2026 stories - Page 36

Advanced AI and automation are rendering traditional accounts payable obsolete, with CFOs now leading the shift to faster, more secure, data-driven finance processes.

SOUTHSTART 2026 returns to Adelaide, uniting founders, investors, and innovators across Australia's startup and technology sectors in March.

Despite 81% of Australian business leaders valuing branding as vital, only 16% plan to boost investment, revealing a gap between belief and action.

Sinch predicts AI-driven digital messaging will grow fivefold by 2026, reshaping customer engagement with smarter, faster, and more secure communications.

Equinix plans a USD $22 million data centre in Lagos, its first in West Africa, boosting digital infrastructure to power Nigeria's growing tech economy by 2026.

A survey of 164 Australian CEOs finds 81% value branding, yet only 16% plan to boost brand investment, highlighting a gap in structured brand management.

By 2026, AI will transform developer roles with 65% expecting shifts towards strategy and design, while automation prompts leaner teams and evolving skillsets.

Mortar AI launches MMM Pulse, a fast, data-light tool giving marketers quick, reliable insights into the true impact of campaigns and channels.

In 2026, firms will shift AI investment towards cost-efficiency, data governance, and measurable outcomes amid rising scrutiny of AI returns, says OpenText.

By 2026, AI and tax intelligence will revolutionise business compliance, driving real-time reporting and transforming finance, trade, retail, and hospitality sectors globally.

AMD outlines multi-year growth expectations as new market analysis from Moomoo assesses the company's reliance on data centre and AI demand.

By 2026, AI agents will streamline one-third of B2B payments, while stablecoins and biometrics reshape global payment security and standards.

Visa survey reveals 88% of digital creators expect growth, yet 62% still use personal accounts, highlighting a need for tailored business banking solutions.

Two in five Australian firms faced ransomware attacks last year amid rising AI-driven cyber threats, with many paying ransoms exceeding USD $250,000.

The CNCF has launched the Certified Cloud Native Platform Engineer credential to certify advanced platform engineering skills for enterprises.

Enterprises will prioritise AI investments on cost savings, data governance, and measurable business outcomes over new tool acquisition in 2026.

Synology launches PAS7700, a dual-active all-NVMe storage system, offering secure, high-performance, and highly available data access for AI-driven enterprises.

Enterprises rushing AI adoption risk being undermined by neglecting critical network and security layers essential for secure global connectivity, warns Coevolve CEO.

DroneShield secures AUD $7.6m in US government contracts, boosting orders and expanding production to meet rising demand for counter-drone technology.

Five key ICT trends for 2026-agentic AI, cybersecurity, edge computing, connectivity, and sustainability-will shape how businesses thrive amid uncertainty.