Propel Software Identifies Business and Technology Impacts to Watch for 2026

Rise of AI Agents Marks a Turning Point in SaaS, B2B Buying, and Healthcare

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Propel Software, creator of the first product value management (PVM) platform that transforms how businesses create, market, sell, and service products, provides its annual business and technology trends for 2026. Five key areas emerge as important trends for the New Year identified by Propel CEO, Ross Meyercord.

SaaS is far from dead; its resurgence coexists with AI agents

In 2026, the winners will be those who combine the agility of AI agents with the reliability of SaaS to deliver measurable business value. SaaS brings the workflows, governance, and guardrails that enterprises demand, while AI agents extend productivity and speed. One without the other falls short, but together, they set the new standard for enterprise software.

B2A (Business-to-Algorithm): AI transforms business commerce

B2A will redefine commerce as AI drives vendor discovery, evaluation, and selection. For manufacturers, brands, and product companies, this shift creates opportunity. Smaller players can compete with industry giants if their product, quality, and compliance data is clean, structured, and algorithm-ready. But the threat is equally real: companies lacking data discipline risk being invisible in digital buying journeys.

Agentic AI ends the era of standalone software

Next year will mark the tipping point for connected intelligence. Software platforms that extend data and workflows across the enterprise will dominate, while isolated tools will fade into irrelevance. Agentic AI is already proving that productivity breakthroughs come from collaboration, between systems as much as people.

The next generation of AI agents won’t live inside individual apps. They’ll communicate, coordinate, and act across entire tech ecosystems, turning fragmented processes into fluid, intelligent networks. In this new era, standalone software simply won't be able to compete. The demise of remaining on-premise software will accelerate, leaving just 15% of those companies over the next three years.

Smart surgery: AI and robotics reshape patient care

Robotic systems will increasingly enhance controls and positioning, while AI ensures precision, and AR lets surgeons pre-plan and overlay visualizations real-time. This shift reduces surgery times, lightens staffing demands, and expands access into ambulatory service centers. At the same time, AI-powered software is improving treatment for chronic diseases and boosting drug effectiveness. 2026 is poised to be the breakout year when robotics, AI, and AR redefine surgical care.

Silicon Valley becomes the next Hollywood for Agents

Managing AI Agents is the hottest gig in town. From picking the right AI for the right job, to connecting who's who to get the best data, only the most optimized queries at the best price will win out. But 2026 will prove that omniscient agents do not exist. Domain-specific agents will emerge as clear winners as users rely on tribal knowledge and industry expertise to propel business. As a result, companies will be investing in service terms to revolutionize how AI is monetized over the next 12-18 months. Buyers will flock to AI services that deliver domain expertise in areas like legal, finance, and healthcare, leveraging best practices to fulfill productivity and efficiency gains.

About Propel Software

Propel helps product companies grow revenue and increase business value. Our product value management platform connects commercial and product teams to optimize decision making, drive process efficiencies, and engage customers with compelling products and experiences. Propel has a proven track record of improving product quality, speeding time to revenue and profit, and improving customer satisfaction. Recognized as one of America’s fastest growing private companies on the Inc 5000, Propel is also a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winner, and one of Fortune America’s Most Innovative Companies. Built on Salesforce, Propel drives product success for hyper growth startups, corporate pioneers, and Fortune 500 leaders in the high tech, medtech and consumer goods industries. For more information, visit propelsoftware.com and follow us on LinkedIn.