Setting Yourself Up for Success in 2026
Lasting business success rarely comes from one big “Eureka” moment, it comes from lots of smart, well-timed decisions that quietly stack up to give you the edge.
This past year, we’ve seen technology transform the way businesses manage data, make decisions and plan for the future. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind.
As we prepare for the new year, here are 5 tips to help you hit the ground running in 2026.
1. Invest in Real-Time Data Visibility
Up until the last few years, real-time analytics was exclusively for tech giants, and smaller businesses relied on historical data to solve yesterday’s problems.
But now, real-time data is changing the game for organisations of all sizes. The most successful businesses are using instant insights to make faster decisions with confidence and adapt to changes as they unfold.
How real-time data helps you make better decisions:
- Analysing sales data and market trends to build pricing strategies
- Detecting shifts in the market, adapting to change and finding opportunities
- Monitoring operational data to proactively allocate resources across the business
- Tracking demand and adjusting inventory levels to prevent stockouts
- Catching suspicious transactions and cyber risks early before they escalate
- Monitoring budgets vs actuals and putting cost controls in place
To start using these techniques in your business, you need modern software with built-in real-time data analysis capabilities. Platforms such as Power BI and Sage Intacct allow you to combine real-time financial and operational data in custom dashboards, where you can monitor performance across entities.
2. Break Down Data Silos
A data silo is a collection of data that’s controlled by one department in an organisation but isn’t easily accessible for other teams. Working around them by requesting data from other departments and re-entering it into various systems manually is inefficient and increases the risk of mistakes.
Data silos cause various quality issues such as duplicate, conflicting, missing or incomplete data. Leading to even bigger issues, like compromising customer experience, reduced operational efficiency, missed opportunities and more.
Ways to break down data silos:
- Integrate your software so that data automatically flows between them – this can be achieved through pre-built integrations, open APIs or middleware.
- Replace outdated systems with more modern alternatives that meet your needs better and are more compatible with your other systems.
- Standardise processes for handling data such as naming conventions and file structures to make information easier for all departments to find.
- Promote inter-department communication by setting up meetings and channels in Slack or Teams where different departments can regularly collaborate.
Once data flows freely, you’ll improve collaboration between departments and create a single source of truth. With everything in the organisation working in unison, you can reach your goals faster.
According to Experian: Breaking down data silos and putting insight in the hands of employees drives stronger collaboration, alignment and performance.
3. Review Your Data Security and Governance Policies
With multiple high-profile cyber-attacks in 2025, it’s clear that businesses can’t risk cutting corners with data security and governance in 2026.
We all know that security breaches can destroy businesses through reputational damage, hefty fines, legal disputes, loss of data, and so on. To avoid leaving holes for cyber crime to infiltrate, it’s essential to continually review and improve your security procedures.
Here are a few ways to protect your business’ data:
- Regularly back up your data
- Invest in cyber security, e.g. firewalls, encryption and continuous monitoring
- Keep devices up-to-date and upgrade your software to the latest version
- Enforce strong password protocols and two-factor authentication
- Only collect relevant data and safely redact or delete what you don’t need
- Invest in trusted systems with reputable providers
- Regularly train your staff & appoint a data protection lead
Having proper security and governance procedures in place doesn’t just reduce the risk of security breaches, it also helps you with compliance, prepares you for audits and builds trust with your customers.
“Compliance doesn’t just reduce risk. It supports performance, protects reputation and builds trust.”
– Robert Seiner, Data Governance Expert.
4. Use AI to Sharpen Forecasting and Planning
Traditional forecasting and planning relied on the assumption that historical trends and gut instincts could reliably predict the future. Markets evolved much slower then, but now, things can change overnight, and static plans don’t cut it anymore.
More businesses are using AI to make forecasting and planning a dynamic, ongoing process. It saves time by doing much of the heavy lifting for you, analysing large sets of data, detecting subtle trends and uncovering correlations that humans might miss.
Key areas to apply AI in business planning:
- Financial planning and budgeting
- Allocating staff and resources
- Supply chain and business operations
- What-if scenario planning
- Planning for growth and investment
- Building pricing strategies
The predictions are more accurate because AI continuously learns from new information as it becomes available. With more precise forecasts, you’re better positioned to manage risks proactively, adapt your plans in response to emerging trends and unearth hidden growth opportunities in real time.
If you’re thinking of adopting AI tools in your business, always check your organisation’s AI usage policy first and ensure you understand how the platform uses your data before you input any sensitive information. Ensure you use it with care, and verify the accuracy, relevance and fairness of all outputs.
For Dakota Hotels, Sage Intacct has helped them to evaluate new sustainability initiatives, drive increased profitability and confidently plan future investments.
5. Automate Tasks to Unlock Capacity
In a report conducted by Sage, 81% of CFOs found that manual financial tasks inhibit stategic work. Not only do these tasks consume a lot of time, but they increase the risk of mistakes too.
Automating manual tasks gives you confidence that processes are completed correctly. You’re also preparing the business for growth and increased demand, without being forced to expand the team to cover inefficient processes which could easily be automated.
Tasks that bots can do better:
- Consolidating financial statements
- Reconciling bank accounts
- Revenue recognition
- Populating supplier invoices and matching with Purchase Orders
- Generating reports and sharing them with managers
- Entering data into separate systems
- Processing orders and invoices
Realigning staff away from repetitive tasks creates a more efficient, engaged and motivated team where everyone can enhance their skills and feel fulfilled in their role. With more time, you’re able to focus on more important areas, like strategy, growth and people.
Bonus: 5 More Smart Calls to Get Ahead
These smart calls will help you to protect your data, utilise hidden insights and maximise productivity, so you can get ahead of the competition in 2026. For more ways to set up your business for success, download our infographic ‘10 Smart Calls to Gain a Competitive Advantage’ below.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into how the CFO role is evolving in a tech-driven world, download our eBook: ‘The Evolution of the CFO: Leading Through Data and Innovation’.
