Executive Summary
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Unveiling Tech Trends 2026 by HCLSoftware
"Enterprises will be defined less by what they build and more by what they allow technology to decide, adapt and govern on their behalf. The next 24–36 months belong to leaders who can turn intelligence into a living operating model — autonomous by default, resilient at scale, and sovereign by design."
Chief Product Officer, HCLSoftwareExecutive Summary
Tech Trends 2026 by HCLSoftware captures a fundamental shift in how enterprises are being built and governed. As organizations move deeper into the second half of the decade, digital transformation is no longer about adopting individual technologies - it is about redesigning the enterprise around intelligent systems that can decide, adapt, and operate responsibly at scale. Based on 7–8 months of research with 173+ global CXOs and senior leaders, the report identifies where conviction is forming, where momentum is accelerating and which technology bets are becoming foundational.
The signals shaping 2026 are clear:
- AI agents and autonomous systems are becoming a universal enterprise baseline.
- Software and services are converging into self-building, self-running systems.
- Trust, governance, and digital sovereignty are emerging as prerequisites for scale.
Anchored in HCLSoftware’s XDO blueprint (Xperience, Data, and Operations), the report shows how leading enterprises are aligning intelligent experience, governed data and autonomous operations into cohesive operating models. This is not a forecast of distant futures, but a guide to the decisions leaders must make now.
The 12 Defining Mega Tech Trends
of 2026
The Enterprise Readiness vs
Momentum Matrix
Software
& Computing Architectures
Sustainability
& Cybersecurity
Autonomous Systems
Reality
Connectivity
Digital Fabrication
Mechanics
Interpreting the Matrix
This matrix visualizes the maturity and potential of 12 key technologies. The horizontal axis represents the pace of technical innovation, while the vertical axis tracks market adoption rates.
Bubble Size
The bubble size for each of the 12 megatrends is based on the projected market size 2030 in USD Billion.
X-Y Axis
The interest & adoption scores for all 12 megatrends are relative to each other and is based on 173 survey responses.
Some trends are global; others are being shaped region by region.
While a few megatrends, most notably AI Agents and Autonomous systems are reaching global consensus as foundational capabilities, most technologies are advancing unevenly across regions due to differences in regulation, industry structure, talent, capital availability and societal priorities. Our report underscores that the next wave of competitive advantage won’t come from uniform global rollouts, but from the ability to orchestrate innovation intelligently: learning from early proof points, investing where ecosystems are strongest and timing expansion as technologies move from localized momentum to platform-scale impact.
| Category | Megatrend | Global % | North America % | Europe % | APAC % | LATAM + MEA % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognition & Compute | AI Agents & Autonomous systems | 76% | 29% | 26% | 25% | 20% |
| Next-Gen Software | 36% | 23% | 34% | 32% | 11% | |
| Quantum | 17% | 20% | 30% | 27% | 23% | |
| Experience & Engagement | Immersive Reality | 8% | 14% | 29% | 21% | 36% |
| Advanced Connectivity | 23% | 15% | 28% | 28% | 30% | |
| Resilience & Responsibility | Trust, Transparency & Cybersecurity | 34% | 21% | 33% | 26% | 21% |
| Energy & Sustainability | 17% | 21% | 21% | 21% | 38% | |
| Bioengineering | 3% | 20% | 0% | 60% | 20% | |
| Frontiers & Foundation | Robotics | 14% | 33% | 12% | 33% | 21% |
| SpaceTech | 4% | 14% | 0% | 0% | 86% | |
| Advanced Semiconductors & Computing Architectures | 8% | 8% | 23% | 46% | 23% | |
| Manufacturing & Digital Fabrication | 4% | 33% | 17% | 25% | 25% |
2030 Trends Intersection
Each wheel represents a distinct 2030 technology opportunity space, while the intersections reveal how converging technologies come together to drive real-world use cases and impact.
Spin the wheel to explore more!
Digital Sovereignty
& Sustainability
& Sustainability
Digital Sovereignty
Immersive XR
Top Driver
Bio-Driven Health & Sustainability
Intersecting Trend
Impact Experience Labs
Customers and citizens explore how choices affect health and sustainability through immersive, interactive simulations.
AI Agents & Autonomous Systems
AI enters its decisive decade.
For years, AI focused on analysing, predicting, and automating discrete tasks but in 2026, AI is defined by autonomy where systems not only analyse and assist but act and decide. The new frontier of digital transformation lies in AI agents and autonomous systems that reason, learn and execute end-to-end workflows across the enterprise.
What leaders are pointing to?
81%
of enterprises have started live or pilot initiatives involving autonomous AI agents.
61%
of organizations are prioritizing Agentic AI for "operational efficiency " to streamline processes.
26%
of organizations have clear governance frameworks.
Agentic AI
Autonomy becomes the new automation.Moving from tools that support humans to systems that partner with them, Agentic AI is now embedded at the heart of enterprise operations with nearly 80% of enterprises reporting live or pilot initiatives involving autonomous AI agents. These systems are executing workflows, coordinating across digital systems and continuously learning from feedback loops, redefining enterprise intelligence.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
At the edge of ambition and reality.Artificial General Intelligence is the next frontier of AI - where machine cognition parallels human intelligence. More than 80% of leaders have moved from awareness to active advocacy - showing that AGI is now a boardroom conversation, not a lab experiment.
Next-Gen Software
Welcome to the age of self-building, self-running systems.
Software is entering its most transformative shift since cloud computing and for the first time, enterprises are seeing creation and operations evolve at an extraordinary speed. Gen AI has collapsed the distance between an idea and a working system, while intelligent services are pushing operations toward self-management and continuous optimization, powering intelligence at scale.
What leaders are pointing to?
84%
of enterprises anticipate AI-accelerated Low-Code/No-Code to scale within 18 months.
31%
of enterprises are already running agentic service platforms pilots, signalling the shift toward self- managing services.
APAC
leads Next-Gen Software adoption with its high concentration of digitally mature IT and software enterprises.
Low Code/No Code
Accelerating software creation through GenAI-powered development.Low-Code/No-Code powered by Generative AI has become mainstream in enterprise software creation, evolving from simple app assembly into an AI-powered creation layer where workflows, data models, integrations and interfaces are generated through natural language. With nearly three-quarters of organizations beyond early interest and a growing share actively transforming processes, LCNC is delivering faster development, lower costs, stronger innovation and helping close skill gaps.
Service-as-Software™ (SaS)
Delivering outcomes through software that runs itself.SaS is the next big shift in how enterprises consume technology with projected market size of USD 89.9 billion by 2034. Moving beyond traditional SaaS that delivers applications, SaS delivers services that run themselves, automating fixes, enforcing SLAs, optimizing performance and delivering continuous outcomes without constant human intervention.
Trust, Transparency & Cybersecurity
The new currency of digital business.
Cybersecurity is no longer just about firewalls or keeping intruders out. As AI drives critical decisions in real time and attackers become faster and more automated, trust is no longer assumed, it must be designed, demonstrated and continuously earned.
What leaders are pointing to?
34%
of leaders already place Cybersecurity, Trust & Transparency among their top priorities.
79%
of executives report Responsible AI is already in active motion, reflecting a shift from hype to practical adoption.
~1.5X
increase in priority for Cybersecurity, Trust & Transparency among sovereignty-led enterprises.
Responsible AI
Making AI explainable, auditable and defensible.Responsible AI has moved beyond experimentation. At its core, it is the disciplined practice of designing and deploying AI systems that are transparent, explainable, secure and accountable, so decisions can be understood, justified, and trusted. Over 90% of leaders cite ethics, brand reputation, and risk avoidance as the strongest motivators, making Responsible AI a strategic trust lever rather than a compliance exercise.
Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
Protecting today’s data from tomorrow’s computers.Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is the next generation of encryption designed to withstand quantum-level computing power that could render today’s encryption ineffective, putting data, identities and critical infrastructure at risk.
Advanced Connectivity
The rise of a pervasive, intelligent network fabric.
The next decade of digital transformation will be shaped not just by intelligent systems, but by the connectivity fabric that binds them. Advanced connectivity, powered by Low-earth orbit (LEO) constellations and the emergence of 6G, marks a shift from traditional network upgrades to a world of pervasive, resilient and intelligence-ready communications.
What leaders are pointing to?
IT, Telecom and Government
sectors are the fastest adopters of advanced connectivity trend.
More than two-thirds
of organizations have already operationalized LEO in some form and over 90% plan to scale further within two years.
>63%
are showing high intent in scaling 6G, signalling that the foundation for tomorrow’s intelligent networks is quietly taking shape.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites
The future of enterprise connectivity is no longer on the ground.Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are redefining enterprise connectivity by eliminating the blind spots of terrestrial networks. With nearly 60% of organizations having moved beyond early interest, LEO is delivering high-quality, low-latency coverage across oceans, borders and remote terrains, moving from a backup option to a frontline connectivity layer.
6G
Paving the way for networks that think, sense and respond.6G, the sixth generation of wireless networks is designed as an intelligent, all-purpose connectivity backbone that blends ultra-high throughput, ultra-low latency, pervasive coverage and built-in intelligence in a way no previous generation has.
Quantum Mechanics
Dawn of applied quantum advantage
Quantum technologies are stepping out of the lab, transitioning from an experimental frontier to a strategic enabler of precision, prediction and performance across industries, marking the beginning of a decade where precision sensing, accelerated simulation and cloud-delivered quantum capabilities reshape business and scientific frontiers.
What leaders are pointing to?
50-60%
of enterprises are quietly building capability stacks (talent, tools, leadership alignment, vendor ecosystems etc.) even before broad deployment.
Europe
leads with the highest percentage of interest and active pilots in quantum technologies.
50%
of organizations are already testing Quantum Sensing in pilots, signalling that the technology is moving beyond curiosity.
Quantum Sensing
The technology that sees what your systems can’t.Imagine if your organization could see what classical sensors miss - the underground faults before they occur, microscopic biological changes in real time or subtle magnetic shifts signalling risk long before traditional systems react. That is the promise of Quantum Sensing, a capability that turns extreme precision into a practical advantage.
Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS)
When quantum computing becomes browser ready.QaaS unlocks the heavy potential of quantum processors ranging from optimization and materials simulation to cryptography and advanced machine learning. Quantum-as-a-Service may still feel like a technology of the future, but signals from the field suggest the transition is already underway with nearly 48% of organizations actively exploring cloud-based quantum solutions.
Energy & Sustainability
Rise of intelligent, decentralized and circular energy systems
From centralized, carbon-intensive infrastructures to intelligent, distributed and circular systems that strengthen resilience while reducing environmental impact, the next era of industrial transformation is being shaped by how enterprises generate, distribute and conserve energy not just how they consume it.
What leaders are pointing to?
45-55%
of organizations are already deploying on-site renewables and storage, thereby shifting decentralized systems from backup roles to strategic assets.
45%
of enterprises showcase high-interest in adopting green manufacturing, but momentum in scaled pilots remain low.
70%
of leaders cite cost savings as a key motivator for adopting Decentralized Energy systems.
Decentralized Energy
Rewiring resilience, autonomy and sustainability for the next era of operationsDecentralized energy refers to the distributed generation and management of power close to the point of use, rather than relying solely on large, centralized grid stations. It encompasses solar rooftop arrays, microgrids, energy storage, combined heat and power (CHP) and other localized generation assets that can operate independently or in coordination with the main grid.
Green Manufacturing
Cleaner processes driving smarter performanceGreen manufacturing is changing how industries approach efficiency and sustainability by using fewer resources and generating less waste. With 55% of organizations now in transforming or innovation-leader stages, manufacturers are increasingly building green manufacturing on digital foundations—using smarter processes, better materials, and real-time data to reduce emissions and optimize energy use.
Robotics
Where robots understand context, not just commands
The next phase of enterprise transformation is being shaped by how organizations augment physical operations with intelligent, connected machines, not just how they automate routine work. The Robotics megatrend marks a decisive transition from standalone, pre-programmed robots to adaptive, cloud-orchestrated and cognitively capable systems that collaborate with humans, respond to changing environments and scale across distributed sites.
What leaders are pointing to?
9in10
organizations are already engaging with the next era of robotics.
46%
already in pilots and 21% reporting early process transformation, cloud-connected robots are moving from isolated trials to coordinated deployments.
Talent, infrastructure and orchestration
remain the primary constraints to fully scale robotics.
Cloud Robotics
Turning distributed workforces into coordinated fleets.Cloud Robotics is reshaping the automation landscape by shifting intelligence from individual robots to a central cloud-and-edge backbone - allowing machines to learn collectively, update instantly and operate as coordinated fleets across plants, warehouses and field environments.
Cognitive Robotics
Where machines stop repeating and start reasoning.Cognitive Robotics represents the moment robots evolve from task executors into context-aware partners capable of perceiving the world, reasoning through uncertainty and adapting their actions in real time. Unlike traditional automation, these robots integrate advanced sensing, machine learning and decision-making models to interpret situations rather than merely react to them.
Immersive Reality(IR)
Goodbye displays. Hello spatial worlds.
A new wave of innovation is emerging as enterprises move past flat screens and begin engaging with information in three-dimensional, spatially aware environments. Immersive reality represents a step- change in how people experience technology - where digital content gains form, presence and context and where interactions can happen naturally within the world rather than inside a confined display.
What leaders are pointing to?
36%
of enterprises in LATAM+MEA are showing strong interest in next-interface technologies.
Governance and data readiness
are becoming gating factors restricting full scale adoption of immersive technologies.
64%
leaders are already deploying spatial computing at full scale.
Spatial Computing
Recasting digital work into live, dimensional experiences.Digital information is no longer something we look at - it’s something we step into with Spatial Computing. It blends cloud intelligence, environmental sensing and 3D interfaces to allow teams to walk around a design instead of viewing it, rehearse high-risk scenarios in safe virtual spaces or layer real-time insights onto physical settings.
Holographic Displays
Visual intelligence that lives in space, not pixels.Holographic Displays are emerging as a transformative visualization layer that moves beyond flat screens to project digital content as life- like, spatial presence. Instead of interpreting information through windows and panels, leaders can engage with data that appears to occupy real space. With leaders pointing to holography redefining the enterprise value in next 12-24 months, holography will not transform entire operating models but it will influence critical moments where clarity, persuasion and precision matter most.
Advanced Semiconductors and Computing Architectures
The new bedrock of digital power.
Advanced semiconductors and Computing architectures are shifting compute from one-size-fits-all chips to purpose-built, adaptive systems. With Chiplets enabling modular performance and neuromorphic processors bringing brain-inspired intelligence to hardware, the real question for enterprises is not whether to adopt but whether they can design and operationalize for the intelligence future demands.
What leaders are pointing to?
9 in 10
executives indicate active Chiplet adoption, driving efficiency and modularity in advanced compute systems.
64%
leaders signal hardware maturity and cost as biggest constraint in adoption of Neuromorphic processors.
72%
leaders focus on supply chain robustness and expanding into new product lines.
Chiplets
Building blocks of the Next-Gen processor.Chiplets transform processors into modular, purpose-built platforms, enabling flexibility and efficiency that monolithic chips cannot match. By decoupling functions like compute, memory, and I/O, they unlock workload-driven performance and redefine what’s possible in AI, HPC and cloud infrastructure.
Neuromorphic Processors
Reimagining intelligence at the hardware layer.Neuromorphic processors are reimagining computation, mimicking the brain’s spiking neurons to deliver ultra-efficient, low-latency intelligence. With 64% signalling hardware maturity and cost and scale as biggest constraint in adoption of Neuromorphic processors, the tech promises extraordinary efficiency and intelligence but only once the right infrastructure, software and ecosystem align.
Manufacturing and Digital Fabrication
The end of static manufacturing.
Manufacturing is no longer evolving as a set of disconnected automation or prototyping technologies. It is beginning to function as a core operational layer - one that determines how products are designed, factories are run and performance is optimized across their full lifecycle. In a factory, a component changes shape mid-production, responding to temperature and stress, while its virtual twin simulates the outcome in real time, predicting potential failures before they occur. This is not sci-fi, it is the emerging reality of manufacturing today.
What leaders are pointing to?
41%
of organizations indicate that their Digital Twin initiatives have reached mature stages of adoption.
18-24
months
is the expected timeframe for advanced manufacturing initiatives to deliver operational impact.
30%
leaders identify data integration as one of the biggest barrier to Digital twin adoption.
Digital Twins
Accelerating the future of intelligent industries.The Digital Twin has evolved from concept to strategic architectural capability, defining the next frontier of operational excellence. Enterprises are rapidly virtualizing their value chains, leveraging twins to generate quantifiable, bottom-line impact. With 66% enterprises already exploring digital twins, adoption is poised to accelerate and scale, as decision-makers increasingly view the technology as a core lever for operational value creation rather than a speculative bet on future innovation.
4D Printing
Materials that move, adapt, and evolve.4D printing is a transformative manufacturing technology that extends 3D printing by creating objects capable of self-transforming or adapting over time in response to environmental stimuli. With 36% executives, anticipating it’s mainstream adoption in >5 years, 4D printing is redefining manufactured objects and transitioning from mere concept to experimentation.
SpaceTech
Space enters the enterprise core
SpaceTech is no longer advancing as a collection of isolated missions, sensors or experimental launches. It is beginning to function as a persistent infrastructure layer - one that shapes how organizations extend connectivity, generate intelligence, manage risk and make decisions across physical systems on Earth. Space assets are increasingly designed to be modular, scalable and tightly coupled with terrestrial data platforms, analytics stacks and enterprise workflows. The emphasis is moving from access to space toward value from space.
What leaders are pointing to?
90%
rate their interest in SpaceTech outcomes as high to very high- signalling that Miniaturized Satellites & Earth Observation have moved from niche capabilities to strategic priorities.
50%
of organizations already see miniaturized satellites as operational, with leadership support, vendor availability and funding in place.
75%
leaders expect Earth Observation to scale within 12-18 months, supported by solid internal readiness.
Miniaturized Satellites
This is SpaceTech past the experiment phase.Miniaturized satellites are moving beyond the experimental phase and into early operational use. No longer defined by size or cost alone, they are increasingly treated as repeatable, scalable systems designed for rapid deployment, constellation expansion and continuous operation.
Earth Observation
When the planet becomes observable in real time.Earth observation is the use of satellites to keep a constant watch on the planet, capturing data about land, oceans, weather and human activity as they change over time. It is reshaping how insight is generated from orbit as its value is no longer cantered on imagery alone, but on decision support. With 41% of organizations prioritizing climate monitoring, Earth Observation is expected to deliver its greatest value in this area over the next decade.
Bioengineering
From biological insight to engineered outcomes.
Bioengineering is no longer progressing as a collection of isolated scientific breakthroughs. It is beginning to behave more like an infrastructure layer - one that underpins how organizations design therapies, run diagnostics, improve yields and accelerate biological decision-making.
What leaders are pointing to?
Nearly two-thirds
of Bioengineering initiatives are expected to move from pilot to scaled deployment within 24 months.
50%
of organizations are seeing therapeutic development gains with genome editing.
Sentiment analysis
shows strong confidence in the long-term value of Bioengineering, particularly around precision, speed and outcome quality.
Genome Editing
What’s being redesigned isn’t DNA - it’s how biology gets operationalized.Genome editing is entering a phase where its relevance is no longer questioned only its mode of deployment is. What distinguishes the current moment is not a breakthrough in technique, but a shift in how organizations are positioning genome editing within their broader innovation and operating models. Genome editing is already delivering R&D impact, with 50% of organizations seeing therapeutic development gains.
Lab-On-Chip
Shrinking the lab. Speeding the insight.Lab-on-a-Chip refers to miniaturizing entire laboratory processes - such as sample preparation, testing and analysis - onto a single, compact chip. Instead of sending samples to large, centralized labs and waiting days for results, tests can be performed quickly and closer to where decisions are made. With 52% anticipating that in the next 5 years, compact, on the go testing tools will make a big difference in the healthcare space, Lab-on-a-Chip is gaining momentum.
Quotes from Leaders
"Quantum computing in Finland is advancing from research toward real-world applications, driven by sustained investment, a structured roadmap and a highly integrated ecosystem. State-backed programs, open-access platforms and strong collaboration between academia, research centers and industry are enabling practical use cases in materials, energy and advanced manufacturing."
"Rapid technological progress still leaves many behind. Bridging the digital divide requires inclusive design, collaborative innovation and cross-sector partnerships to ensure equitable access and meaningful impact across all communities."
"Israel has emerged as a global deep-tech powerhouse, transforming cutting-edge research into deployable solutions in AI, quantum computing, robotics, space and cybersecurity. The country’s strength lies in industry-ready systems, a vibrant startup ecosystem, exceptional technical talent and strategic government support, all enabling integrated, reliable technologies that deliver tangible impact across defense, enterprise and critical infrastructure."
“Space technologies are becoming a cornerstone of innovation, driving high-value industries and transforming critical sectors. Through Catalonia Space 2030 Strategy, a productive ecosystem is being empowered with skilled talent and companies delivering solutions that redefine strategic industry operations.”
"Advanced propulsion systems are essential for secure launches, scalable missions and in-space mobility, providing sustainable and competitive access to space. By fostering innovation and agility, Pangea accelerates the evolution of the space industry, while cross-industry and international collaboration enhances strategic capabilities and builds a resilient, competitive and sustainable space ecosystem."
"Engineered biology and next-generation digital health are driving precise therapies, predictive care and sustainable bio-industries. Switzerland’s convergence of life sciences, precision engineering and digital trust fosters an ecosystem that scales these technologies, translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible human-centric solutions through research, clinical expertise and collaborative innovation."
"Austria is advancing technological innovation in India’s strategic sectors. Through advances in urban air mobility, connected aerospace systems and precision automation, collaborative efforts are enabling scalable space missions and more efficient urban mobility, demonstrating cross-border collaboration and driving excellence in technology and strategic capabilities."
"Next-generation AI, including foundation models, privacy-preserving architectures, edge intelligence and high-fidelity simulation, is advancing rapidly. Switzerland’s expertise in machine learning, cryptography, robotics and secure infrastructures enables powerful, efficient and trustworthy AI systems, establishing the country as a hub for industrial and societal AI innovation with real-world impact."
"These top trends together signal the arrival of an intelligent, secure, sustainable, and hyper-connected era in next 5 years: AI agents emerge as the globally unified priority, Europe accelerating responsible AI and next-gen Software, APAC forging ahead in robotics, and LATAM+MEA redefining satellite connectivity and sustainability."
"Energy is moving from centralized supply to intelligent orchestration: thousands of distributed assets, steered by AI-driven software, stacking value across markets. Intelligent, decentralized and circular systems are how we keep costs predictable, grids stable and climate goals credible.."
