefits. The company has introduced a new category of PCs called Copilot+ PCs, which are touted as the fastest, most intelligent, and most secure Windows PCs ever built. “Now is the time to move forward with a new Windows 11 PC,” Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer Yusuf Mehdi, declared in a January 6th Windows Blog post. (Source: Ars Technica)
Why this is important for your business:
As I mentioned above I’ll be in the market for a new laptop this year and it will be a Windows device, because we’re a Microsoft shop. One of the many reasons why I’m doing this is the sunsetting of Windows 10 support and the overall vibe that I’m getting from Microsoft that I’m not using Windows 11 I’m out of touch. Maybe they’re right.
Business Tech News #5 — Amex exec says payment tech will drive SMB customer loyalty.
Tessa R. Dooley — American Express Vice President of U.S. Merchant Marketing — emphasized the importance of payment technology in driving customer loyalty for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). (Source: PYMNTS)
Why this is important for your business:
Dooley highlighted that adopting digital payment options such as mobile wallets and contactless payments, is crucial for meeting customer demands and staying competitive. She also mentioned that offering flexible payment solutions, like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) can enhance customer accessibility and affordability. Dooley advised SMBs to use customer data to tailor payment options and loyalty programs, ensuring efficient and secure transactions. “Insights from customer data can translate into effective loyalty strategies,” Dooley said.
