Get ahead of these trends to future-proof your business
A dozen years ago we highlighted 5 things small businesses should know about in 2014.
While Google+ did not take off like we predicted, the rise (and fall) of Bitcoin, increased integration between apps, and remote working (little did we know…) were all major stories in the years to come.
At least when remote working became a sudden essential, you had Findmyshift to schedule your employees!
Now we are once again looking at the trends that could help you grow your business in 2026 and beyond.
These 5 areas are certainly hot topics at the moment, and some could represent significant opportunities for your business.
Will we get all of these ones right? Only time will tell!
The evolution of AI
While it feels like this has been the headline for years, the next year or so should see a shift in how AI is being used. Artificial intelligence is no longer the preserve of big multinationals. 42% of smaller businesses are making use of AI in their processes—a figure that’s nearly doubled since 2024.
Despite this, relatively few smaller businesses have a defined AI strategy. This shows that there is still room to adopt AI in a more measured way than the competition, putting your business ahead in the race.
Part of that strategy could include a consideration of so called “machine customers”, as prospective buyers use AI assistants like Siri or Alexa to help them find products. If that’s the extent of their search, and these assistants don’t find you, you’re out of luck.
Ensure that your website’s code makes the right data readable for AI agents, including stock levels, reviews, delivery times and more.
Sustainability
This is another aspect of your business that AI assistants might search your site for, but it’s one that merits its own point as well. When 4 out of 5 customers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products, you should be factoring this into your business not as an additional offering, but as a core tenet of your operation.
Moving fully into the green space can be even more profitable, as the eco-friendly market continues to grow far faster than conventional retail.
Employment Rights Act
Introduced in the UK in 2025, the last of the changes brought in by this act have just been implemented, with day one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave coming in from April 1st.
One of the biggest employee protections introduced through the act was the reduction in the period before which employees could claim unfair dismissal, which shrank from 2 years down to 6 months.
Significant changes to trade union legislation are also worth being aware of, as employees looking to unionise now benefit from additional protection and two other recent acts have been repealed.
Cybersecurity for everyone
The growth of digital businesses has meant updated legislation too, and staying on top of your own data commitments can keep you ahead of the curve, rather than facing unexpected penalties or disastrous breaches.
43% of all cyber attacks target small businesses, making it imperative that you conduct regular assessments of your own defences.
Savvy unpredictable shoppers
Even years after the shockwave that was the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer behaviour continues to show the same trends brought about by the crisis. They are wary, value-hungry, and concerned with prices, and these considerations have some unexpected results.
Customers aren’t necessarily buying fewer items, but they are biding their time to find deals on what they want.
And while they’re spending ever more time along and on social media, they don’t trust much of what they see there. Socials are important touchpoints, but they can’t replace the value of personal recommendations.