Millions of employers think that creative and analytical thinking is an in-demand skill for 2025. Creativity is also a key driver behind successful scaling and can open the door for new and exciting opportunities, especially in competitive markets.
Real-World Examples of How Creative Thinking Can Drive Growth in Competitive Markets
Moving forward, companies need to focus on creative scaling, especially in hyper-competitive environments, like the tech and entertainment sector. Take Spotify for example, instead of just adding more and more music to their catalogue and pushing user numbers, they adopted algorithmic recommendations, including Daily Mix and Discover Weekly. This offered a tailored experience that allowed them to scale their user base by not offering more content, but instead by individualising the experience.
Another competitive industry to take inspiration from would be the iGaming sector. With over 34 games to choose from, the Big Bass franchise is very successful, but developers took a new direction with the Big Bass Day at the Races game. The title still utilises the iconic fisherman people know and love, but adopts a whole new theme, with the focus being on horse racing, rather than fishing. By pivoting, developers have been able to reach a new audience, without detracting from the core features of the game which include money symbols, free spins, and wild collections. Examples like this show that scaling can be done by branching into new creative avenues, without having to change the core offering of your brand.
Lastly, you have Apple. Their creative thinking integrated hardware with software, creating a user experience that really helped them to stand apart. The iPhone launch created immense scaling opportunities across a range of devices. Their launch of the App Store also opened new opportunities for Apple, as well as for developers across the world. This helped them to create a whole new market for mobile applications and led to the company achieving global acclaim. None of this would have been possible, without adopting an out-of-the-box approach.

Creative Thinking and Technical Literacy Are In-Demand Skills for 2025
Creative thinking is nothing new. Companies have been using it as a way to scale and grow their companies for quite some time, but according to the latest statistics, the skill is more in demand than ever. Statista states that 70% of companies consider creative thinking to be the skill expected to rise the most between 2023 and 2027. This is followed by cognitive skills and technical literacy, showing how much of a link there is between creativity and the adoption of new technological releases.
As we move into 2025, creative thinking is no longer about artistic expression. It’s about trying to solve problems while adapting to ever-changing circumstances. It’s also about identifying new opportunities, showing what a driving force it can be for fast-paced industries. Creative thinking is one of the best ways to create a competitive advantage, and when used in conjunction with technological advancements, it allows companies to not only scale but to also stand out in hyper-competitive markets.
In 2025, businesses will not only need to focus on hiring employees who are proficient in their role, but also people who can approach problems from different angles, and who are able to develop innovative solutions that break the mould.
