Top B2B trends for 2026

January 7, 2026

2026 has begun


already the pace of innovation is accelerating. Companies must stay alert to emerging trends that could transform the way they operate, connect with clients, and manage resources. In this article, we explore three key areas to watch closely this year: GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), Sustainability, and the acceleration of live social commerce. Understanding these developments will help your organization stay competitive and future-ready.

GEO: Generative Engine Optimization

AI is becoming part of everyday life. Tools like ChatGPT are now being used in workplaces, schools, and homes to answer questions, solve problems, and complete tasks more efficiently. This shift is transforming the way people search for information and discover businesses, and it’s creating a new opportunity for companies called Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO.


GEO is the next evolution in digital strategy. Where traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEA (Search Engine Advertising) focused on ranking websites in search engines or promoting them through paid ads, GEO focuses on AI-driven discovery. It’s about making sure your products, services, and expertise appear in AI-generated answers when people ask questions.


The key to GEO is optimizing content structure and prompts. Clear, detailed content ensures that AI systems can accurately interpret and surface your offerings. Poorly structured or vague content may lead AI to ignore or misrepresent your business. By investing in GEO, companies can maintain visibility in this emerging AI-driven ecosystem, ensuring they remain relevant in a world where AI increasingly mediates information discovery.



Technologies like Sky-Walker can support this process by providing data insights and operational visibility that help align marketing and digital strategies with these AI-powered channels. In essence, it’s about preparing your business to be discoverable in an AI-first world, without needing to overhaul your entire marketing approach.


The acceleration of live social commerce

The rise of omnichannel retail and digital engagement has also brought live social commerce into the spotlight. Influencers and brands increasingly sell products directly through social media, linking posts to websites or enabling instant transactions. This approach offers convenience and immediacy for customers but also introduces challenges.


Managing multiple selling platforms simultaneously can be overwhelming. The lack of control and security on some platforms increases the risk of fraud or inconsistent messaging, which can quickly erode customer trust. Companies need to stay vigilant, maintaining consistent branding and reliable service across channels.



Operational management tools can play a key role here. By providing oversight of multiple platforms and analysing performance and customer interactions, companies can ensure trust remains intact while scaling their social commerce efforts. This approach allows businesses to leverage the full potential of live commerce without compromising customer confidence or operational efficiency.

Online shopping concept with phone, tablet, website displays, and shopping bag on a blue background. Sky-Walker

Sustainability

Sustainability continues to be more than just a trend it’s a business imperative. Customers, partners, and employees are increasingly favouring companies that actively reduce their environmental impact, and businesses are being held to higher standards of accountability.


For many companies, achieving sustainability can feel like a daunting task. That’s where technology can help. Platforms designed for operational management, like Sky-Walker, provide a practical way to monitor and optimize energy consumption, maintenance, and other key processes. By identifying inefficiencies and suggesting improvements, these tools help companies reduce energy use, cut costs, and improve their environmental footprint.


For example, businesses can track energy consumption across multiple locations, optimize lighting and climate control systems, and schedule preventive maintenance that avoids unnecessary resource waste. This integration of sustainability into daily operations ensures that businesses aren’t just meeting compliance standards they’re actively improving efficiency while demonstrating responsibility to clients and partners.



Companies that embrace technology-enabled sustainability initiatives are not only better prepared for future regulations but also gain a competitive advantage in the eyes of customers who prioritize eco-conscous practices.

Hand holding glowing green globe with environmental icons overlay Sky-Walker

Using Sky-Walker for sustainability

Sky-Walker takes sustainability from a goal into something you can actively manage and measure. Connecting all your building systems and operations in one platform, it gives you real-time insights into energy use, equipment performance, and maintenance needs. This means inefficiencies are easy to spot, and corrective actions can be taken immediately, rather than waiting for monthly reports or manual audits.


The platform’s smart integration capabilities allow you to link lighting, HVAC, access systems, and other building technologies, creating a seamless overview of your operations. You can automate energy-saving strategies, such as adjusting lighting or temperature based on occupancy, and schedule preventive maintenance before issues escalate. These features not only help reduce your environmental footprint but also lower operational costs.


Sky-Walker also makes it simple to report and track sustainability progress, giving teams and leadership a clear view of where improvements have been made and where further action is needed. By embedding these insights directly into daily operations, sustainability becomes a natural part of business workflow, rather than a separate, burdensome initiative.


In short, Sky-Walker empowers companies to work smarter, save energy, and demonstrate responsibility, all while improving operational efficiency, making sustainability not just achievable, but measurable and actionable.

Looking ahead

2026 promises to be a pivotal year for businesses that embrace innovation. GEO highlights how AI is reshaping the way people find and engage with companies. Sustainability demonstrates the growing expectation for businesses to operate responsibly. And live social commerce shows the importance of agility, trust, and direct customer engagement in a digital-first world.

Two computer monitors displaying data and a live video feed of a warehouse. Protected by Sky-Walker

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