As 2025 comes to a close, it’s clear that the past twelve months have been defined by rapid change, rising expectations, and a noticeable shift in how organisations think about their technology. Across every sector this year, leaders told us they needed clarity, stability, and support that removed friction from day-to-day operations. Here’s a look at the biggest challenges we saw – and how they were solved.
1. Vendor complexity
Many struggled with vendor complexity, unsure which products/services they needed. To solve this, we expanded and strengthened our relationships with Microsoft, N-Able, and KnowBe4, making it easier for organisations to access the right tools and training without navigating a maze of offerings.
2. Productivity
Productivity and security pressures pushed businesses to re-evaluate their Microsoft 365 environments. We enhanced our managed services and supported multiple Copilot deployments, helping clients unlock AI-driven efficiencies while maintaining well-configured security baselines.
3. Downtime
Another common pain point was downtime, particularly that caused by reactive support. In 2025, we shifted towards a more predictive maintenance model fuelled by automation, allowing us to identify issues earlier, resolve them faster, and give our clients greater confidence in their operations.
4. Security
Security frameworks were also a growing concern this year. We advanced our alignment with ISO 20000 and ISO 27001, delivered expert Cyber Essentials training, and provided practical support to organisations navigating a landscape of increased audit regulations and compliance expectations.
2026 predictions: what’s coming next?
So, what’s in store for 2026? What challenges are we expecting to see our clients face over the next year, and what opportunities for growth and development are likely to be around the corner?
Let’s break it down by sector:
1. SMEs
SMEs will lean into affordable AI for CRM, analytics, and marketing, using automation to compete with larger players. Community-focused branding and local SEO will become essential for growth.
2. Leisure & hospitality
AI-driven personalisation will shape experiences, while story-led marketing will be more influential. Sustainability will matter more, and booking through social channels will become the new norm.
3. Finance
AI will streamline compliance and risk analysis, enabling faster decision-making. ESG reporting will mature, shaping investor trust, and cybersecurity will tighten as AI fraud detection evolves.
4. Construction
Digital transformation will accelerate through BIM, digital twins, and AI-driven project analytics. Ongoing labour shortages are likely to push modular builds and automation into mainstream use.
5. Sustainability
Circular economy models will gain traction as businesses repair, refurbish, and extend product life. Green AI will guide emissions reduction, while low-carbon supply chains will become a differentiator.
6. Retail
AI personalisation will refine pricing and recommendations. Retail media will shift into a full-funnel growth engine, and AR/VR shopping experiences will mature beyond early experimentation.
Ready for 2026?
Here are three actions to take over the next few months to navigate 2026 with confidence:
- Audit your tech stack for AI readiness, exploring where automation could deliver returns
- Strengthen compliance by preparing for tighter security, sustainability, and reporting obligations
- Review your support model to ensure predictive maintenance and reliable out-of-hours coverage
The pace of change isn’t slowing. But with the right systems, partners, and planning, 2026 can be a year of stability, efficiency, and smarter growth for small businesses across every industry and sector.
