JK outlines 2026 trends

JK Moving Services has issued its 2026 outlook for the commercial and residential moving sectors, highlighting rising costs and artificial intelligence as two of the biggest forces set to shape the year ahead.

David Cox, President of JK Moving, said residential moving was subdued last year, but pent-up demand and the prospect of lower interest rates could support a stronger market in 2026. He added that commercial relocations are likely to remain under pressure due to excess office inventory and changing workplace habits, particularly the continued shift to remote and hybrid working.

JK identified rising costs across labour, vehicles, facilities and insurance as a major challenge for movers. The company said technology is helping to offset some of this pressure, including vehicle safety systems and drive cam programmes that improve safety performance and help manage risk-related costs.

On the opportunity side, JK sees AI as a transformative tool for both operations and customer experience. The company pointed to AI-driven route planning, crew sizing, estimating accuracy and virtual survey tools as examples of how movers can improve efficiency while delivering a smoother customer journey.

JK also expects continued diversification across the industry, with firms expanding into adjacent services such as warehousing, FF&E logistics, decommissioning and final-mile delivery, as businesses adapt to lower traditional commercial moving volumes and evolving client needs.