20 01732 759725 TECHNOLOGY excellence (77%) and quality expertise (68%). They are also much more socially and environmentally conscious, which is impacting the way procurement teams function. The Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect in February 2025, requires businesses to have regard for the importance of maximising public benefits when awarding contracts. This can present complexities for IT organisations where margins are slim. Public sector and corporate verticals. The report shows strong growth in managed services across the board, particularly across the SMB and mid-market space, and increasing in the areas of cybersecurity tooling, AI and workspace and end-user devices. In the public sector, 65% of executives are prioritising technology to drive innovation, and 59% named cost control/ budgeting as their top priority. Councils, local government, housing associations and many other sectors are feeling the pinch but by utilising data, IoT and keeping people at the heart of operations, there is room for public sector organisations to thrive. Data management For the first time, this year’s Business Tech Report includes commentary from Andy Crossley, CTO of Leeds-based AI and data consultancy firm Oakland, which in 2025 became Softcat’s first acquisition. He shares insights on the vendor landscape within the data space, the ways in which some AI data tools are not delivering and how Softcat and Oakland’s partnership can help customers unlock the power of AI. Softcat’s report highlights the extent to which fully embedding AI and automation, overcoming procurement challenges, the age of Windows 11, mounting security concerns and the importance of data are at the forefront of many customers’ minds – and how organisations are shifting from experimentation to enablement. It concludes that a clear and innovative strategy is needed for organisations to keep up with change and ensure that the investments they make drive value and support secure, sustainable, scalable growth. https://www.softcat.com (GRC) is becoming a competitive advantage to maximise efficiency and unlock innovation. One third (36%) of leaders listed it as a strategic priority when implementing hybrid environments. 5. Networks & connectivity. Organisations say they’re adopting a smarter, faster and greener approach to networks and connectivity, using it to drive their business outcomes. AI-driven networking is keeping operations running smoothly for many organisations and helping to spot issues before they happen. Observability, which was once a mere buzzword, is becoming the backbone of network modernisation. Many leaders recognise the impact networks have on emissions and are making changes that align with their sustainability goals. 6. Sustainable IT. The report reveals organisations continue to care deeply about their impact on the world and have incorporated sustainable goals and principles across operations, supply chain and customer solutions. Four out of five customers surveyed (80%) said they would opt for buy-back or trade-in options, while 75% are actively working on a sustainability strategy, or already have one. Within IT departments, GreenOps, or Green Operations, is a key focus with organisations aiming to embed sustainability into everyday digital operations to reduce environmental impact, improve cost efficiency, align with regulatory and stakeholder expectations and boost reputation and innovation. Other concerns Other areas addressed in the report are: Tech procurement and public benefit. When it comes to technology procurement, organisations care most about competitive pricing (83%), followed by customer service Softcat, the FTSE 250 listed IT infrastructure solutions provider, has released its annual Business Tech Report 2025/26. Drawing on insights from more than 6,000 individuals in 4,000 public and private sector organisations, the report identifies the biggest tech priorities for 2026. These include: 1. Data security. Almost half (47%) of organisations say data security is their key focus for the year ahead. Good security posture and the sensitive handling of data is the foundation for AI, automation, cloud adoption and more. To progress, organisations must first get data and cyber hygiene right. 2. AI adoption. The second largest priority for customers is AI adoption (46%), albeit with a standardised, secured and cost-controlled approach. This is also reflected in research conducted by McKinsey & Company, which found that nearly nine out of ten businesses are regularly using AI but most haven’t yet embedded it deeply enough into workflows and processes to see material enterprise-level benefits. With Agentic AI set to reshape the modern workplace and challenge the way businesses approach automation to leverage more from their teams, Softcat’s report makes the point that people are still the most valuable asset to an organisation, so it’s important to empower and enable the workforce to creatively and strategically adopt AI. 3. Devices & software. Cited by 37%, end-user devices and software are still a huge focus for many organisations. The end of Windows 10 support and the era of Windows 11 are prompting many organisations to improve their approach to workspace and find cost efficiencies. There’s lots of excitement around Digital Employment Experience (DEX) too, and how employees experience IT in their workplaces. Half (53%) of Softcat customers that selected digital workspace as a top priority want to maximise the impact of their existing technology first and foremost. 4. GRC. Governance, Risk and Compliance Softcat report reveals top strategic and tech priorities for 2026 Mapping the path to secure, sustainable growth
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