Business Central trends in 2026
Business Central 28
At Directions EMEA 2026 in Poznań, Microsoft previewed the next major Business Central upgrade (codenamed Business Central 28), which will be rolled out with Dynamics 365 2026 Release Wave 1 from April to October 2026. In Business Central 28, there will again be a strong focus on AI-powered features aimed at making everyday processes more efficient and connected with new innovative functionality across finance, supply chain, reporting and user experience.
1. AI-powered assistance and intelligent agents
Business Central 28 enhances the use of generative AI and introduces expanded AI agents and copilot capabilities that can automate repetitive tasks (e.g. expense and payment management, order fulfillment) and provide contextual recommendations directly in workflows.
2. Enhanced supply chain functionality
New capabilities for stronger integration with e-commerce and manufacturing models are coming, including an improved Shopify connector and expanded support for subcontractors, making inventory and logistics management more coherent.
3. Expanded financial and reporting tools
Business Central 28 also includes improvements to electronic documentation, accounting overview and report layout, as well as new tools for auditing and better compliance management, making financial management and analytics more flexible without relying on developers.
These features are part of Microsoft's ambition that AI integration in Business Central 28 will create improved automation and more intelligent ERP.
AI trends in 2026
AI har været en afgørende drivkraft for tech-udviklingen de seneste år. Fremskridt inden for maskinlæring, databehandling og automatisering har ændret måden, virksomheder udvikler produkter på, og hvordan mennesker arbejder med teknologi. AI har muliggjort hurtigere innovation, mere intelligente systemer og nye digitale løsninger, som i dag er en central del af alt fra sundhed og transport til kommunikation og kreativt arbejde.
Agentic AI
Agentic AI is no longer a new concept – it has become the foundation on which many new AI capabilities are built. In 2026, agentic artificial intelligence is moving from research and experimentation to tangible value in companies and society.
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What is Agentic AI?
Agentic artificial intelligence (agentic AI) describes systems that can act autonomously on behalf of humans – not just responding to requests, but proactively planning, executing and optimizing complex work processes without constant human guidance. |
By 2026, it is clear that agentic AI is paving the way for a new kind of human-machine collaboration: one where AI doesn’t just help with answers, but actively seeks out solutions and improves outcomes over time. At the same time, this evolution requires a stronger focus on safety, ethics and governance – to ensure that autonomous AI decisions are accountable, transparent and aligned with human goals.
Essentially, agentic AI enables organizations to free up time, reduce routine work and accelerate innovation – and by 2026 it will be one of the most important technological drivers of digital transformation.
From industry-specific solutions that deliver faster results to centralized control platforms that orchestrate complex automation at scale, this report provides a vanguard of the next evolution in intelligent.
Agentic AI and ERP
Companies will increasingly use specialized AI agents in their ERP systems, solving specific tasks such as:
- Accounting and reconciliation
- Forecasting and planning
- Reporting and analysis
- Customer support and case management
These agents work alongside humans – not instead of them.
AI will amplify what humans can achieve together
2026 marks the beginning of a new era for the interaction between technology and people. While recent years have been marked by AI answering questions and analyzing complex problems, the next phase will be about true collaboration. The future is not about replacing humans, but about empowering them.
AI agents are poised to act as digital colleagues, enabling individuals and small teams to deliver results beyond expectations. Imagine a workplace where a team of three can complete a global campaign in a matter of days, while AI handles data analysis, content production, and personalization—and humans focus on strategy, creativity, and direction. Organizations that manage to create the framework for both competency development and meaningful integration of AI into everyday life will achieve the best of both worlds and enable their employees to solve bigger, more complex tasks faster.
Don’t compete with AI – learn to work with it. The coming year will belong to those who augment the human role rather than dismantle it. So 2026 will be the year of augmentation, not automation.
Power BI trends in 2026
2025 marked a major shift in business intelligence, with Power BI evolving through AI-powered capabilities, real-time analytics, and deep integration with Microsoft Fabric. These advancements laid the foundation for more intelligent, agile, and scalable data analytics
In 2026, the focus of Power BI evolution will be even deeper AI integration through Copilot, enabling natural language reporting, automated insights, and predictive analytics. Real-time data streaming will continue to support instant decision-making, while Microsoft Fabric and OneLake will unify data ecosystems and reduce silos.
Other key trends include stronger governance and compliance, expanded self-service analytics for non-technical users, support for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and broader adoption of embedded analytics. Overall, in 2026, Power BI will enable organizations to move from descriptive reporting to predictive and prescriptive insights, thereby turning data into a strategic asset.
Trends in 2026 summary
In 2026, AI will become a key collaborator, empowering human work, automating ERP processes and enabling AI-driven predictive data analytics.
- AI will continue to drive business and technology innovation in 2026 with increased automation, code-free platforms and autonomous AI agents.
- In Business Central 28 (Dynamics 365 2026 release wave 1), there is a strong AI focus with intelligent agents, Copilot and automation across finance, supply chain and user experience.
- AI-based agents in Business Central streamline everyday processes such as order processing, payments and reporting.
- Agentic AI will become a mature technology in 2026, where autonomous AI agents create real business value in collaboration with business users.
- AI is moving from being a tool to being a digital colleague, supporting and amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them.
- Strong governance, security, and ethics will be essential for responsible use of autonomous AI systems.
- ERP systems are increasingly using specialized AI agents for accounting, forecasting, analytics, and customer service.
- Power BI will evolve into a fully AI-powered analytics platform by 2026 with Copilot, real-time data, Microsoft Fabric, and predictive insights.