As 2026 approaches, the energy and resources sector, encompassing utilities, oil and gas, chemicals, and metals and mining, faces significant challenges. These industries must reduce costs, enhance safety, and ensure the reliability and affordability of essential commodities amidst rapid technological advancements. Success will hinge on becoming AI-ready, innovating with AI in context, securing and governing information, and streamlining IT for efficiency. Here are five key trends expected to shape the sector.
First, establishing a trusted data foundation is crucial for AI readiness. Companies must prioritize data discovery, governance, and compliance to fuel AI technologies effectively. Secure and seamless data flow across systems will enable predictive insights, intelligent assistants, and workflow automation, all while maintaining trust and ensuring safety and compliance.
Second, AI in context is set to transform work processes. Rather than replacing humans, AI will augment human capabilities, offering a competitive edge. Domain-specific AI agents will emerge, operating within a unified data governance framework to enhance asset management, procurement, customer experience, and more.
Third, data sovereignty is vital as AI adoption grows. With increasing ransomware threats, protecting sensitive data within approved jurisdictions and adhering to regional compliance standards is imperative. The growing sovereign cloud market highlights the need for secure, governed AI solutions.
Fourth, reducing operational costs is critical. With declining oil prices and rising energy costs, companies must simplify IT structures, eliminate silos, and automate processes to improve efficiency and customer experience. Expect a focus on cost reduction strategies to remain competitive.
Finally, excellence in projects, operations, and safety will be a priority. Companies must ensure capital projects stay on track despite supply chain challenges. Operational excellence will depend on predictive maintenance and real-time asset performance insights, while health, safety, and quality programs require proactive monitoring and rapid incident response. Trusted information and AI-driven insights will be key to achieving safer, more efficient, and resilient outcomes.
