New Avalara insights forecast how automation, regulation, and real-time data will impact tax, trade, and digital operations worldwide

DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Avalara, the agentic tax and compliance leader, today released its 2026 trend predictions, offering insights from its executive team and thought leaders across finance, agentic AI, global trade, engineering, government, retail, lodging, and e-invoicing.

From CFO strategy to global supply chains and AI-driven tax enforcement, Avalara executives and business unit leaders agree that 2026 will be a year of greater digital precision, compliance intelligence, and data-driven agility for businesses worldwide.

“CFOs are becoming data strategists,” said Ross Tennenbaum, President of Avalara. “In 2026, the finance function’s ability to unify financial, tax, and operational data will define enterprise agility. Finance professionals who view tax beyond a cost to a strategic insight will lead the next wave of intelligent growth for their businesses.”

Finance and Strategy: The CFO as Data Strategist

According to Tennenbaum, CFOs will evolve from financial gatekeepers to strategic orchestrators of digital value. AI and automation will increasingly manage forecasting, reconciliations, and compliance, freeing CFOs to focus on scenario modeling and growth.

In 2026, leading finance organizations will operate more like analytics consultancies, using real-time tax, margin, and compliance data to guide daily decisions.

Tax complexity will also emerge as one of the most significant enterprise risks as governments accelerate real-time digital reporting and global minimum tax mandates. CFOs will begin budgeting not only for compliance but also for audit defense and data integrity.

“In 2026, we will finally see the end of tax data sitting in compliance silos,” Tennenbaum added. “Finance teams will use tax intelligence to optimize pricing, cash flow, and supply chain strategy.”

 AI Accountability Emerges as the Cornerstone of Compliance in 2026

“AI will reshape how businesses manage compliance,” said Danny Fields, Chief Technology and Customer Operations Officer at Avalara.
He added, “The biggest challenge in 2026 is governing automation. As AI takes on more tax and compliance decisions, accountability is critically essential.”

Fields predicts that continuous, real-time compliance will replace periodic filings as governments demand instant visibility into transactions. “Compliance will evolve to be a continuous state beyond quarterly reporting,” he said.

He also expects resilience and reliability to become core compliance metrics. “Continuity during disruption is now part of regulatory trust,” Fields added.

Finally, Fields said the true return on AI will come from orchestration, not experimentation, as organizations integrate governed, auditable systems that blend automation with human oversight. “In 2026, AI trust will be measured,” he said.

U.S. Tax Policy: Stability Meets Scrutiny

Scott Peterson, VP of Government Relations at Avalara, expects fewer structural tax shifts in 2026 following sweeping changes in 2025, but warns that compliance complexity will rise.

“The permanent extension of 100% depreciation will influence capital investment strategies, while expiring provisions in the 2025 tax package could trigger new legislative debates.”

States face fiscal pressure as federal funding for programs such as Medicaid declines. How states respond will determine their compliance burden.

“States like Colorado are already revising their tax codes to offset federal changes,” noted Peterson. “Every jurisdiction will need to decide whether to follow the federal government’s lead or chart its own path.”

Industries under increased audit scrutiny include software, SaaS, and lodging marketplaces, as states expand sales tax regimes into new digital sectors.

Global Trade and Tariffs: Complexity Becomes Opportunity

Craig Reed, General Manager of Cross Border at Avalara, expects trade volatility to ease slightly in 2026 but cautions that supply chains must remain agile as nations diversify trade partnerships beyond the United States.

“2026 will not bring calm, but it will bring clarity,” Reed said. “The winners will be those who can anticipate change and adjust their supply chains accordingly.”

Reed emphasized the four fundamentals of global trade: de minimis levels, country of origin, tariff codes, and declared value. Accurate classification remains critical, as even minor data errors can delay shipments or inflate duty costs.

“In cross-border trade, bad data is more expensive than any tariff,” Reed added. “The future of commerce belongs to companies that treat compliance as a data discipline.”

Carlos Mercuriali, Senior VP and General Manager of International Business Operations at Avalara, shared a similar view:

“Global trade in 2026 will reward companies that can anticipate change. The U.K. is reemerging as a dynamic trade hub, and those that align supply chain agility with compliance precision will turn complexity into opportunity,” Mercuriali said.

He added that industries with multi-country supply chains, including electronics and renewables, will face tightening margins as tariffs rise. Companies that embrace digital traceability and AI forecasting will lead in resilience and competitiveness.

Retail and Marketplaces: AI as the New Compliance Engine

“In digital commerce, AI will reshape every aspect of the retail and marketplace ecosystem,” said George Trantas, VP of Accelerator Sales at Avalara.

“The future of marketplaces will be AI-managed for transactions, with humans leading the strategy,” he added. “The best platforms will combine automation and compliance intelligence to fuel growth.”

Trantas predicts that AI-driven personalization will redefine consumer engagement, while tax intelligence will become a competitive advantage that ensures every transaction is accurate, auditable, and seamless.

“As automation scales, so does compliance risk,” he concluded. “Automation removes friction, not responsibility. The companies that combine speed with strong governance will win.”

E-Invoicing and International Compliance: From Obligation to Advantage

Across regions, digital tax mandates are accelerating, with more than 60 countries implementing or planning e-invoicing frameworks by 2030. Alex Baulf, Avalara’s VP of E-Invoicing and Live Reporting, expects 2026 to mark a tipping point when compliance becomes a catalyst for digital transformation:

“By 2026, e-invoicing will become a strategic business advantage, moving beyond a government mandate,” Baulf emphasized. “As countries such as France, Germany, and Belgium implement their frameworks, global tax reform will increasingly converge around data, pushing multinationals to standardize compliance processes and transition from reactive reporting to proactive control.”

Baulf stressed that companies embracing real-time digital reporting and e-document exchange will uncover new levels of efficiency, transparency, and insight across every transaction. “Digital tax mandates will no longer be just about compliance, but will serve as the backbone of connected commerce, enabling smarter, faster, and more borderless trade,” he said.

Lodging and Hospitality: Transparency, AI, and Local Enforcement

Nicole Rogers, General Manager of Lodging at Avalara, sees 2026 as a pivotal year for pricing transparency legislation and the challenges of non-uniform state regulation. “Operators must navigate a patchwork of changing lodging and special-district taxes, particularly in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Connecticut, and Colorado,” said Rogers.

Traveler behavior will also shift as major employers reduce remote work flexibility, which could lower long-stay demand. Meanwhile, jurisdictions such as Tennessee are tightening compliance rules, requiring upfront tax collection even for long-term stays.

“Even small classification errors can lead to significant compliance costs in high-rate states,” added Rogers.

Pam Knudsen, Senior Director of Compliance Services at Avalara, noted that AI is changing local short-term rental (STR) enforcement.

“Jurisdictions are using AI-powered tools to identify noncompliant STRs in real time,” Knudsen said. “Enforcement is becoming faster, smarter, and more consistent than ever before.”

Knudsen stressed that major global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will test cities’ ability to balance tax collection with community needs as STR demand surges.

The future of tax and compliance is agentic. In 2026, success will depend on systems that support and drive tax compliance. Avalara’s AI-first infrastructure is built to observe, advise, and act across jurisdictions, platforms, and workflows, delivering the speed, accuracy, and accountability global businesses require. Learn more here.

About Avalara
Avalara is the agentic tax and compliance leader. For more than two decades, Avalara has developed one of the most expansive libraries of tax content and integrations in the industry, supporting over 43,000 businesses and government entities across more than 75 countries. The company’s purpose-built AI agents automate end-to-end compliance processes with greater precision, from tax calculation and filing to e-invoicing and exemption management. For more information, visit www.avalara.com.

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Development Approval has been secured for the Minchinbury site, which will support 62MW of IT load within an 90MVA power envelope. The facility is designed with advanced energy efficiency and future-ready AI infrastructure in mind, with completion expected by Q1 2028.

SYDNEY, Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Starwood Capital Group, Doma Infrastructure Group (DIG), and Telstra InfraCo today announced the formation of a strategic agreement to develop a carrier neutral data centre site for future AI readiness at Minchinbury, Western Sydney.

Starwood Capital, through a controlled affiliate, and Doma are responsible for financing, development, construction, and ongoing management of the project. Telstra InfraCo will contribute the land and extend its connectivity infrastructure, including ability for customers of the data centre to connect to key Aura Network routes.

Development Approval for the site has already been secured, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2026 and Ready for Service (RFS) targeted for early Q1 of 2028. Positioned adjacent to the established Eastern Creek data centre cluster, the Minchinbury site offers a critical foothold in one of Australia’s most connected and high-growth digital infrastructure corridors.

The facility will be engineered to Tier III+ standards and offer flexible delivery options—including core and shell, powered shell, and build-to-suit configurations—tailored for data centre operators, hyperscalers, AI platforms, and GPU-intensive compute operators. Support for liquid cooling and AI-native rack densities has been built into the design.

“We are excited to partner with Telstra InfraCo and Doma Infrastructure to deliver a hyperscale-ready platform in one of Asia Pacific’s most strategic digital corridors,” said Jonathan Pollack, President of Starwood Capital. “This investment underscores Starwood Capital’s commitment to supporting critical infrastructure alongside trusted local partners, while expanding our investment activity in Australia’s high-growth economy.”

“With hyperscale and AI infrastructure demand surging, this project arrives at the right place and the right time,” said Clement Goh, CEO of Doma Infrastructure Group. “Together with Telstra InfraCo and with the support of Starwood Capital, we’re delivering infrastructure that meets tomorrow’s compute challenges with speed, scale, and sustainability.”

Dipan Patel, Digital Infrastructure Solutions Executive at Telstra InfraCo, added: “This agreement is a step forward in delivering Telstra’s Connected Future 30 strategy. The commercial partnership with Starwood Capital and Doma Infrastructure and equipping the data centre with our connectivity assets creates a strong foundation for delivering next-generation workloads at scale, enabling the infrastructure that supports the rapid growth of AI and emerging technologies.”

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a core focus on real assets globally. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital Group has raised over $90 billion of capital and currently has $120+ billion of assets under management. Through a series of comingled opportunity funds and Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (SREIT), a non-listed REIT, the Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving.

Starwood Capital also manages Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), the largest commercial mortgage real estate investment trust in the United States, which has successfully deployed over $108 billion of capital since inception and manages a portfolio of over $29 billion across debt and equity investments. Alongside Starwood Property Trust, Starwood Capital manages over $5 billion in several private debt funds investing across the globe.

Starwood Capital’s other affiliates include: Highmark Residential, a property management company; Starwood Digital Ventures, a platform dedicated to the firm’s data center investment strategy; Starwood Hotels, a hotel brand management team; Essex Title, a title agent for one or more underwriters in issuing title policies and/or providing support services; and Starwood Oil & Gas, which seeks to capitalize on conventional and unconventional North American assets.

Additional information can be found at www.starwoodcapital.com, www.starwoodnav.reit, www.starwoodpropertytrust.com and www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Doma Infrastructure Group (DIG)

Doma Infrastructure Group is a Singapore-based firm specializing in the acquisition and development of data centre-ready land across the Asia Pacific region. With a team of industry experts, DIG is dedicated to delivering scalable, sustainable infrastructure solutions to meet the growing needs of the global data centre market.

Website: www.domainfra.com

About Telstra InfraCo

Telstra InfraCo, a standalone business unit of Telstra Group, is the digital infrastructure unit of Telstra Group, providing a range of infrastructure solutions to the industry, including carriers, hyperscalers and other global technology operators, satellite operators, data centres, and enterprise and government customers. Telstra InfraCo provides open-access, carrier-neutral assets that enable digital transformation across the nation and APAC.

Website: infraco.telstra.com.au

Starwood Capital Media Contact:

Tom Johnson, +1 (212) 371-5999, tom.johnson@h-advisors.global
Dan Scorpio, +1 (646) 899-8118, dan.scorpio@h-advisors.global

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Charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church delivers humanitarian aid directly to Gazan families in crisis by working with the Global Empowerment Mission

JOPPA, Md., Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Rapid Relief Team (RRT), the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, announced today that its humanitarian aid initiative has successfully delivered more than one million meals to families and children in Gaza. The initiative, which began in September 2025, continues to provide food and hope to Gazan families.

An RRT Food Box is delivered. Each Food Box can provide a family of four with six meals over two days.

The RRT has worked with the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), an established international humanitarian aid organization officially licensed to deliver aid directly within Gaza, to ensure the humanitarian aid reaches those who need it safely.

This strong relationship has resulted in a total of 14,040 food boxes, totaling 1.067 million meals, delivered to provide vital supplies to more than 68,500 people in Gaza.

Following the success of its first nine trucks, RRT is scaling up its support and has commissioned a further eight trucks, with the total investment from the charity now surpassing $925,000.

By working with the GEM, RRT has been able to ensure supplies reach families directly, including those living in tents and temporary shelters who are unable to travel to collection points.

The program has been supported by Rapid Relief Team volunteers from across the world, with leadership from RRT UK. The RRT is formed of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and has more than a decade of experience supporting vulnerable communities across the globe.

The charity provides practical support wherever it is needed. Care in Crisis unites RRT’s international humanitarian work, enabling the charity to respond more rapidly to emergencies around the world, from conflict zones to natural disasters.

The RRT and the GEM will continue to work together to deliver aid following the announcement of the ceasefire in Gaza.

Wes Macdonald, Operations Manager, Rapid Relief Team North America
“Our core mission is to show compassion in action wherever people are in crisis, and it was crucial we found a trusted organization to help us to do that in Gaza.

“We have developed a strong working relationship with the GEM, and by combining our resources with GEM’s operational capabilities, we have been able to make a small but meaningful difference to thousands of people living in the area.

“Our first consignments have all reached their intended recipients safely and securely. This has given us the confidence to invest further and build on the one million meals we have delivered, and we expect to exceed 1.5 million in the coming weeks.

“We have a shared goal with the GEM, and we will continue to work with them to deliver vital aid as long as it is needed.”

Michael Capponi, Founder and President of Global Empowerment Mission
“It has been clear since we first met that the Rapid Relief Team is committed to making a real impact on the lives of people living in Gaza. We have been able to support their ambitions through our operational presence and the work of our team on the ground.

“This has meant that the food sent by the RRT has been able to directly reach families in crisis, and with the speed required to support them in their time of need.

“The situation in Gaza remains challenging, but by working together, the GEM and RRT are able to bring practical help to thousands of innocent people.”

About Rapid Relief Team (RRT): RRT is a global network of over 14,500 volunteers who assist emergency services during disasters and crises by providing meals and other forms of support. Established in 2013 by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), RRT is dedicated to showing kindness through its actions, embodying the PBCC values of care, compassion, and community support in times of need. To contribute to RRT’s mission, visit their website.

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Straits Interactive, a leading Edtech provider of Generative AI-driven governance solutions, announced the release of The AI Factory – AI Capability Guide for SMEs, a leading-edge resource designed to help non-technical professionals and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) harness the power of Generative AI.

(L to R) Rohit Sharma, Prof Joaquin Gonzalez, Patrick Tay Teck Guan, Yuit Ang, Pulse Tan, Celine Ch

This essential how-to guide, supported by Golden Gate University (GGU), Eduvate Hub, and global skilling company upGrad, was released on November 11, 2025, with a launch event held at the Holiday Inn Express (Novena), Singapore, where Mr. Patrick Tay, Member of Parliament and Assistant Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), was recognized as the Guest of Honour.

A Resource for Non-Technical SMEs to Effectively Harness Gen AI

Singapore authors Kevin Shepherdson and Celine Chew — doctoral candidates in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme at Golden Gate University (GGU) with a specialisation in Generative AI —collaborated with distinguished professor Jay Gonzalez, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Founding Dean of GGU Worldwide to explore actionable insights and tools for businesses to navigate the complexities of AI adoption and its application to business processes across industries.

Professor Jay Gonzalez shared, “Golden Gate University, situated in the heart of San Francisco – the AI capital of the world, has a significant number of Singapore-based senior executives and SME leaders in its DBA programme, who bring decades of local industry experience. By combining their expertise with the transformative potential of Generative AI, these executives are now able to create practical and impactful AI solutions. The book, The AI Factory, is a testament to how our doctoral candidates leverage their professional experience alongside cutting-edge AI tools to drive business innovation.”

Empowering AI Bilingualists for Singapore’s Digital Future

The AI Factory aligns with Singapore’s vision of cultivating AI Bilingualists — individuals who are fluent in both their industry and the language of Generative AI. This concept is central to preparing Singapore’s workforce for the digital economy, where Generative AI is expected to transform industries and business operations. The book acts as a blueprint and a bridge, helping professionals and SMEs build the practical skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven environment.

Supported by Golden Gate University, Eduvate Hub, and upGrad

GGU and Eduvate Hub sponsored ‘The AI Factory’ to support selected doctoral candidates in integrating their subject-matter expertise with generative AI, reflecting the concept of AI Bilingualists. As part of GGU’s doctoral research programme, the initiative encourages students to apply advanced academic knowledge to develop practical generative AI solutions for real-world business challenges.

Singapore based upGrad Tech Pte Ltd, (backed by Temasek) has supported the publication of this book alongside GGU to promote the industry’s first DBA with a specialization in generative AI. This unique program allows doctoral candidates to publish books, business plans, patents, or standard dissertation research. Through this initiative, upGrad and GGU aim to foster a global network of AI Bilingualists, professionals who are proficient in both their domain expertise and AI capabilities, ready to drive innovation across industries.

Myleeta Aga Williams, CEO of upGrad International, Consumer Business, said, “upGrad is committed to contributing to Singapore’s National AI Strategy by grooming Singaporean candidates to become leaders in AI. Through our partnership with Golden Gate University, we aim to export Singapore’s AI-driven expertise to the world, fostering a global network of AI Bilingualists who will shape the future of business.”

The launch event featured a keynote address by Mr. Patrick Tay, followed by panel discussions with industry leaders, academics, and AI experts. The panel explored the implications of AI adoption for SMEs and Singapore’s workforce, as well as the role of AI Bilingualists in driving sustainable innovation and growth.

About Straits Interactive

Straits Interactive is a leading provider of AI-driven compliance and governance solutions, dedicated to helping organizations navigate the complexities of data protection and privacy regulations. Through innovative tools and resources, Straits Interactive empowers businesses to build trust and ensure compliance in an increasingly digital world.

About Golden Gate University

Founded in 1901, Golden Gate University (GGU) is a nonprofit institution of higher education located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial and technology district. For nearly 125 years, GGU has empowered working adults and nontraditional students through career-focused education in law, business, technology, taxation and public service. With small class sizes, and a distinguished faculty of industry professionals, GGU prepares graduates to lead in a rapidly changing world.  Learn more at ggu.edu.

About upGrad

Started in 2015, upGrad is one of Asia’s largest integrated skilling and lifelong learning majors, powering the complete learning cycle of individuals. It offers a range of online and hybrid skilling programs and Certifications under its B2C portfolio and facilitates top Indian and global universities to offer their Diploma, Master’s, and Executive Doctorates, with all degrees awarded solely by the respective universities, supporting every career stage of individuals – from first job to boardroom. Additionally, select programs are tailored for Enterprise clients under the corporate skilling division, along with other recruitment and staffing services. More details at https://www.upgrad.com/sg/

Compliance with Rigorous International Standards Ensure Picarro Meets the Highest Levels of Data Security, Privacy, and Operational Integrity

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Picarro Inc., a leading provider of high-precision gas analysis solutions for natural gas distribution, industrial monitoring, and research applications, today announced that it has been certified for ISO 27001:2022 (Information Security Management Systems), ISO 27017 (Cloud Security), and ISO 27018 (Data Privacy), and successfully completed its Service Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) Type 2 examination. These assessments were affirmed through extensive audits conducted by A-LIGN, an accredited provider of high-quality, efficient cybersecurity compliance programs.

These certifications demonstrate Picarro’s deep commitment to information security, privacy, and operational excellence, cornerstones of its mission to empower the world with timely, trusted, and actionable intelligence.

These internationally recognized certifications and independent audit affirm that Picarro maintains robust governance and technical controls to protect data integrity, confidentiality, and availability across its cloud-based platforms and analytical solutions. Together, they demonstrate Picarro’s deep commitment to information security, privacy, and operational excellence, cornerstones of its mission to empower the world with timely, trusted, and actionable intelligence.

“Our customers depend on Picarro data to make critical operational decisions and scientific conclusions,” said Parag Jain, Vice President of IT, Security and Business Systems at Picarro. “These certifications reflect our commitment to building trust through secure, resilient, and robust systems. Whether it’s a gas utility looking to reduce methane emissions, a sterilization facility seeking to mitigate risk, or a research team studying climate dynamics, our goal is to ensure their data and insights are protected at all times. With the ISO/IEC and SOC 2 certification, we provide our customers with additional confidence in our ability to secure their data within our systems.”

The Importance of ISO/IEC Certification and SOC 2 Examination

The ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018 are globally recognized frameworks that define best practices for implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). To achieve certification, organizations must demonstrate a systematic and documented approach to protecting and managing sensitive company and customer information including intellectual property, employee and customer data, financial information and information entrusted to it by third parties.

The SOC 2 Type 2 examination is an independent audit developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that evaluates how well a company protects customer data. It assesses the effectiveness of an organization’s internal controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy—collectively known as the Trust Services Criteria.

In an era where increasing cybersecurity risks and data privacy regulations, these ISO/IEC certifications and SOC 2 Type 2 audits provide our customers with a transparent, third-party validation that Picarro’s security practices meet industry standards.

About Picarro

Picarro is a leading provider of solutions that precisely measure and monitor more than 700+ compounds. Combined with an advanced analytics platform and expert services, our offerings deliver trusted data to optimize gas distribution networks, reduce emissions, simplify regulatory compliance, mitigate risk, and advance scientific research. For more information on Picarro’s portfolio of solutions, visit www.picarro.com.

Contact:
Monica Marmie
Senior Marketing Manager
Picarro, Inc.
mmarmie@picarro.com