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In the latest blog, our CEO Frank Jones shares his 2026 musings, from the importance of connected ecosystems to ensure a joined-up ecosystem can make the most of the convergence of AI and IoT, to the value of strategic business partners as AI evolves from being a nice-to-have to a must-have. What’s clear to Frank is that things are changing, but this provides a valuable opportunity for businesses to evolve and integrate AI-powered efficiency into their operations.

As technology continues to reshape how businesses operate, the pace of change shows no sign of slowing. Connected systems, intelligent data and AI are no longer ethereal concepts, but practical tools that organisations must now learn to apply with purpose. To explore what this means in the year ahead, we spoke with Frank Jones, Chief Executive Officer, about how businesses can move beyond experimentation and start unlocking real value.

Below, Frank shares his predictions for the year. From the growing importance of joined-up operations to the convergence of AI and IoT and how the role of technology providers is evolving. Together, these shifts point to a future where efficiency, resilience and smarter decision-making are built into everyday operations.

 Connected ecosystems will supercharge AI in 2026  

As we enter the fourth year of the AI era, businesses are diving deeper into their deployments. While many are still in the early phases, businesses will begin to realise the critical importance of connected ecosystems in 2026.  

Connected ecosystems refer to the ability for a business’ operations and wider supply chain to communicate and work seamlessly together to unlock the full benefit of new technologies, such as AI. Siloes have always limited potential, but this is becoming even more stark with AI deployments.  

By prioritising connected ecosystems in 2026, businesses will ensure that their internal operations and partners are working towards the same goal and leveraging technologies with synergy baked in. Adopting technologies that foster real-time integration of data and workflows and enabling adaptable, seamless operations across supply chains, businesses will be able to realise AI’s full potential in the coming year.  

AI is IoT’s missing piece – and the puzzle will complete in 2026 

The next generation of IoT systems won’t just sense the world, they’ll understand it. In 2026, AI-enabled IoT will move from being a concept to reality, with systems that don’t just capture data but that interpret it to recognise anomalies, make decisions and trigger automate responses instantly.  

This convergence between IoT and AI will unlock a raft of new use cases over the coming year, from predictive intelligence to real-time response and autonomy, all leading ultimately to greater business value.  

 What’s more, it will be possible to retrofit AI into IoT technologies in 2026, by focusing on software rather than hardware improvements, meaning businesses can unlock these benefits without investing heavily in device upgrades first.   

 Tech vendor to strategic business partner 

We are in an era where AI is a must-have rather than a nice-to-have. The AI age has shown that technology is a value generator rather than a necessary cost centre for businesses, and this realisation will continue to deepen as we head into 2026.  

The result is that organisations are seeing their technology suppliers are far more than just vendors. Technology providers are now strategic business partners, capable of having a tangible impact on not only businesses bottom lines and financial goals, but on the sustainability and efficiency of their operations.  

This is especially true for those businesses who rely on IoT systems, such as within the supply chain and HVAC sectors. IoT was a term first coined in 1999, but technology has moved on a long way since then. While many businesses who leverage IoT systems can’t upgrade every device in their arsenal to benefit from the latest iteration, they can improve the software they run upon and apply them to new use cases.  

In 2026, as true AI integrations become more impactful, businesses will increasingly look to their technology partners as experts who can help them in this transition, and to unlock the efficiency, sustainability and financial benefits that come with intelligent and autonomous data-driven operations.   

Change presents opportunity

Amid these changes is an immense opportunity for the businesses that adapt the quickest and can light the torch of AI-powered efficiency. As these businesses look for clarity and confidence in an increasingly complex technology landscape, trusted partners like IMS will play a vital role in turning ambition into action helping organisations build smarter and more efficient operations for the years ahead.