Digital transformation is accelerating fast, and 2026 will raise the stakes. With 84% of business leaders recognizing AI’s potential to disrupt traditional ways of working, and only 2% of businesses not considering AI adoption, it’s clear companies are preparing for a new era defined by intelligent systems, autonomous operations and heightened security expectations. Cybersecurity also remains a top priority, as passwords continue to dominate authentication and cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated.
To stay ahead, organizations will need smarter automation, stronger security and complete visibility over every endpoint they depend on. Here are the top tech trends SOTI believes will shape 2026 – and why they matter.
Endpoint Management Will Decide Enterprise Performance
Organizations manage a wide range of devices, from printers to point of sale systems, to rugged hardware and more. These endpoint fleets are growing quickly, and as frontline workers depend on them, uptime and performance directly impact productivity, the customer experience and operational continuity. For example, T&L workers estimate 13 hours are lost per person per month due to downtime, which causes them to speed between deliveries to make up lost time.
In 2026, the focus won’t be on what businesses manage, but how they maintain performance at scale. Endpoint management is shifting away from being an IT function to a core business infrastructure. Organizations that invest in solutions offering visibility, automation and security across their fleets will gain an operational edge – while those that don’t will risk downtime, customer dissatisfaction and avoidable disruptions.
From Manual IT to Autonomous Operations
In healthcare, 83% of organizations see AI as a cost-saving strategy that can reduce human error. AI-driven automation will transform device management. Instead of reacting to issues after they occur – which increases costs and downtime – autonomous endpoint operations will detect, predict and resolve problems in real time. For example, if a performance or security issue emerges, the system will identify and fix it before it impacts operations or customers.
This shift reduces IT workload, cuts costs and boosts efficiency, enabling internal teams to focus on strategic work while systems handle routine troubleshooting and remediation behind the scenes.
Zero-Trust Security Will Become the Standard
As threats intensify, Zero-Trust adoption is accelerating. This approach continuously validates every user, device and connection, newly extending beyond the network perimeter to the device and app layer.
It’s no coincidence that the Zero-Trust market is projected to grow from $38.37 billion (USD) in 2025 to $86.57 billion by 2030, reflecting widespread adoption. It’s also expected to address up to 50% of an organization’s environment and mitigate 25% of overall enterprise risk, which is why organizations are moving fast to adopt it.
With 46% of large enterprises shifting to Zero-Trust security and another 43% already using it, 2026 will bring continuous device authentication, conditional access and real-time risk assessments as standard practice.
Real-Time Device Visibility Will Be Non-Negotiable
Blind spots across endpoint environments are no longer an option. As device fleets scale, organizations require real-time insight into device health, app performance, network usage, compliance status and security risks.
In 2026, real-time device visibility will be the baseline expectation, empowering businesses to act immediately rather than reacting after an issue has already slowed down operations.
Agentic AI Will Reshape Frontline Mobility
Agentic AI – an autonomous, goal-driven AI that can make decisions and execute tasks without human involvement – will see rapid adoption in 2026. At least 29% of organizations already use agentic AI, and 44% plan to implement it within the next year to reduce costs, improve the customer experience and minimize manual processes.
In frontline and field environments, agentic AI will detect and resolve device, app, or network issues, adjust configurations, escalate incidents and optimize workflows in real time. This unlocks:
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Faster issue resolution
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Reduced downtime in mission-critical operations
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Lower support costs
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Consistent security and operational policy enforcement
Start 2026 Strong With the Right Mobile Device Management Strategy
The year ahead will reward organizations that invest in automation, visibility and secure intelligence endpoint ecosystems.
The SOTI ONE Platform delivers just that – a unified way to manage, secure and optimize every mobile device and printer your business relies on.
To learn how SOTI can future-proof your mobile operations, visit our website or book a demo today.
