This time of year, is when many retailers, hospitality operators, and multi-site businesses look ahead to the new financial year. Budgets are being drawn up, priorities set, and investment decisions made.

The challenge in 2026 is sharper than ever. Costs remain high. Wage pressures, inflation, and supply chain disruption are still biting. At the same time, customer expectations have increased. They want speed, service, and consistency across every touchpoint. That puts even more pressure on your operations, your people, and your systems. The question therefore, is simple.

Where should you invest to create the most value for your business?

What smart businesses are doing

Across the industries we serve, we see the same themes. Leadership teams want to:

• Improve productivity without adding cost
• Keep teams engaged and motivated
• Simplify day-to-day operations so things run smoothly
• Stay safe and compliant while cutting down on admin
• Deliver a better customer experience, every time

That is where Metro comes in.

Metro: built to grow with you

Metro is already helping over 120 leading brands across retail, hospitality, leisure and healthcare. From employee engagement to workforce management, to audits, compliance, comms, project planning and more, Metro brings it all together in one place.

For existing customers, budgeting time is also the perfect point to look at the wider Metro eco-system. Adding a new module is simple and straightforward. You don’t need to take on a new supplier, go through lengthy procurement, or start a project from scratch. Metro is designed to scale with you and your business. The more modules you connect, the more value you unlock.

Making procurement simple

We know procurement teams are under pressure too. That’s why Metro is available through Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace. Buying through the Marketplace offers clear benefits:

• Faster approval – Marketplace solutions are pre-approved within Microsoft’s ecosystem, which reduces procurement hurdles.
• Consolidated billing – Metro charges can be rolled into your existing Microsoft agreement, so there’s one contract and one invoice.
• Use of Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) – if your business has committed cloud spend with Microsoft, Metro purchases contribute towards meeting that commitment.
• Trusted security and compliance – Marketplace solutions meet Microsoft’s security and compliance standards, giving IT teams confidence.
• Global scalability – purchasing through Azure Marketplace makes it easier for international businesses to deploy Metro across regions under a consistent framework.

All of these benefits make it quicker, easier, and lower-risk to invest in Metro, removing the complexity of engaging with new suppliers, so you can start benefiting straight away.

Why this matters now

Industry bodies are warning that costs will only intensify into 2026. The British Retail Consortium has highlighted that government policies have already added £7 billion in new costs for UK retailers, with further increases expected in April 2026 as new business rates changes take effect.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, has said: “Hospitality businesses have absolutely no more capacity to absorb costs … particularly alongside increases to NICs, employment costs and business rates.” Those pressures won’t ease next year.

 

S&P Global’s Business Outlook survey shows 71 % of UK firms expect labour costs to rise over the next 12 months, meaning retailers and hospitality operators are budgeting for 2026 with higher costs locked in.

Standing still is not an option. Those who planned well, invested wisely, and engaged their workforce have been able to protect margins and grow. Those who delayed are finding it harder to catch up.

2026 will be no different. The right investment now will decide how well you perform next year.

Time to talk

We’re already working with businesses who are building their 2026 plans. Some are exploring Metro for the first time. Others are expanding the modules they use to drive more value from their existing set-up.

Wherever you are on that journey, we’d love to talk. A short conversation is often enough to highlight where Metro can help you perform better, engage your workforce, and plan for success.