Why 2026 is the year to reinforce the core tech team - and augment it with on-demand expertise

In the early years of digital transformation, many organisations took a “go all-in” approach: build large tech teams, adopt every new tool and try to absorb change through scale.

As we approach 2026, that model is no longer with lean teams the rule, not the exception.  Gartner’s latest Top Strategic Technology Trends make it clear that innovation is accelerating faster than most organisations can recruit or reskill. The next wave of AI-native platforms, agent systems and advanced security is no longer distant - it’s arrived.

For CTOs and CIOs, the implication is simple: a strong core team remains essential, but internal hiring alone cannot keep pace. High-performing IT organisations will strengthen their core while augmenting it with on-demand access to in-demand specialist skills.

The strategic imperatives for 2026

Gartner frames the 2026 technology agenda around three themes: building resilient foundations, orchestrating value from intelligent systems, and strengthening digital trust. Each theme brings a new set of skill demands from DSLMs to multi-agent systems to security.

At the same time, the pressure on teams is intensifying. IT spending in Europe is set to rise by more than 11% in 2026, with software investment growing even faster. CTOs and CIOs continue to expand their teams, yet capability gaps remain widespread. Two-thirds of managers say their people cannot keep pace with future skill needs, and 70% of employees feel they haven’t fully mastered today’s requirements.

So, while leaders have more budget and ambition than ever, execution capacity is becoming the constraint. That is why the “core + on-demand” model is becoming a strategic necessity.

Why a “Core Team + On-Demand Skills” model works

Your internal core is still the anchor of your technology function. It provides stability, governance, platform ownership and long-term capability. These are responsibilities that cannot be outsourced.

But no internal team can cover every emerging skill. On-demand experts provide the flexibility and speed required to deliver modern transformation: fast access to specialists, rapid experimentation, and the ability to scale down once outcomes are delivered. This keeps your core focused on strategic work while external experts handle peak demand and frontier capabilities.

It also changes the economics of delivery. Instead of hiring full-time for every emerging need, you can align cost with value. As Gartner signals a shift toward AI-native platforms, hybrid compute and advanced security, being able to tap specialists at the right moment becomes a competitive advantage.

And crucially, this helps close the talent gap. Given ongoing shortages across data, AI, architecture and engineering, relying solely on internal hiring slows transformation. On-demand access creates a more resilient and scalable talent strategy.

How to implement the model while maintaining control

Start by defining what your core team must always own: architecture, governance, platform strategy, vendor relationships and long-term capability development. These areas provide continuity and strategic alignment.

Next, map out the specialist skills needed for your 2026 roadmap. Use Gartner’s trends to identify where deep expertise is essential and where short-term injections of talent will accelerate progress.

Then build or tap into a flexible ecosystem of trusted experts: independent specialists, niche firms or structured on-demand talent platforms. What matters is clarity: clear scopes, defined outcomes and structured knowledge transfer back to the core team.

Finally, embed the model into your operating rhythm. Track value delivered, review the mix of internal and external capability regularly, and bring new skills into the core only when they become strategic.

Why act now

Gartner forecasts that over 40% of leading enterprises will adopt hybrid computing architectures by 2028, up from around 8% today. The organisations that move early will benefit from faster innovation, shorter delivery cycles and stronger competitive positioning.

At the same time, many CEOs believe their CIOs are not yet fully “AI-savvy,” signalling a window of opportunity for leaders who modernise their team model now.

Success in 2026 won’t come from building the biggest team - but the right one. A strong core, supported by on-demand access to specialist expertise, gives you the resilience and agility needed to keep ahead of accelerating change - and uncertainty.