State of Partner Ecosystems 2026

The State of Partner Ecosystems: 2026

Navigating the Shift to AI-Driven, Networked, and Quantifiable Growth

The Ecosystem Economy at a Glance

60%
of global revenue projected to stem from partner-driven models by 2026.
Source: IDC

30%+
YoY growth in indirect revenue expected by 67% of B2B ecosystem leaders.
Source: Forrester

$8.5B
projected market size for autonomous AI agents in partner ecosystems in 2026.
Source: IDC/Deloitte

Key Trends Driving 2026 Partner Ecosystems

🔗

Networked Value Models

Linear programs are replaced by interconnected “swarms” of vendors, ISVs, and specialists for joint solutioning and shared outcomes.

🎯

Quantifiable Economics

AI enables precise revenue attribution, shifting investments from intuition-based to ROI-based decisions.

🔬

Micro-Specialization

Partners focus on niche verticals (e.g., AI in health compliance) and use cases, eroding generalists’ market share.

🤝

Trust & Transparency

Full visibility into data sharing, AI usage, and incentives becomes critical for building and maintaining partner loyalty.

How AI is Transforming Ecosystem Workflows

Rise of the Agentic AI 🤖

Agentic AI is moving beyond simple automation to become a “system of action.” These autonomous agents handle complex, repetitive tasks, freeing up human teams to focus on strategy and relationship-building.

Repetitive Task Automation (Onboarding, Routing)
80%

Partner Engagement Uplift (via AI-powered Portals)
30%+

Building a Successful Ecosystem in 2026

Effective Strategies
  • Adopt AI for ROI

    Implement attribution models to prioritize high-impact partners and justify investments.

  • Build Networks, Not Channels

    Focus on co-investing with micro-specialists to create complete customer solutions.

  • Automate & Centralize

    Use AI and CRM-native tools to automate workflows and provide a transparent, central portal for partners.

Key Challenges
  • Measuring Influence

    Without AI, attributing revenue is difficult, leading to misallocated resources and partner churn.

  • Siloed Data

    Lack of integrated systems hinders visibility, reporting, and the ability to fairly reward partners.

  • Coordinating “Swarms”

    Managing multi-partner collaborations requires new operating models beyond traditional PRM tools.

Partner Growth Expectations

B2B decision-makers anticipate significant growth across all partner types, with a strong focus on technology and new digital routes-to-market.

85%

Technology Partners

78%

Distribution Partners

70%

Digital RTMs

“Partner programs can’t run on intuition anymore.”

— Kilynn Sommer, on the shift to data-driven growth tracking

Ready to Build Your 2026 Ecosystem?

Let’s discuss how these trends can transform your partner strategy and drive measurable growth.

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