Future Predictions for Clinical Technologies: A Smarter, More Connected Era

By Kees Van Ooik

Vice President of Client Solutions | Almac Clinical Technologies

“In 2025, I predict a transformative shift in clinical trials, where sponsors will embrace interconnected portfolios of solutions that go beyond just software.”

2025 marks the beginning of a new phase in clinical trial execution—one where sponsors will no longer tolerate disjointed systems or settle for fragmented insights. Instead, we will see an accelerated move toward interconnected portfolios of solutions, blending best-in-class technology with intelligent services. But this is just the start. 

Looking ahead, here’s how I believe this shift will evolve and shape the clinical technology landscape through 2025 and beyond. 

The Rise of Modular Ecosystems 

Sponsors are already starting to reject rigid, monolithic software platforms that require full system adoption for partial value. In their place, modular ecosystems will rise—configurable, interoperable, and tailored to the unique needs of each study or program and equally as important, around the participant’s clinical trial journey. These systems will plug-and-play through standardised APIs and data structures, allowing sponsors to select the right tools for the right job. 

Crucially, this isn’t just about software—it’s about creating intelligent workflows across services and systems. Expect to see smoother cross-function integrations between IRT, eCOA, CTMS, eConsent, and even lab and supply chain solutions. 

The result? Sponsors will gain greater control, faster study start-up, and increased customisation—without sacrificing data cohesion or speed—while also reducing quality risks. 

Predictive and Prescriptive Intelligence Will Drive Decision-Making 

We’ve spent the past decade digitising clinical operations—but the next frontier is intelligent automation. 2025 will bring a new era where systems do more than track and alert—they predict, recommend, and act. While these capabilities are still emerging, the industry is moving toward embedding intelligence directly into operational tools: 

• Predictive analytics will forecast patient recruitment bottlenecks, drug resupply needs, and protocol deviations before they happen.
• Prescriptive analytics will suggest optimised site visit schedules, dosing windows, and even adaptation triggers based on real-time trial data.
• And most importantly, this intelligence will be embedded into operational tools, not just analytics dashboards.

This will dramatically reduce the administrative burden on sites and study teams, freeing up time and brainpower to focus on what matters most—patient care and scientific insight. 

Digital Trust and Governance Will Become Strategic Priorities 

With more systems connected and more data flowing between them, data governance and trust will move from the compliance office into the C-suite. Sponsors will no longer view regulatory readiness as a checkbox—it will be a strategic differentiator. 

Expect to see: 

• More robust audit trails and identity management across platforms.
• Advanced data lineage tracing—answering not just “what happened?” but “where did this data originate, and who touched it?”
• Growing adoption of zero-trust architectures, where no system or user is inherently trusted without continuous verification.

These governance strategies will not only meet rising global privacy standards but also ensure data integrity in complex, decentralised, and hybrid trial designs. 

The Human Experience Will Be Designed, Not Assumed

Technology will only be as effective as it is intuitive and human-centric. A growing realisation in our industry is that every touchpoint—from a site entering data in the IRT to a patient completing a daily diary—is a moment that matters. 

That’s why the next wave of solutions will be designed with the end user in mind, supported by: 

• Embedded coaching and real-time support for sites and patients.
• Intuitive interfaces that reduce cognitive load.
• Seamless language localisation and accessibility features by default.

Design thinking, user testing, and behavioural science will become embedded in how we develop and implement clinical technologies—not as an afterthought, but as a core requirement. 

The Industry Will Co-Create the Future 

Perhaps the most exciting prediction is this: the future won’t be built by vendors alone. It will be co-created by sponsors, CROs, technology providers, and participant advocacy groups working together in agile, feedback-driven partnerships. 

In fact, some of the most impactful innovations of 2025 will come not from a software upgrade, but from collaborative innovation labs, shared playbooks, and open-source data models. The barriers between “provider” and “client” will blur, replaced by a shared commitment to operational excellence and patient outcomes. 

Final Thoughts: A Connected Future Is a Capable Future 

The clinical technologies of the near future will not be defined by features, but by their ability to adapt, integrate, and empower. As sponsors embrace interconnected portfolios of solutions, we’ll see the emergence of a new operating model for trials—one where speed, quality, and insight are no longer at odds. 

At Almac, we’re excited to help lead this evolution—bridging the best of technology with deep clinical expertise to create solutions that work for every stakeholder in the ecosystem. That’s one of the key reasons I, as founder of Your Research, made the decision to join the Almac Group. 

Because ultimately, the goal is not just to run better trials. It’s to bring better treatments to patients, faster—and the future we’re building is designed to do exactly that. 

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Disclaimer:  

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of Almac Clinical Technologies or Almac Group (“Almac”). 

Almac is committed to the ethical and responsible exploration of new and emerging technologies. We prioritise rigorous internal evaluation, validation, and continuous improvement to ensure that all current and future solutions are trusted, reliable, and regulatory-ready.