Utrecht, 9 January 2025 - While accurate predictions are always difficult to make with certainty, our outlook for 2026 is based on powerful and data-driven insights, as well as our experiences over the past decades and what we have heard and seen from customers. At Manhattan, we have a simple mission: remove noise, focus on what really matters to our clients and be at the forefront of change. Based on insights from our experts from around the world, we outline the key supply chain and retail developments for 2026. The common thread: the continuing advance of AI in all aspects of business, the evolution of commerce as we know it and what do trends such as 'hyper-personalisation' mean for the already heavily burdened (B2B and B2C) supply chain. Perhaps these insights will provide food for thought and make for interesting conversations in the new year!
1. Wider deployment of AI leads to more resilient supply chains
In 2026, AI tools will be more widely used to automate labour-intensive tasks and significantly speed up implementations. These tools will also evolve to provide incident management capabilities, leading to machine-driven self-healing mechanisms and ultimately more resilient supply chains.
2. Professional services embrace AI
Organisations in professional services are accelerating the use of AI-driven automation to streamline deliveries. This results in faster onboarding, smarter deployment of resources and more efficient support models. As customers demand more transparency and demonstrable value, the focus of professional services teams is shifting to results-driven collaborations, supported by real-time data and collaborative platforms to create solutions and deliver demonstrable impact together.
3. AI adoption is growing steadily, not explosively
Although more and more organisations are exploiting new AI capabilities, growth in 2026 will be more gradual than in the past two years. Many organisations realise that data quality and digital modernisation are prerequisites to effectively deploy AI and deliver the desired speed, accuracy and value that everyone is looking for.
4. B2B decision-making shifts to the 'moment of truth'
In the B2B market, intelligent decision-making at the moment a customer wants to place an order is increasingly becoming the norm to optimise customer service and profitable operations. Smart sourcing, order allocation in relation to available stock and continuous reallocation are becoming essential. As a result, ERP systems are coming more explicitly into the picture as a critical link to meet customer expectations in 2026.
5. Unified commerce accelerates through hyperpersonalisation
Consumers today are everywhere and expect to be able to buy, receive and return anywhere, anytime. Supply chains must therefore be able to commit to orders in real time, regardless of the channel. Unified commerce is therefore gaining ground at an accelerated pace, as retailers seek to meet the increasing demands of hyper-personalisation.
6. Mobile-first POS replaces traditional POS systems
By the end of 2026, traditional POS systems will give way to mobile-first POS platforms that act as omnichannel hubs. Linked to real-time inventory and fulfilment engines, these platforms will offer employees flexible options such as ship-from-store, later pick-up or same-day delivery. In addition, employees gain access to rich customer context, including purchase history, loyalty status and open shopping baskets, allowing them to serve customers faster, with greater precision and personalisation.
7. Conversational commerce is changing online shopping
Major retailers, such as Walmart, are investing heavily in 'conversational commerce'. This is shifting online shopping from traditional search functionality to interaction via AI, fundamentally changing the way consumers discover and buy products.
8. Social commerce is growing explosively
Social commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace. TikTok Shop recently experienced a record year with an average of 6,000 live shopping sessions per day. Established retailers, such as Marks & Spencer in the UK, are also stepping into this channel. Many more retailers are expected to follow by 2026.
About Manhattan Associates
Manhattan Associates is a global technology provider offering innovative supplychain and omnichannel commerce solutions, enhanced by advanced AI functionalities. We develop and deliver cloud-based, AI-driven solutions that help companies operate more resiliently and efficiently. With our technology, we seamlessly connect front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution.
Thanks to our focus on innovation, a cloud-native platform and API-first architecture, we create simpler processes and accelerate the path to value for our customers. Thus, we enable organisations to proactively predict and respond to trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational certainty. In this way, we transform challenges into competitive advantages. More information: manh.co.uk or manh.com.
