Preparing for 2026: What SMEs Need to Know Now
As we move toward 2026, one thing is clear: the way customers pay, interact, and choose where to spend is changing faster than ever. For small and medium-sized businesses – especially in retail, hospitality, food & beverage, and motor, staying ahead isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about preparing for what’s becoming the standard.
At CreatePay, we work closely with thousands of growing businesses every day. Based on what we’re seeing now, and where the market is heading, here are the key SME trends shaping 2026 and how businesses can start preparing today.
Payments Will Be Expected to Be Invisible
By 2026, customers won’t think about payments at all, they’ll just expect them to work. That means…
- Faster checkout with minimal friction
- More ways to pay (contactless, digital wallets, QR, pay-by-link)
- Seamless online and in-store experiences
For retail and hospitality businesses, slow queues or clunky terminals won’t just be inconvenient; they’ll be a reason customers don’t return. In beauty and F&B, where repeat visits matter, speed and simplicity will directly impact loyalty.
Industry insight:
Global payment research shows that contactless and digital wallet usage is now the preferred payment method for many consumers, particularly younger demographics. According to Visa, over 70% of UK consumers regularly use contactless payments, and expectations around speed and convenience continue to rise year-on-year. Meanwhile, McKinsey reports that businesses offering multiple, integrated payment options see higher conversion rates and stronger customer satisfaction.
Sources:
https://www.visa.co.uk/insights/consumer-payments.html
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/the-future-of-digital-payments
Preparation tip: Audit your current checkout process. If it feels outdated today, it definitely will in 2026.
Data Will Drive Daily Decisions (Not Just Reports)
SMEs are moving beyond “end-of-month” thinking. In 2026, businesses will rely on real-time insights to make smarter decisions every day.
We’re seeing growing demand for:
- Live sales tracking by product or service
- Peak-time and staff performance insights
- Clear visibility across multiple locations or channels
This shift is especially important for multi-site hospitality groups, busy retailers, and service-led beauty businesses where margins are tight.
Industry insight:
According to Deloitte, data-led organisations are 3x more likely to report significant improvements in decision-making compared to competitors relying on delayed or manual reporting. Real-time data is no longer just for large enterprises — cloud-based tools have made it accessible and affordable for SMEs, enabling faster reactions to demand, staffing needs, and stock management.
The British Business Bank also highlights that SMEs using data analytics are better positioned to manage rising costs and economic uncertainty, particularly in sectors with fluctuating demand like hospitality and retail.
Sources:
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consulting/articles/data-driven-organisations.html
https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/insight/data-and-digital-adoption-in-smes/
Customers Will Expect Personalised Experiences by Default
By 2026, customers will no longer see personalisation as a “nice to have” – they will expect businesses to recognise their preferences, habits, and buying patterns across every interaction.
This goes beyond loyalty cards or marketing emails. Personalisation is increasingly built into:
Targeted offers based on previous purchases
Dynamic pricing or promotions during quieter periods
More relevant communication across email, SMS, and in-store touchpoints
According to Accenture, 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that recognise, remember, and provide relevant offers and recommendations. For SMEs, this presents a major opportunity to compete with larger brands by delivering more tailored, human experiences.
In sectors like beauty, hospitality, and food & beverage, where repeat custom drives lifetime value, businesses that fail to personalise risk becoming interchangeable.
Sources:
https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/insights/interactive/customer-personalization
https://www.salesforce.com/uk/resources/articles/personalisation-trends/
Funding Will Become More Flexible – and More Strategic
Access to funding is changing. Instead of long, rigid loans, SMEs are looking for flexible funding that aligns with real cash flow.
For F&B and retail businesses planning seasonal peaks, or beauty businesses expanding teams or locations, funding will be part of strategic planning, not a last resort.
Preparation tip: Start planning funding needs ahead of busy periods, not during them.
What This Means for CreatePay Customers
At CreatePay, everything we’re building is focused on helping SMEs not just keep up, but stay ahead.
2026 is about:
- Simplicity
- Speed
- Smarter technology that works around your business
And we’re excited to say that what’s coming next reflects exactly that.
The CreatePay One device in 2026 is designed with these trends in mind, bringing payments, insights, and growth tools together in one powerful solution.
Stay tuned to find out more.