Digital, Identity, and AI: What Industry Leaders are Prioritizing (and Watching) in 2026

Highlights: 

• Prioritizing Digital Transformation and Security: Organizations are focusing heavily on the customer journey, with 41% prioritizing improved digital lending and 40% strengthening identity verification to manage growth and risk simultaneously.

• AI as the Primary Driver of Future Innovation: A significant 82% of leaders identify AI and machine learning as the most impactful technologies for the next 3-5 years, signaling a major shift toward automated, data-driven operations. 

Each year, we ask our Market Pulse audience, made up of experts and leaders across a range of industries, what their thoughts are about the hottest topics in the market and what’s on their minds as they plan for the year ahead. 

As 2026 begins, the answers from over 100 respondents give us a unique view into what organizations are prioritizing, where they see the greatest risks, and how they believe the landscape will evolve throughout the year. This second part in our series focuses on strategic priorities and the future of innovation, highlighting what decision-makers say matters most as they navigate rapid change.

Top Strategic Priorities for the Coming Year

When asked to select their top two priorities for the upcoming year, respondents shared a mix of operational and growth-focused goals. Their choices show that organizations are working to improve customer experiences while also preparing for greater regulatory and technological challenges.

Top priorities included:
• Improving digital lending experiences: 41%
• Strengthening identity verification: 40%
• Enhancing customer onboarding processes: 35%
• Expanding into new market: 34%
• Optimizing collections strategies: 27%
• Expanding or strengthening identity and fraud tools: 25%

Some respondents offered write-in priorities, which ranged from portfolio growth and credit risk segmentation to expanding product use among the current customer base. Others mentioned data strategy, business development, and integration improvements. Together, these responses show a shared focus on smarter growth, stronger risk management, and better customer journeys from start to finish.

Trending Topics Leaders Want to Follow

Beyond economic shifts, we asked which trending market issues respondents want Market Pulse to explore in the coming year. Their answers revealed strong interest in technology, regulation, and risk.

Key areas of interest included:
• AI in financial services: 62%
• Regulatory changes and compliance: 57%
• Cybersecurity threats: 57%
• Digital transformation in financial services: 50%
• Identity and fraud emerging threats: 53%
• Global economic shifts: 36%
• Open banking: 23%

It’s clear that while the economic climate still matters, leaders are paying close attention to the technologies and security challenges that will shape the next several years. Interest in AI and cybersecurity remained especially strong, showing how rapidly these fields are evolving.

Emerging Technologies That Will Shape the Future

Looking further ahead, we asked which emerging technologies respondents believe will have the biggest impact on their industries over the next three to five years. Their answers reflected a strong belief that automation and data-driven decision-making will transform operations.

Their top responses were:
• AI and machine learning to automate processes: 82%
• Open banking or finance APIs: 41%
• Sustainable technologies: 23%
• Blockchain technology: 16%

The overwhelming focus on AI and machine learning suggests that organizations expect major changes in both efficiency and customer experience. Interest in open banking indicates that many leaders anticipate a more connected financial ecosystem with greater data sharing and collaboration.

Regulation’s Role in Long-Term Planning

To understand how organizations are preparing for the future, we also asked how today’s shifting regulatory landscape is influencing long-term strategy.

Responses included:
• Not really impacting planning at this time: 45%
• Requiring substantial investment in compliance: 24%
• Creating new market opportunities: 15%
• Significantly influencing product development: 12%

A few write-in responses noted that regulation is contributing to ongoing credit tightening or creating uncertainty. While many organizations say regulation is not yet changing their long-term plans, a significant portion expects increased compliance needs or sees opportunities for new products tied to regulatory priorities.

Conclusion

As we look ahead to the rest of 2026, it’s clear that organizations are balancing growth with caution. They are investing in better digital experiences, stronger identity tools, and emerging technologies such as AI. At the same time, they are watching regulatory trends and preparing for risks tied to cybersecurity and fraud. In the final part of this series, we will explore how these insights connect to broader market expectations for the year ahead.

Keep Your Business Goals Within Sight

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