Three retail trends smaller businesses can adopt for a successful 2026

Small and mid-sized businesses are entering a new technological era, where digital capabilities, customer service tools and operational agility increasingly resemble those of enterprise companies.

With the retail sector leading the way, these trends can help small and mid-sized businesses across industries maximize their impact in 2026.

AI becomes core to operations

As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, it’s helping businesses work smarter. The Small Business Administration in a February 2025 report said, “AI can improve efficiency, save costs, help with labor shortages, solve problems and help businesses do more with less.”

• Retailers are using AI to optimize inventory, adjust prices dynamically and personalize recommendations and promotions.
• Restaurants are using AI to engineer menus, forecast demand and automate ordering for returning customers.
• Service industries are deploying AI for scheduling, predictive maintenance and offering virtual assistants.
• B2B companies are integrating AI for lead scoring, contract analysis and supply chain visibility.
• E-commerce businesses are relying on AI for personalized shopping, fraud detection and real-time inventory control.

Tip: If AI is new to you and your business, a good place to start can be using AI tools for customer engagement or back-office automation to gain efficiency and insights.

Must-have: Ensure your fraud detection uses AI makes spotting bad transactions easier, protecting your business.

Omnichannel as standard

Consumers expect easy experiences everywhere they interact with your brand – whether online, in store or both. Most customers want to be able to move between channels with a consistent level of service, rewards and convenience.

As an SMB, implementing an omnichannel strategy might seem like a daunting investment, but most shoppers already expect omnichannel experiences, and 85% want rewards to be accessible across channels. With shoppers becoming used to joined up experiences, omnichannel may soon be non-negotiable.

• Retailers are creating “phygital experiences” by positioning QR codes in store, encouraging the use of apps and linking up in-person transactions with reward schemes that inform future online offers.
• Restaurants are combining dine-in, delivery and subscription models by syncing rewards, apps and offers that deepen customer loyalty and anticipate the next order.
• Service providers are offering hybrid booking systems and virtual consultations, as well as enabling scheduling, payments and health tracking within apps or via profiles.
• B2B companies are investing in unified commerce platforms for procurement and client engagement.
• E-commerce businesses are integrating marketplaces, live shopping videos and social selling for much more urgent, exciting and dynamic experiences.

Tip: Map touchpoints with your customers, ensuring systems are automated to provide data and insights that can inform business choices. Having this level of consistency and data helps businesses target customers with what they want.

Must-have: Ensure messaging, branding and service are consistently high across channels, ideally with rewards and transaction history joined up in one account view.

Values can set you apart

Sustainability and ESG principles are becoming increasingly important. Taking control of your ESG narrative can set you apart from competitors and ensure like-minded customers can identify you in a crowded marketplace.

Retailers are leading the way by making these values visible online and in-store. Examples include:

• Online: Adding filters or curated collections for products that meet specific criteria such as cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable or female-founded.
• In store: Clear signposting and training sales associates to understand supply chains and product origins.

Across industries, the trend is clear:

• Restaurants are adopting zero-waste kitchens and regenerative sourcing.
• Service providers are implementing energy-efficient operations and reduced environmental impact.
• B2B and e-commerce companies are integrating green supply chains and carbon tracking into their operations,

Tip: Embedding sustainability into your brand story can be a powerful competitive advantage. Look into what you can change today for a better future.

Must-have: If you’re doing it, talk about it. If you don’t communicate clearly the efforts you’re making to improve ESG, your customers won’t know about it.

Don’t forget – customer experience matters most

Ensuring the experience you give your customers is personal and memorable can still give small and mid-sized businesses the edge. Whatever choices you’re making for your business for 2026, keeping the customer at the heart of it will help you get things right.

• Use AI to deepen relationships with your customers and improve your knowledge of them.
• A successful omnichannel strategy makes customers feel like you know them well, building trust.
• Optimizing the checkout and ensuring your customers can pay quickly and safely every time will give them a good feeling and make it more likely they return.

For more information about how Worldpay can support small and mid-sized businesses, visit our hub or get in touch. We love to hear from you.