Australian SMEs are facing a fascinating landscape. Customers are increasingly value-conscious, but also seeking convenience and personalised experiences. This means simply adding more products to a package isn’t enough. Successful product bundling in 2026 will centre on solving complete customer needs, not just selling more stuff. We’re seeing a shift from ‘product-out’ thinking to ‘customer-in’ thinking, and your bundles need to reflect that.

Here’s what we’re observing will drive bundle success:

• Outcome-Based Bundles: Forget features, focus on benefits. Instead of bundling a camera with a spare battery and memory card, bundle a ‘Family Memories Package’ including the camera, card, printing vouchers, and maybe even a basic photo editing software subscription. This sells the *outcome* – preserved family memories – not just the components.
• Tiered Value Bundles: Offer ‘Good, Better, Best’ options. This caters to different budgets and needs. A coffee machine bundle could be ‘Starter’ (machine + basic beans), ‘Enthusiast’ (machine + premium beans + milk frother), and ‘Barista’ (machine + beans + frother + advanced training). This allows customers to self-select the value they want.
• Subscription-Driven Bundles: Recurring revenue is gold. Combine a product with a related subscription service. Think a lawnmower bundled with a year’s supply of blades delivered quarterly, or a skincare product with a personalised skincare advice subscription.
• Complementary Product Bundles (with a twist): This isn’t new, but the twist is personalisation. Use data to suggest bundles based on past purchases or browsing behaviour. “Customers who bought this BBQ also enjoyed…” but make it *relevant* to that specific customer.

We also anticipate increased demand for bundles that offer flexibility. Customers want to feel in control. Consider ‘build your own bundle’ options where they can choose components within a pre-defined framework. This increases perceived value and reduces purchase friction.

The key takeaway is this: successful upselling through bundling in the coming years won’t be about volume, it will be about relevance and perceived value. To maximise your return, analyse your customer data, understand their pain points, and craft bundles that genuinely solve their problems. Your next step should be a customer journey mapping exercise to identify bundling opportunities at each touchpoint.