6 STRATEGIC
SHIFTS
FOR 2026

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say clients are now more convinced they can do jobs themselves using AI

As AI adds more pressure to deliver outputs faster, cheaper, and better, great project work can no longer just be measured by the usual benchmarks like deadlines, budgets, or even quality. Why? Because clients are now more empowered to ‘just do it themselves’ with AI.

Value is becoming a more common, if not completely new, KPI. Businesses are also layering in more nuanced metrics that account for automation and AI use (e.g. AI utilization rate and revenue per delivery hour). They’re measuring not just what is delivered, but how efficiently.

This requires a big mindset shift. The measure of value is now more about long term business results, rather than simply handing over deliverables and moving on to the next task. In 2026, be ready to talk outcomes over outputs. Price for it, and prove it, with a focus on offering senior expertise, more automation, and measurable impact. We've done a deep dive into this, in a new report you can access below.

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are seeing shorter timelines for deliverables compared to 5 years ago

Pressure doesn’t always make diamonds — it also causes implosions. As overworked and understaffed teams face an epidemic of burnout, time tracking is back in the spotlight as an early KPI for team wellbeing. Especially as projects become more “disruptively complex” causing more delays and higher coordination overhead.

But to use time tracking as a way to prevent burnout, time tracking needs a re-brand. Unreliable, inaccurate, and clunky time-tracking systems are annoying (or in some cases, incriminating), so managers have to waste hours chasing them. Not only is that a drag, it means the data in them is often inaccurate. In 2026, focus on removing the hassle of tracking time, and reframing it as a force for good, not just painful admin. We explain how to do that in more detail in the full version of this report.

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say clients want to see AI used on projects

In 2026, we’re entering phase 2 of AI adoption — where ‘advanced stuff’ like agentic AI will go mainstream. We’re not talking about an overenthusiastic paperclip, agentic is the real deal for resource management. Great news for understaffed teams or small businesses, who need an extra set of hands for time-intensive stuff, or non-fee earning work.

And this isn’t something you have to hide. Our research found clients actually want you to use AI — and want your help showing them how to use it too.

This year is going to be about pace, strategy, and uncovering deeper use cases as AI moves from tool to teammate. The big question is: how can AI alleviate the pressure on cut-down, stressed-out project teams through better resource management? To do more with less, build a consolidated tech stack that supports the next phase of your AI journey. In the full version of this report, we share tips on striking the right balance with AI use, and managing transparency with clients.

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have experienced clients disingenuously prospecting for work

As budget-conscious clients pull back on spend, they’re shopping around more and more for the best deal. As a result, many businesses now report doing more graft and pitching harder and more often to win work. But some clients are going too far with shopping around. Blood, sweat, and tears goes into winning work — and it’s risky for businesses to put in those hours if a client already has a partner that they have no real intention of leaving.

We’re calling this out — it’s “Clientfishing”. You know the feeling, your prospective client seemed like a dream at first. Big budget. Nice team. And then all of a sudden, you either find out that they’re not what you thought. Or worse, they ghost you completely.

The pitch economy is costing businesses big bucks at a time when resources and budgets are in short supply. In 2026, it’s time to stop giving away strategy for free. We may find procurement processes evolving this year, AI helping to screen RFPs more deeply, or negotiating terms that protect intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for creative ownership. We've got more tips on spotting Clientfishing in action in the downloadable version of this report.

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say clients moving the budget mid project is their top frustration

Historically, many operations managers tend to focus on reporting what’s already happened: time spent, budget used, deliverables done. Forecasting has taken the backseat to planning, usually because there’s too many moving parts to make it a reliable science. Budgets and timelines are prime examples, our research found.

But AI is making forecasting much faster and sharper, not just at the start of a project, but continuously throughout, using real-time data, AI-models, and integrated systems. The ability to predict cost, duration, and outcomes from current/historical data is now a serious advantage — and we've got tips to help you do that in the full version of this report.

In 2026, AI-powered forecasting won’t just be a financial function, it will be a pillar of the business to combat shrinking budgets, shifting client demands, and Clientfishing too. But there’s a catch. Many organisations — especially those built on a patchwork of tools — still struggle with data accuracy. As we always say, fragmented tools = fragmented data.