Growth used to be a formula. Now it’s a moving target.

When everyone and everything is moving fast, speed is no longer the differentiator it once was. The next year belongs to the organizations that can make decisive choices in uncertain terrain and to the brands that treat technology and creativity as codependent forces. Basically, 2026 belongs to the builders who think like inventors.

In the latest edition of our annual DEPT® Trends Report, we explore how to adopt a growth invention mindset that embraces change as a constant and leverages it as fuel for what comes next.

Commerce isn’t just about scale. It’s about reliability, trust, fast delivery, in-stock products, and loyalty programs that feel personal. Global giants still lead, but local challengers prove that trust and cultural relevance can win just as big.

This complex and ever-changing commerce landscape is why we created the Future of Commerce report, backed by insights from 9,000+ consumers across the US, Canada, and Latin America, revealing what today’s buyers want and how brands can deliver.

In this report, you’ll discover:
– Why reliability is non-negotiable—and one late order can break years of trust.
– How loyalty is becoming currency, with Prime and Costco leading the way.
– Why ease = loyalty, from frictionless checkout to seamless support.
– How challengers can win by excelling in service, expertise, and cultural fit.
– Where fundamentals meet the future: AI, live shopping, and creator commerce.

The future belongs to brands that perfect the basics and dare to innovate. This report shows you how.

Rising prices and shifting trade policies are reshaping consumer confidence, shopping habits, and brand expectations. Yet for many, the bigger challenge is uncertainty: few consumers fully understand how tariffs work, and stress levels are high, making loyalty fragile. Brands struggle to anticipate how behaviors will change and where to act first.

While uncertainty is universal, people’s responses are local. That’s why we launched the DEPT® NavigatorIQ Tariff Report, global research from 8,000 consumers across the US, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. The report will help you understand how purchasing habits, brand loyalty, and perception are evolving and give you actionable insights to adapt your pricing, marketing, and brand strategy to win in a turbulent market.

In this report, you’ll discover:

• The emotions behind uncertainty — why tariffs spark stress, political distrust, and a growing demand for empathy from brands.
• Shifting habits in unstable times — how price hikes push consumers to delay purchases, switch brands, or rely on local alternatives.
• The brand response to volatility — why trust, transparency, and clear communication are now as important as price in maintaining loyalty across markets.

A playbook for CMOs ready to lead, not just launch.

When every brand uses the same performance and AI playbook, marketing starts to look like copy-and-paste. Channels get crowded. Campaigns blur together. The result is sameness, at scale.

But the brands that outlast don’t just hyper-optimize. They create durability through branding. 

DEPT®’s latest download reveals how durable brands are the lasting disruptors. You’ll learn what modern brands must do to build equity that compounds over time.

Racing ahead recklessly with AI is not a strategy – but neither is passively waiting for events to unfold. 

In 2025, we must advance with pace and purpose. 

AI transformation is already happening—and it is set to define the success of businesses and organizations. In this AI transformation trends report, we dive into AI transformation with a practical and pragmatic approach that will help technology leaders challenged with balancing adoption and risk. 

A peek at what’s inside

Insights about the trends set to define the upcoming year. Top takeaways for everyone at the intersection of business, technology, and data. Words of wisdom from technology, data, and AI experts at DEPT®. Here are the subjects covered:
 

• The new data KPI
• Agentic augmentation  
• Generative interfaces 
• AI shopping agents 
• Engineering roles evolution 
• A pragmatic look at the advantages of AI 

In the era of TikTok, YouTube, and CTV, audiences aren’t just split across channels; they’re split across platforms and devices.

Dive into DEPT®’s latest longread to learn how to tackle one of the most significant changes in the ever-evolving media industry. Capturing audiences as they’ve become increasingly fractured is key to staying ahead of the competition between traditional and new media.

In this report, we explore the pressures media brands face and how they can gain market share by shifting their strategic focus from broad reach to deeper, more meaningful engagement.

Download your copy to learn:

• How the algorithmically-driven world of today’s media affects brands
• How to tap into the value of niche communities
• How to create a platform that caters to a widespread constellation of audiences
• How to leverage in-person experiences to deepen audience engagement

Ready to step into the media industry’s latest chapter? Fill out the form, and your copy will be in your inbox shortly.

Connectivity providers to digital transformation enablers.

Dive into DEPT®’s latest longread on the telecom industry’s most pivotal transformation to date. With the rapid evolution of technologies such as 5G, AI, and edge computing, traditional telcos must transition into comprehensive digital service providers, offering end-to-end solutions that drive innovation and growth.

This report uncovers the pressures telcos face—from tech disruptors to increasing demand for seamless digital experiences—and the opportunities ahead for those that adapt quickly.

Download your copy to explore:

• AI and data: How telcos can operationalize generative AI for unparalleled efficiencies and real-time customer insights.
  
• 5G monetization: The shift from connectivity to value creation as 5G fuels new revenue channels across industries.
  
• Edge computing: Real-time applications and the push toward data processing closer to the source.
  
• Business model transformation: Reimagining telcos as essential partners for digital transformation in a hyper-connected world.

Ready to see how telcos can thrive in the era of AI transformation? Fill out the form, and your copy will be in your inbox shortly.

AI-enabled products present a massive opportunity for brands and businesses. By harnessing the power of AI, brands can help bring to life an entirely new form of digital interaction characterized by an unprecedented level of personalization. 

That said, to build an effective AI-enabled product, you need to test it. 

And to test it, you need to build a prototype. 

However, traditional prototyping just doesn’t hold up in the world of AI, where search bars and chatbots are sometimes the full experience. Because AI’s true magic lies in its dynamic and flexible responses to real-world inputs, evaluating the value of an AI-enabled product requires a new methodology.
 
In this pragmatic guide created by the experts at DEPT®/Digital Products, we share how to unlock that last mile of value in prototyping and the necessary first steps your product team needs to start building the AI-enabled products and features that your customers actually want.

Consumers are cost-sensitive but still want what’s new. 

They’re more influenced by TikTok than traditional advertising. 

They demand a balance between conscious consumerism and the new “it” item. 

Increasing prices is no longer an option in the CPG industry, so innovation and culture are more important than ever. By focusing on data, content at scale, experimentation, and agility, brands can become part of the cultural conversation and reap long-term benefits in revenue and share of shelf.

In this longread, we’re focusing on five key trends impacting the CPG industry— and what your brand can do to win during the next few turbulent years. 

1. Powered content production: Aligning with customer preferences through AI 
2. Accessing first-party data through D2C platforms 
3. Standing out on the digital shelf: Today’s omnichannel consumer 
4. Maintaining brand equity by tapping into culture
5. Navigating emerging media: Creating experiences in virtual spaces for CPG consumers