(Natuvion: Walldorf, Germany) -- A fundamental paradigm shift is emerging in IT transformation for the coming year. What was previously understood as a finite migration project is increasingly turning into an ongoing process. This new reality, the growing use of artificial intelligence, and the rising importance of interoperability are shaping the IT transformation trends of 2026.

Megatrend: Continuous transformation

Driven by technological innovation, data-driven business models, and a volatile economic environment, companies are operating in a state of constant change to which they must continuously adapt. Going forward, the focus will shift away from one-off migrations and move toward the ability to orchestrate transformation on an ongoing basis. This new form of transformation is no longer executed with isolated tools but is built on integrated platforms that leverage AI and are deeply embedded in the company’s ecosystem. Traditional project milestones are losing relevance, while adaptability, speed, and resilience move to the fore. Continuous transformation is becoming a strategic guiding principle.

From cloud-first dogma to smart cloud strategy

Now that cloud technology has become a given for many organizations, more companies are moving away from a blanket cloud-first approach. Instead, they are adopting differentiated smart cloud strategies. The cloud is no longer viewed as a universal solution but is used selectively—especially where it offers the greatest technological, economic, and regulatory value. In practice, this leads to the growing importance of hybrid architectures and multicloud models. These help reduce dependency on individual providers, manage costs more transparently, and ensure maximum long-term flexibility. As such, the cloud shifts from being an end in itself to a strategically optimized operating model.

AI becomes catalyst for transformation

Artificial intelligence is becoming a central driver of transformation and automation initiatives. It increasingly takes on critical tasks throughout the entire transformation process—from analysis and validation to execution. As a result, transformation projects can be significantly accelerated, quality-assured, and planned more reliably. At the same time, AI enables a reduction in the amount of manual work required, making IT transformations less prone to error. Above all, the intensive use of AI puts a stronger spotlight on data quality, because AI can only unfold its full potential as an optimization and control instrument when based on valid and consistent data.

Vendor lock-in as a brake on progress

In the coming years, companies will increasingly attempt to free themselves from proprietary dependencies. As a result, avoiding vendor lock-in is becoming a key competitive factor for software providers. Companies require interchangeable core systems that can be flexibly combined or replaced. Open standards and interoperable interfaces are becoming essential prerequisites for modern IT landscapes. The ability to dissolve system boundaries and switch providers when needed will be crucial for innovation and future readiness—while simultaneously increasing pressure on software vendors to make their solutions more open and compatible.

Conclusion

2026 marks the shift from isolated migration projects to a long-term, continuous transformation process. Companies therefore face the challenge of not only modernizing their IT technologically but also aligning their structures and organizations with the need for constant adaptation. Continuous transformation, intelligent cloud strategies, the consistent use of AI, and the move away from proprietary dependencies are not isolated trends—they are tightly interconnected success factors. Companies who view transformation as an ongoing capability, leverage AI to accelerate it, and rely on interoperable, open architectures will lay the foundation for resilience, innovation speed, and sustainable competitiveness.

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