In our opinion, the key value of biocatalysis for nucleoside/nucleotide preparation lies in the preparation of moderately modified core structures, which can be subsequently elaborated by chemical means. For instance, the biocatalytic synthesis of nucleosides bearing reactive handles (e.g. halogen or alkyne substituents) can serve as a springboard for the rapid introduction of further molecular complexity, e.g. by crosscoupling. Such approaches could also benefit from other upcoming disciplines such as artificial intelligence and big data management as this facilitates rational reaction optimization in both biocatalysis and synthetic chemistry. Thus, we believe that the field of nucleoside biocatalysis currently stands at a turning point where the rapid progress in adjacent fields will act as a catalyst for innovation.