Thoughts on the M-Files GKO 2026 in Lisbon

My colleague, David Hueber, and I had the pleasure of attending the M-Files Global Kick-Off 2026 (GKO 2026) in Lisbon, Portugal, this week. The weather was unfortunate, but that’s not what matters.

From January 26 to January 29, this event brought together M-Files employees and partners from around the world for the first time. They aligned their strategy, exchanged views, and motivated each other to help our customers achieve even more with the solution.

Of course, a lot of the information is still confidential, so I won’t reveal any big secrets in the article. However, there are always things to share.

A Global Team Coming Together

Now more than ever, partners are the cornerstone of the M-Files strategy. We are not just “executors”; we are an extension of their vision. A real player of the team and for me it makes a big difference.

From strategic sessions to deep dives into product vision, GKO showcased once again why M‑Files continues to be a leader in intelligent information management.

Key Themes: AI, Metadata,…

It’s no surprise that this year is a logical continuation of the previous ones. Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the solution. Metadata increases the accuracy of AI results, and the recently introduced workspaces provide more context for your data. “Context” is the key word for this year!

A major focus this year is the evolving role of AI in document management, and how M-Files continues to push the boundaries with metadata‑driven automation. The momentum around:

• Enhancing information discovery
• Improving knowledge work productivity
• Scaling AI-powered document processes

Inspiring Conversations & Roadmap Insights

Throughout the sessions, we were given a sneak preview of M-Files’ strategic direction for 2026. The presentations and discussions particularly resonated with our daily experience in the field, where we see organizations seeking clarity, automation, and structure in an information-overloaded world.

Collaboration with Colleagues

Attending with David made the experience even more memorable. Yep, he’s my boss, so I have to suck up a little.

Together, we engaged with peers from different regions, compared our consulting practice experiences, and aligned ourselves more closely with M-Files’ strategic priorities. Events like GKO demonstrate the importance of community and collaboration in developing effective ECM and information management solutions.

Ready for 2026

GKO 2026 is almost over, and it left us inspired, aligned, and energized to bring even more value to our clients this year. With M-Files continuing to innovate at a rapid pace, we’re excited to translate these insights into impactful ECM solutions across our projects.
Stay tuned, more reflections and deep dives into M-Files and intelligent content management are on the way!

Feel free to ask us any digitalization questions.