Excelia identifies the 10 technological trends that will shape 2026

Excelia, a Spanish consulting, technology and professional services firm, has indicated what the Top 10 technological trends that will shape the year 2026, marked by the intensification of the regulatory framework, the accelerated adoption of Artificial Intelligence and a significant increase in digital risks.

For Excelia, 2026 will be the year in which technology will definitively cease to be an enabler and become a critical infrastructure for the business, with a direct impact on operational efficiency, security, regulatory compliance and sustainability.

The 10 key technology trends for 2026

• Modernizing legacy systems with Artificial Intelligence: AI is increasingly becoming a key ally in modernizing legacy systems, automating refactoring, process optimization, and code documentation without disrupting daily operations. This will reduce risks, minimize costs, and accelerate the transition to more agile and scalable platforms.
• AI Governance and Security: The evolution of AI already necessitates robust governance frameworks to ensure that models, biases, and alignment with emerging regulations are properly managed. This will guarantee that AI is used reliably, ethically, and securely in all critical business processes.
• Automation will boost workplace efficiency: In 2026, intelligent assistants and AI agents will continue to automate repetitive tasks, generate strategic insights, and support decision-making, to increase employee productivity and free up time for higher-value and more creative activities.
• Identity as a new security perimeter: Identity management and digital trust will become the main security perimeter, protecting information and access against threats such as credential theft and identity theft, which will continue to be the most critical risks for organizations.
• Evolution of the Zero Trust model: The Zero Trust approach will evolve into a proactive and contextual model, where every access will be continuously verified, considering behavior, location and risk level to strengthen security dynamically and in real time.
• Regulatory compliance as a strategic focus: Regulations such as NIS2, DORA, CRA, AI Act or CSRD will be natively integrated into processes and systems, allowing companies to operate with greater confidence, minimize risks and strengthen their reputation with customers, regulators and stakeholders.
• Risk management in the supply chain: Next year, third-party monitoring and the implementation of integrated cybersecurity mechanisms will be essential to ensure business continuity and resilience, as external risks and supplier incidents continue to grow in complexity and impact.
• Financial environments with native digital integration: Financial functions will evolve towards fully interconnected digital ecosystems, where cloud, APIs and automation will allow accounting, treasury, collections and payments processes to be executed in a unified manner, reducing errors, accelerating decisions and enabling autonomous financial flows.
• Democratizing application development: In 2026, low-code and no-code development platforms will take center stage, enabling business teams to quickly and efficiently create and automate applications and workflows, reducing dependence on IT and accelerating internal innovation.
• Green IT and sustainable data centers: Organizations will drive energy efficiency in their technology infrastructures, adopting Green IT practices and sustainable data centers. This will reduce their carbon footprint, optimize operating costs, and align technology with ESG objectives, solidifying sustainability as a strategic pillar of digital transformation.

“We are entering a stage where competitive advantage will not come solely from adopting technology in isolation, but from how organizations securely, consistently, and governably integrate artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and automation into all key business processes.”, points out Raúl Candela, Partner & Managing Director of Excelia, which adds: “"Companies that manage to turn these tools into critical infrastructure will have the ability to innovate faster, proactively manage risks, and generate long-term value.".

With over 25 years of experience, Excelia guides organizations in their digital transformation and international expansion process, providing solutions and services Driven by technology, the company places special emphasis on innovation and the integration of advanced tools as a catalyst for solid, long-term growth. Its global team, comprised of more than 300 highly specialized professionals, combines international perspective with local knowledge, ensuring customized solutions that meet the specific needs of each client.