It’s been an eventful and disruptive year in tech, with our expert analysts at Hampleton Partners keeping a close eye on M&A trends and transactions across sectors such as AI and Enterprise Software. 

Now, as we prepare to step into 2026, it’s a good moment to pause and take stock of some of the most significant highlighted by our sector-specific market reports, and the deals which have exemplified these developments. Let’s dive in.

Generative platforms like ChatGPT and Claude continue to comprise the most talked-about aspect of the AI revolution. However, one big takeaway from our most recent Artificial Intelligence market report is that acquirers in this space are now looking beyond early-stage AI innovators to snap up startups developing AI-powered applications for niche use cases. 

An emblematic deal, announced in March, was ServiceNow’s purchase of Moveworks, whose AI assistant is designed to automate a range of critical workflows, from CRM tasks to employee payroll processes. Moveworks’ agentic prowess and stable of Fortune 500 clients made it a ripe target for ServiceNow, which has been aggressively expanding its own enterprise AI capabilities.

Digital Commerce deal activity surged in 2025, with our last report showing a a 22% year-on-year increase in the first half of this year. This M&A energy reflects the race among acquirers to bolster their AI capabilities as the power of generative AI and autonomous agents continue to overhaul online retailers operate.

As a result, dealmaking within the Digital Commerce Software subsector has hurtled to its highest point since the peak of the pandemic, with one key deal being the May purchase of BidX. A provider of AI advertising solutions allowing online vendors to automate ad placements, keyword research and performance analysis, BidX was bought by Worldeye Technologies, an SaaS firm which has been leveraging M&A to bolt on new capabilities for its e-commerce suite.

Momentum in the Supply Chain Management sector has been strong this year, as businesses increasingly leverage software to drive down operating costs, mitigate labour shortages, and navigate congested transport networks. Our latest market report also highlights another megatrend currently driving interest in the sector: the imperative to decarbonise supply chains.

Regulatory pressures such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive have driven strong demand for software which can optimise ESG reporting. One such company in this space is WAVES, whose platform enables organisations to monitor their sustainability performance across the entire supply chain. Hampleton Partners advised thyssenkrupp Materials Services on its January acquisition of WAVES, a deal underscoring the soaring significance of ESG-focused solutions in the Supply Chain Management sector.

Dealmaking in the IT & Business Services space has gained momentum in 2025, with demand for managed service providers (MSPs) helping fuel this growth. Our newest IT & Business Services report highlights how both strategic and financial buyers are particularly seeking out MSPs aligned with Microsoft, Salesforce, ServiceNow and other leading enterprise ecosystems.

In May, digital services consultancy Argano acquired Attentis, a Salesforce solutions integrator for the healthcare sector. As a provider of vertical-specific Salesforce accelerators and bespoke cloud implementation services, Attentis was a natural target for Argano, whose drive to expand its ecosystem capabilities also saw it buy a Microsoft ecosystem consultancy, Real Dynamics, that same month.  

The number of M&A transactions in the Enterprise Software space reached a record high this year, even surpassing the acquisition spree we saw during the pandemic. As our Enterprise Software report shows, EBITDA multiples have also risen, reflecting strong investor confidence in the sector.

The race to incorporate AI tools has been one of the major deal drivers here, with firms deploying generative technology being the target of almost a third of all transactions. One such target was Screens, the developer of a platform which uses generative AI to automate the reviewing and redlining of business contracts. Word docs, PDFs and other files can be reviewed in their thousands at the same time, making it a natural acquisition choice for Agiloft, a contract lifecycle management firm which acquired Screens back in January in what it described as a “pivotal moment” for the company.

Our most recent Autotech report revealed a resurgence in dealmaking, with many transactions involving OEMs and their suppliers carrying out carve-outs and divesting business divisions into separate companies as they adapt to a rapidly-evolving industry. 

We’ve also seen Mobility & Fleet Management become the most active subsector when it comes to M&A. This reflects the importance of mobility solutions to OEMs, fleet managers, urban planners and public transportation providers as they seek to manage increasingly crowded urban zones and meet emissions targets.

Deals involving Mobility & Fleet Management firms rose to a record high in 2025, with one example being the April acquisition of Lithuanian mobility-as-a-service firm Trafi. Integrating public transport, taxi and micromobility options on one interface, Trafi’s white label platform has been implemented across Europe, including parts of England. Its large footprint made it a ripe target for Enghouse Systems, a roll-up company which further bolstered its mobility capabilities this year with the purchase of a transit fare collection company Margento.

What might the tech M&A market hold for your company in 2026? If you’re a founder or senior decision maker planning your next step, we’re here to provide insights and guidance based on our deep experience across all tech sectors, from Digital Commerce to Autotech. Reach out to our managing partner, Dr Jan Eiben, to start developing the right exit or fundraising strategy for your business.

And if you’d like to dig deeper into some of the research outlined in this article, you can download the full market reports which provide incisive industry data and forensic commentary. You can also subscribe to ensure you’ll be notified of the next reports when they’re published in the new year.