The end of ‘busy tech’: why 2026 will reward fewer (but better) moves

If you’re leading a tech team and you already feel behind by the third week of January, you’re not the only one. Calendars are full and new tools have gone live (even if no one’s totally sure what problem they’re solving yet), and activity is everywhere – yet progress feels… elusive. 

This is the result of busy tech: a culture where we mistake motion for meaning. In 2026, we think it’s time to break that model down, and remember that clarity is more valuable than speed. 

From acceleration to selection

Over the last few years, tech companies have been forced to adapt fast – with new markets, new constraints, and new tools showing up faster than teams can fully absorb them. 

But things are beginning to change. 

According to a new business tech report from Softcat, for example, drawing on insights from almost 4,000 organisations, cybersecurity remains the top business technology priority looking ahead to 2026.

And the same report highlights a growing value-first mindset. Over half of organisations prioritising digital workspace said their main goal is to maximise the impact of existing technology, rather than immediately investing in new tools.

These two things together suggest that discernment is the key focus. Prioritising cybersecurity is part of a wider move to make technology work better and safer. 

AI adoption exposes the gap between activity and impact

If you want to see why ‘busy tech’ is a problem, you have to look at AI adoption across industries. 

One recent survey by Storyblok (reported by Business Matters) found that 90% of businesses plan to increase AI investment in 2026. On the surface, that sounds like widespread confidence; but the same survey reveals tension beneath the headline number: 

• Only 39% of respondents said AI is fully integrated across their organisation
• The most cited obstacles were data privacy and regulatory concerns (61%), security risks (58%), and legacy technology restrictions (43%)

So many organisations are busy doing AI, but not so many are confident they’re doing it well. Over time, this will lead to fragmented systems and unclear ownership of AI-linked tasks and outputs, creating real strain. 

Why ‘more’ is delivering lower returns

This shift away from maximal activity is also visible in how leaders are thinking about technology strategy.

In a summary of 2026 tech trends, Deloitte suggests that AI is restructuring tech organisations, calling on leaders to focus on modular architectures, embedded governance, and redesigning operations – not simply automating existing processes.

The implication here is that when you layer new tools onto broken workflows, you stay busy – but the value of the work you’re doing is questionable. 

If you’re focused on impact instead (on making every bit of work you do mean something), you’ll make fewer commitments and be more cautious about adopting new tools and processes; but when you do make a commitment, you’ll stick with it long enough to adjust and improve, and for benefits to compound. 

One question to ask right now 

If you’re feeling confused about whether you’re creating impact or just making noise, ask: 

If we stopped doing this for three months, would anyone outside the team notice? 

You could use this question for processes and outputs across any organisation. Because if the honest answer is no, it might be time to replace your busy-ness with more effective, purposeful work. 

Working with a purpose 

Markets are competitive, and there’s always a sense that tech companies are rewarded for speed. But let’s make 2026 the year that real intent and purpose is rewarded. Because being busy won’t make your company thrive, but being careful and patient and focused will. Allow a small number of good decisions to deliver true impact. 

If you only make one decision today, decide to come to LEAP 2026. Get your pass now.