“New Zealand senior business leaders are heading into 2026 with a renewed sense of optimism, with 65% reporting they expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months.”

“This confidence is translating into action, with the majority (82%) of businesses planning to increase investment in technology to achieve their organisational goals.”

Datacom’s Business Outlook 2026 survey

This recent Datacom survey shows that New Zealand businesses are feeling optimistic about the future, especially when it comes to investing in technologies that will help to drive automation, efficiency and increased AI-driven productivity.

What can your business do to invest in the right tech for the future?

Investing in all areas of tech, right across your business.

With the AI revolution gathering pace, many Kiwi small businesses are grasping the opportunity and putting meaningful investment into upping their use of AI and new technologies.

Four areas where tech investment can deliver real results:

AI agents: These tools act as 24/7 digital employees, handling customer enquiries and data analysis around the clock. By embracing agentic AI, you can scale a more personalised service without the immediate overhead of additional headcount.

Automation: By removing repetitive manual tasks from workflows, automation reduces human error and accelerates your service delivery. This can help you counter rising labour costs while also expanding your reach and capabilities as a business.

Industry-specific software: Many software vendors now produce sector-specific AI solutions. Having AI-powered tools that are tailored to your sector helps you automate tasks, streamline your compliance and inventory management, while also giving you real-time metrics and projections for all areas of the business.

Increased cybersecurity: It’s vital to have strong security protocols that protect your intellectual property and customer data from digital threats. In a worst-case scenario, having advanced cyber protection helps you prevent or minimise cyber attacks, while also maintaining your all-important brand trust with customers.

If you’re wondering where to invest, and how to build a meaningful tech strategy, come and talk to our team. We’ll partner with you to drive your tech strategy in the right direction.