Peacock Bros predicts shifts in supply chain tech for 2026

Supply chain technology company Peacock Bros. has outlined three technology and logistics trends it expects will shape investment decisions by Australian organisations in 2026, covering artificial intelligence, digital workflows and product traceability.

The Melbourne-based group said demand for AI-enabled optimisation, wider digitalisation in sectors such as healthcare and rail, and stricter traceability requirements would influence how businesses plan hardware refreshes, data capture, and labelling strategies over the next year.

Peacock Bros. supplies printing, labelling and supply chain solutions to more than 12,000 customers across Australia and New Zealand. The company said it is seeing customers revisit long-standing operational processes in response to new software and data demands.

AI reshapes hardware

The company expects AI to become a routine part of warehouse optimisation, mobility workflows and freight visibility projects. It said many organisations now look beyond software selection and are assessing whether existing devices can handle real-time analytics and edge processing.

This shift is likely to affect refresh cycles for mobile devices, printers, scanners and RF equipment during 2026. Customers are expected to seek proof that hardware can support the higher processing, connectivity and security demands of AI-driven applications.

Daryl Collins, Sales Manager at Peacock Bros., said organisations that treat AI as a series of small, targeted projects are more likely to see gains. "The organisations that succeed are the ones that start small. When you isolate one part of the workflow and improve it, you reduce risk and set the foundation for broader change. AI innovation is coming from the software and hardware partners we work with, so our role is to help customers choose the right moment, and the right part of the workflow, to begin."

The company said it expects businesses to prioritise AI pilots in areas such as picking accuracy, freight tracking and field mobility. It said this would place new demands on device fleet planning, lifecycle management and security policies.

Sector digitalisation

Peacock Bros. identified healthcare and rail as sectors where digital adoption is likely to accelerate in 2026. Hospitals across Australia are expanding electronic medical record platforms such as EPIC. Many are updating mobility and device ecosystems that support nurses, doctors and administrative staff.

Peacock Bros. said these healthcare upgrades are pushing more data and accuracy requirements into the supply chain. Partners and suppliers now face higher expectations for traceability and error reduction in clinical workflows and logistics.

In rail, the company said many operators still rely on paper-based processes for inspections, maintenance and asset tracking. It expects more rail operators to begin digital transitions with limited, well-defined projects such as digitised inspection checklists or mobile asset registers, rather than full system replacements.

Peacock Bros. has developed AusRAIL starter kits for rail operators that want an initial step into digital workflows. The company positions these kits as an entry point for organisations that want structured progress without committing to large-scale upgrades.

George Pecchiar, Executive Director CTS at Peacock Bros., said many customers now set shorter, more contained digital objectives. "Digital transformation can be simple. Many organisations want tools they can adopt quickly that fix operational pain points without disrupting their entire operation. Our role is to stay ahead of what partners and platforms are doing, then guide customers toward the first steps that make the most difference. When they see early improvements, they gain the confidence to build on them."

Traceability focus

Traceability and asset visibility form the third major trend identified by the company. Peacock Bros. expects organisations in healthcare, government, logistics and rail to increase their use of RFID for asset tracking in 2026. It said businesses are seeking faster audits, improved compliance and more reliable tracking for critical equipment and inventory.

The company also pointed to changes in global standards as a driver of new labelling and scanning projects. GS1's Project Sunrise initiative is expected to accelerate adoption of advanced 2D barcodes and so shift the way retailers, manufacturers and logistics firms encode and read product data.

GS1 Australia expects Next Gen Barcodes to feature in more product categories over the coming years. A move to 2D symbols would enable more detailed product information at each scan point and increase the volume of data available to trading partners and regulators.

Marcel Sieira, Chief Operating Officer of GS1 Australia, said the topic has reached senior decision-making forums.

"Next Gen Barcodes are already at the top of boardroom agendas across the world," Sieira explained. "In Australia, Woolworths has introduced Next Gen Barcodes on fresh produce to drive smarter decisions, faster adjustments and fully stocked shelves; discovering new ways to connect to consumers with the same barcode that will scan at point of sale."

Pecchiar said customers are beginning to link barcode changes with business outcomes. "GS1 standards and 2D barcodes are not just a compliance exercise. They let businesses carry more information on every label, create cleaner audit trails and reduce the risk of errors that come from manual checks. These changes are being shaped globally, so part of our job is helping customers understand what's coming and prepare their systems in a way that feels achievable."

Peacock Bros. expects these three trends to drive a higher volume of advisory work with customers over the next year as organisations reassess hardware fleets, labelling approaches and digital workflows in line with AI, industry platforms and emerging global standards.