Digital marketing trends food and beverage brands cannot ignore in 2026
The specific 2026 digital marketing trends most relevant to food and beverage brands, prioritised for visual discovery and retail media coordination.
5 min read
Marketing automation platforms have continued evolving through 2026 along three main dimensions — industry consolidation, deeper AI feature integration, and shifting pricing models — each worth understanding when evaluating your current platform or a potential switch.
Consolidation trends
Continuing the broader martech consolidation trend, several marketing automation vendors have expanded their platforms through acquisition or native feature development, reducing the need for separate point solutions for adjacent capabilities.
AI integration across major platforms
- AI-assisted content generation integrated directly into email and campaign builders.
- Predictive lead scoring and AI agent capabilities for routine workflow automation.
- AI-driven send-time and content personalisation, per our dedicated guide.
The AI features now bundled into major platforms have genuinely changed what a standard subscription includes — worth checking whether your existing contract still reflects the best current value, or whether pricing tiers have shifted around you.
Pricing model shifts
Several platforms have shifted pricing structures to account for AI feature usage or expanded contact-based tiers, meaning existing contracts negotiated before these shifts may no longer reflect current market value — periodic renegotiation review is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
Should businesses switch platforms to access new AI features?
Not necessarily — many existing platforms have added AI features to current subscriptions, making a feature audit of your current platform worthwhile before assuming a switch is required.
How often should marketing automation platform contracts be reviewed?
Annually at minimum, given how quickly pricing models and feature sets continue to evolve in this specific space.
Does platform consolidation reduce the total number of viable vendors?
Somewhat, though the market remains genuinely competitive with multiple strong options across different price points and feature emphases.
If you want help evaluating your marketing automation platform choice, talk to our team.
The takeaway
Review your current platform's AI feature set and pricing tier structure directly against your actual usage — many platforms have shifted pricing models alongside AI feature additions, and existing contracts may no longer reflect the best available value.
Written by Fibvo — Bengaluru and Erode, India — working with clients in other time zones. Questions, or think we have it wrong? Tell us.
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