2025 was a cautious year for asset and equipment finance. Most SMEs focused on protecting cashflow, upgrading what they needed to stay operational, and holding off on anything that felt discretionary. Demand held steady overall, but the story changed state by state. Queensland and Western Australia stood out, helped by major infrastructure work and growing confidence as the 2032 Brisbane Olympics came closer. Some of the softness in the market was expected. Earlier asset write off incentives had already pulled a lot of demand into previous years, and many businesses waited for a post-election or post rate cut lift that never came. Inflation stayed sticky and rate stability took longer than anyone hoped. Even so, interest in sustainable equipment kept growing. EVs, solar and energy efficient machinery all saw steady uptake as ESG requirements and government incentives continued to expand.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved beyond buzzword status and is now woven into the tools we use every day. For brokers, this isn’t about chasing trends - it’s about staying competitive, gaining operational efficiencies in order to build stronger client relationships, and protecting the trust that underpins their business.

A short, broker-friendly guide with the essentials, aligned to the Australian Government’s advice and backed by our cyber security partner, Mimecast.

In this broker testimonial, hear how Kate Sadler from The Broker Society discovered the full power of Mercury Nexus and transformed her business.