Business intelligence is pivotal to trend identification and forecasting in 2026

25 May

Business intelligence (BI) is one of the best ways to forecast future trends before they begin to take hold. This allows you to capitalise on the market while gaining an edge over your competition. As the business landscape becomes more competitive, embracing BI is key for companies as we move into 2026 and 2027.

Pattern Recognition and Shifting Consumer Preferences

Business intelligence tools can analyse historical data so that emerging trends can be identified. It may be that a change in customer preferences is pinpointed, or that there is a shift in the supply chain. Future trends can also be forecasted using data. In the retail sector, businesses may use BI to predict changes in buying behavior, or to accommodate seasonal demand.

Business intelligence is pivotal to trend identification and forecasting in 2026 — Photo credit: Pexels.

Detecting New Market Opportunities

Business intelligence can also be used to identify gaps in the current market. Customer needs can be analyzed, and so can competitor offerings. Combining this with current industry trends is one of the best ways to spot new opportunities for product development. Netflix is a prime example of how this can be put into practice. Netflix uses BI to identify customer viewing habits in content. They also identify gaps, before producing original content, such as House of Cards, in an attempt to meet this demand.

They also use BI to navigate data privacy laws in different countries. With data privacy laws being so varied across different countries, this allows them to pivot quickly, should a potential issue be seen on the horizon. Nike is another example. They use BI to track customer feedback, which often helps them to pinpoint new opportunities. They created NikeID and introduced the Nike Training Club as a result of changing customer trends.

By using BI, they were able to see this opportunity before it became a trend, giving them a large share of the market from the get-go. In terms of managing risks, they monitor economic conditions, and potential disruptions in global supply chains by utilising BI, shifting production where appropriate while maintaining their ability to fulfil orders.

It can also be used by casino operators as a way to make informed decisions about game offerings while honing operational strategies. With the popularity of new game offerings like Slingo casino games, it's important for casino operators to pinpoint which games are generating the most interest while analysing changing trends in player behaviour. This ensures that casino games adapt to the changing market, leading to possibly more new developments like Slingo.

Business intelligence can be obtained in many ways too, whether it’s through market research, statistical analysis, data mining, or even through predictive modeling, giving businesses more options than ever when it comes to navigating a competitive landscape.

Using business intelligence as a way to identify trends while forecasting potential risk is a very good way for businesses to ensure that they stay afloat, even during trying times. Economic downturns often present a lot of uncertainty for businesses, but by utilising business intelligence, it becomes easier for even small businesses to navigate them with ease. With business intelligence also being a good way to capitalize on market opportunities, there has never been a better time to embrace it.

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