How enterprise software planning is taking shape for 2026
See what's influencing enterprise software decisions, from governance and cost pressure to AI adoption and operating model constraints, as organizations plan for the year ahead.
Planning for 2026 is forcing enterprise software decisions to be made earlier, and with fewer opportunities to adjust later. Once platforms are selected and architectures set, changing direction is no longer something teams can easily revisit after rollout. As a result, planning discussions are happening with more caution and less tolerance for course correction.
How that plays out varies by category. Budget controls are compressing timelines. Governance and compliance requirements continue to expand. Meanwhile, AI initiatives are introducing unresolved questions around ownership, integration and accountability that cut across teams and systems.
The articles below examine how these conditions are surfacing across customer experience, core business systems and workplace technology. Read together, they provide context for leaders navigating tradeoffs, coordinating stakeholders and deciding where closer attention is warranted as planning moves forward.
Customer experience
Customer experience planning for 2026 is being shaped by how quickly AI capabilities are moving from experimentation into core operations. Contact center modernization, analytics and workflow automation are no longer isolated initiatives. They increasingly affect architecture decisions, integration strategy and how CX teams align with the rest of the business. As organizations look ahead, CX leaders and executives are grappling with ownership, AI literacy and how these capabilities fit into broader enterprise software plans -- including the kinds of decisions leaders are beginning to factor into customer experience trends to watch in 2026.
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Contact center leaders can no longer be the sole decision-makers regarding CX technology investments.
Customer experience trends to watch in 2026
Top 10 customer experience management software for 2026 As CX spans more channels and tools in 2026, this guide breaks down the top CXM platforms and highlights which features matter most when choosing software that can scale with customer expectations.
7 customer experience trends to know in 2026 Research-backed CX trends that highlight how AI, analytics and automation are affecting contact center performance, revenue models and KPIs.
Top field service management software platforms for 2026 Field service management software now sits at the intersection of operations, customer experience and revenue protection. This article examines leading FSM platforms in 2026 and the capabilities enterprise buyers should prioritize as field work grows more distributed, asset-intensive and complex.
The top 6 content management trends in 2026 Content management developments with implications for how customer-facing information is structured, governed and delivered across digital channels.
As AI becomes more embedded in ERP systems, leaders must balance new capabilities with data readiness, governance and risk awareness.
ERP trends that leaders should plan for in 2026
ERP and supply chain
Several important innovations are changing how ERP systems work, and CIOs, CFOs and COOs need to understand which shifts will matter most in the year ahead. In 2026, priorities such as supply chain visibility, composable ERP and improved data quality are shaping how organizations manage financial control, operational risk and execution at scale, particularly as AI becomes more embedded in core processes. Rather than chasing novelty, many of these trends focus on strengthening governance, improving resilience and supporting more confident executive decision-making. Read how ERP trends are shaping finance and operations in 2026.
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C-suite should make AI data management the 2026 ERP priority Three ERP analysts advise senior business and IT leaders to prioritize establishing a unified data foundation for modern ERP systems that are increasingly fronted by agentic AI assistants, but they also warn that eliminating technical and departmental silos is vital for success.
4 supply chain trends for COOs in 2026 Supply chain disruption is now a constant for COOs and operations leaders. This article outlines four trends shaping supply chains in 2026, including embedded AI decision-making, nearshoring and evolving multi-country sourcing models.
Top ERP trends to know about for 2026 2026 ERP trends can help companies become more adaptable and provide leaders with more current information when they are making decisions.
Accounting software trends CFOs and CIOs should track now As accounting software evolves inside modern ERP environments, CFOs and CIOs are balancing automation, predictive analytics, sustainability reporting and modular architectures to improve speed and insights without losing control or audit readiness in 2026.
IT leaders will need to view UCaaS as just one element of employee experience, and not the sole driver of workplace productivity.
The future of work: Key UCaaS trends for IT leaders in 2026
Communications and collaboration
Communications and collaboration planning for 2026 is increasingly shaped by how AI capabilities are being embedded into UCaaS platforms. Copilots and agentic features are beginning to influence everyday workflows, while UCaaS itself is expanding beyond meetings into a broader hub for work. As these platforms become more central, IT leaders are weighing how collaboration tools fit into employee experience, governance and security models -- including the considerations shaping how UCaaS trends will influence work in 2026.
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5 key video conferencing trends to watch in 2026 How agentic AI, connected workspaces and rising security demands are pushing unified communications and collaboration platforms toward deeper workflow integration and new governance challenges.
HR platforms are handling more sensitive employee data, raising the stakes for how AI features are governed and deployed.
HR software trends CHROs should learn about for 2026
HR software
As HR software planning for the coming year is being shaped by how quickly AI capabilities are moving from experimentation into everyday HR operations. Vendors are expanding AI use across recruitment, performance management and workforce planning, while CHROs are increasingly focused on what data those systems can access and how it is governed. At the same time, compliance and data security remain persistent concerns as HR platforms handle more sensitive employee information. Together, these pressures are influencing the decisions leaders are beginning to factor into HR software trends CHROs should be aware of in 2026.
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20 top learning management systems for 2026 Learning management systems remain a core part of HR technology stacks as organizations balance compliance, upskilling and employee experience. This article examines 20 leading LMS platforms in 2026 and the tradeoffs HR leaders should weigh around features, integration and cost.
This could be the year AI automation takes over HR Experts discuss the impending transformation of HR through AI automation in 2026 as organizations begin to integrate AI agents to enhance efficiency in hiring and administrative tasks.
End-user computing
End-user computing planning for 2026 is being shaped by a shift from tactical decision-making to long-term risk and resilience planning. Choices around endpoint management, identity control, desktop platforms and OS hardening now carry lasting implications for security posture, operating costs and governance. As AI-driven operations, identity-first architectures and post-VMware replatforming pressures converge, EUC leaders are being pushed to make foundational decisions earlier, with fewer opportunities to reverse course later. These dynamics are forcing organizations to rethink how EUC supports business continuity and operational resilience -- themes explored in depth in the key end-user computing trends leaders should plan for in 2026.
Where mobile changes the EUC risk equation
Alongside broader end-user computing trends, mobile management is emerging as a distinct pressure point for enterprise planning in the year ahead. As smartphones and tablets play a larger role in daily work, IT teams are contending with tighter security requirements, expanding compliance obligations and more complex identity and access controls. Mobile management decisions increasingly sit at the intersection of device governance, user experience and risk -- making mobile issues a focused area of scrutiny within EUC planning for 2026.
The transition to predictive operations means fewer break/fix incidents and a more resilient EUC environment.
End-user computing trends to watch in 2026
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Top 6 unified endpoint management software vendors in 2026 Unified endpoint management has become foundational as organizations manage laptops, mobile devices and endpoints across multiple OSes. This article compares six widely used UEM platforms and the capabilities IT leaders should evaluate in 2026 as device sprawl and BYOD increase operational and security complexity.
Why 2026 might bring more Linux desktops to the enterprise Linux desktops are no longer a niche choice for developers. Windows 10 retirement, SaaS-first workflows and sustainability pressure are pushing enterprises to re-evaluate the desktop OS layer itself.
How AI and the browser will change end-user IT in 2026 Most of end-user IT will look familiar in 2026, but a few quiet shifts around AI, browsers, and automation will matter a lot. This piece explains where those changes are already showing up.
James Alan Miller is a veteran technology editor and writer who leads Informa TechTarget's Enterprise Software group. He oversees coverage of ERP & Supply Chain, HR Software, Customer Experience, Communications & Collaboration and End-User Computing topics.
