Three Trends Driving New IT Asset Planning in 2026
1. AI is expanding the IT estate faster than organizations can track.
New AI-driven devices are entering environments outside established provisioning and IT asset management (ITAM) processes, creating visibility gaps between system records and what returns at end of use.
2. Residual value models no longer match real market conditions.
Shifts in secondary markets are disrupting traditional resale expectations, making many budgeting, refresh, and sustainability projections less accurate.
3. ESG reporting is moving from estimates to evidence.
Organizations now need documented reuse, transparent downstream outcomes, and Scope 3 emissions tied to actual asset flows to meet rising reporting expectations.
IT teams are entering 2026 with tighter budgets, higher reporting expectations, and growing pressure to understand the full scope and performance of their IT estate. The most significant changes ahead are not always visible day to day, yet they will shape how organizations manage risk, cost, sustainability, and long-term planning across the entire IT asset lifecycle. These are the shifts leaders should prepare for.
Trend 1: AI Is Expanding the IT Estate Faster Than Most Organizations Can Track
AI programs are introducing hardware beyond traditional servers and workstations. New accelerators, edge devices, sensors, and small-form computing platforms are showing up across the enterprise, often outside established provisioning and ITAM processes.
By the time these devices reach end of use, many organizations discover mismatches between what was purchased, what was deployed, and what is returning for disposition. These visibility gaps undermine inventory accuracy, sustainability reporting, and data security.
The most reliable point of truth is now end-of-use intake, where the physical asset must be reconciled with system records. Teams that strengthen this step regain control of their estate and reduce the risk of unmanaged devices circulating beyond their oversight. For many organizations, improving intake accuracy is becoming foundational to reliable refresh and lifecycle planning.
Trend 2: Residual Value Models No Longer Match Real Market Conditions
Secondary markets are shifting quickly. Some hardware categories retain value due to demand from AI, edge computing, and global refurb channels. Others depreciate earlier as manufacturing costs decline and refresh cycles shorten.
Yet many organizations still plan budgets using outdated value assumptions. This results in inaccurate refresh projections, overstated sustainability benefits, and financial surprises during large disposition cycles.
Teams need current, data-backed value expectations that reflect real resale behavior. A clearer market view helps organizations plan capital cycles more accurately and avoid forecasting errors that compound over time. Accurate value modeling is now essential for setting realistic financial and refresh strategies.
Trend 3: ESG Reporting is Moving from Estimates to Evidence
ESG reporting is no longer satisfied by high-level recycling rates or generalized environmental claims. Stakeholders want documented proof of reuse, transparent downstream outcomes, and Scope 3 emissions tied to actual asset flows.
This means internal systems must reliably show what happened to each asset and why. Anything less introduces credibility gaps for audits, customer reporting, and sustainability disclosures.
Organizations that can demonstrate verified reuse and traceable processing pathways will have a strategic advantage as reporting expectations continue to tighten. Evidence-based reporting is becoming a planning requirement for compliance, sustainability goals, and customer disclosures. Evidence-based reporting is now influencing how organizations plan sustainability goals and compliance programs, broader IT governance requirements.
What This Means for 2026 Planning
Across all three trends, one theme is constant: leaders need a more accurate and complete view of their IT estate. AI-driven hardware growth, volatile resale markets, and escalating ESG requirements all increase the cost of poor visibility.
DMD’s Reuse First® ITAD approach strengthens the points in the lifecycle where visibility often breaks down. Through governed collection, intake reconciliation, and transparent reporting, we help teams confirm what they own, understand where value remains, and document measurable impact.
If your organization is updating its IT asset strategy for 2026, we can help you identify risks, close visibility gaps, and build a more reliable lifecycle plan. Contact us to start the conversation.
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