New year outlook 2026: Technology predictions shaping the digital economy

As we step into 2026, technology is entering a decisive phase—one where scale, intelligence, and trust must move in lockstep. After years of rapid digitisation, organisations are now being challenged to make technology not just more powerful, but more responsible, resilient, and human-centric. From digital payments and customer engagement to loyalty ecosystems, AI is no longer an experimental layer—it is the operating fabric of modern digital experiences. Yet, the differentiator will not be who adopts AI fastest, but who embeds it thoughtfully, securely, and seamlessly into real-world journeys.

Industry leaders believe the coming year will be defined by context-aware intelligence, privacy-first architectures, and platforms that unify engagement, commerce, and trust. Below are key predictions from technology leaders on what 2026 holds.

Trust-Centric Digital Payments Will Define the Next Growth Wave

Alias Varghese Mangalath, Head of Engineering, Wibmo (a PayU company)

As digital payment volumes continue ...