PREDICTIONS
CONTINUED
Rachel Rothwell , regional director, Zyxel Networks We are certainly feeling positive about the prospects for our partners in 2026. Managed services are now the clear direction for a high proportion of our partners. We see that accelerating as more end user customers look to pass the responsibility for managing networks
networking the big trends will be the migrations to WiFi 7 and to multi- gig switching. Most businesses have infrastructure that’s creaking under the strain of cloud, cybersecurity and AI workloads – these technologies can deliver the bandwidth they need. Protecting the whole of the network will be even more important and we see two trends here: growing use of unified security gateways that combine multiple security technologies into a single firewall appliance, and the further growth of managed security services. The main challenge for partners will be how to do more with the same resources. The shift to managed services means that end user customers are much more reliant on their partner and as more SMBs adopt managed services, MSPs need to scale-up to take opportunities and keep service levels high. We’ve been building AI-driven fault-finding and resolution capabilities into our Nebula platform that will enable them to scale up faster and without massively expanding their resources and headcount. n
and cybersecurity on to an expert services provider. We also believe 2026 is going to be a year in which customers turn their focus once again to spending on their infrastructure and connectivity – and that is going to bring more potential for partners to drive their managed services business, to add value, and grow. I think 2026 will be good for the wider channel, but to some extent, it’s about the channel getting out there and making it happen. Whether there is an economic recovery or not, technology has a role to play in driving higher levels of efficiency and cost savings and delivering a better experience for users and customers. We always need to be positive and keep on selling the benefits we can deliver. In terms of trends in 2026, in
Rachel Rothwell
zyxel.com
Cian O’Hare , EMEA AI & data lead, Accenture In 2026, AI in EMEA will move
as a strategic asset, modernise their operating models and enable employees to collaborate productively with intelligent systems at scale. In a region as diverse and highly regulated as EMEA, competitive advantage will increasingly come from orchestrating trusted ecosystems that combine technology, talent and deep industry expertise. Those who can scale AI responsibly, tailor solutions to local market realities and deliver measurable outcomes – not just deployments – will define the next wave of enterprise growth. n
beyond pilots and platforms to drive true enterprise reinvention. Leading organisations will fundamentally redesign how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how value is created — embedding AI across every function, not as a toolset, but as part of the operating model itself. The shift will move from transactional technology adoption to value-led co- innovation, underpinned by strong data foundations, responsible AI governance, and large-scale workforce reskilling. Companies that succeed will treat data
Cian O’Hare
accenture.com
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