In 2026, device financing will play a much bigger role in business growth.
More customers across global markets want to buy smartphones through monthly payment plans instead of paying full price upfront. For Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) managing multiple retail stores, this creates a strong opportunity:
- Sell more smartphones
- Reach new customer groups
- And increase overall revenue
Also, finance leaders are changing how they manage large, complex operations. Recent insights from Protiviti’s Global Finance Trends Survey show that CFOs are increasingly using automation and real-time data to improve control, visibility, and decision-making as their businesses scale.
For retail CFOs, this matters most in smartphone financing, where thousands of devices, stores, and repayments must be managed at the same time. As volumes increase across stores and regions, CFOs will be expected to:
- keep repayments on track,
- ensure every store follows the same financing and collection processes,
- and maintain visibility across thousands of financed smartphones.
This is where SMF, a smart device lock solution, plays an important role. SMF helps CFOs manage device financing by improving repayment discipline, visibility, and control.
Below are the key trends expected in 2026 that will change how CFOs at large retail chains will manage their device financing portfolios.
[Also Read: Grow More, Chase Less: Step Into 2026 With SMF’s EMI Phone Lock]
Trend 1: Automation will become the standard way to manage repayments
By 2026, retail CFOs will rely less on manual follow-ups and more on automated systems to manage repayments. As store networks expand, manual processes become harder to control and more prone to gaps.
Automation helps ensure that repayment reminders, alerts, and follow-up actions happen consistently, regardless of store size or location. This reduces dependence on individual store staff and lowers the chance of missed actions.
What this means for you:
- More consistent repayment follow-ups across all stores
- Fewer missed actions due to human dependency
- Better repayment discipline without increasing operational effort
Trend 2: Early missed-payment signals will matter more than late defaults
In 2026, CFOs will shift focus from reacting to loan defaults to identifying early patterns of repayment delay. Most financing losses do not happen suddenly; they begin with one or two missed repayments that are not addressed in time.
Spotting these early patterns allows finance teams to act sooner, when recovery is still possible, and customer relationships can be preserved.
What this means for you:
- Lower long-term financing losses
- Faster corrective action on risky accounts
- Better overall portfolio health
Trend 3: Consistency across all stores will become a core finance priority
As retail chains grow, differences in how stores handle device financing become more visible and more costly. In 2026, CFOs will place strong emphasis on ensuring every store follows the same financing rules and processes.
When execution varies by store, repayment outcomes become unpredictable. Consistency brings stability and makes financing programs easier to manage at scale.
What this means for you:
- Reduced operational leakage across locations
- Predictable repayment behaviour across the network
- Less need for manual store-level intervention
Trend 4: Smartphone financing will expand, but with stronger controls
Smartphone financing volumes are expected to increase in 2026 as more customers choose monthly payment options. CFOs will support this growth, but with a stronger focus on control and governance.
Growth without the right structure increases risk. Growth with the right controls allows CFOs to expand financing confidently while protecting margins and cash flow.
What this means for you:
- Ability to finance more devices safely
- Better balance between growth and risk
- Stronger confidence in scaling across regions
Trend 5: Real-time visibility will become the default for CFO control
In 2026, delayed reporting will no longer be acceptable for managing large-scale smartphone financing programs. CFOs will expect near real-time visibility into sales, repayment behaviour, store performance, and overall portfolio health.
This shift matters because overdue payment issues spread quickly when they are noticed late. Early visibility allows faster decisions and better control.
What this means for you:
- Faster identification of problem areas
- Quicker decision-making based on live data
- Better control over cash flow and repayment outcomes
How SMF Helps Retail CFOs Manage Device Financing
As the five trends above take shape, CFOs will look for systems that are easy to roll out, simple to manage, and reliable across hundreds of stores. SMF is built for exactly that environment.
Here’s how SMF aligns with what CFOs will need in 2026:
Fast and simple onboarding at the store level
Financed smartphones can be enrolled in seconds through a simple app flow. This makes it easy for every store to follow the same process from day one.
Clear, actionable repayment reminders for customers
Payment reminders appear directly on the device with clear next steps. This keeps repayments visible to customers and reduces the need for manual follow-ups.
Remote lock and unlock without physical handling
Devices can be locked when payments are overdue and unlocked once payments are made, instantly and remotely. This keeps operations predictable across all stores.
Strong protection against tampering and resets
The smart device lock remains active even if reset attempts are made, ensuring financed smartphones stay protected throughout the repayment period.
One dashboard for control across stores and regions
CFOs get a central view of financed devices, repayment behaviour, and store-level patterns, supporting faster decisions and better oversight.
SMF works as a trusted smart device lock that supports growth while helping CFOs maintain repayment discipline, consistency, and visibility as smartphone financing scales in 2026.
- EMIs coming in consistently
- Smoother daily operations
- Happier, more confident teams
- Stronger customer relationships
- Steady business expansion
If your team is ready to welcome 2026 with clarity, confidence, and a scalable model, SMF’s EMI phone lock is the perfect partner for your next phase of growth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Early-stage missed payments, operational leakage, inconsistent store behaviour, and diverse customer profiles will intensify in 2026. SMF helps mitigate these risks through device-level governance and real-time reporting.
As retail networks expand and financing models grow more complex, CFOs require live visibility into repayment behaviour, store patterns, and partner performance to prevent losses before they escalate.
Yes. SMF is designed for multi-partner, multi-store environments, with automated enforcement, device-level control, and scalable architecture across regions and financing models.
Shift from periodic reporting to continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, and proactive risk prevention, prioritising foresight over hindsight.
