Validated, Transparent Audience Metrics: The Complete 2026 Guide for Influencer Marketing

Introduction

In 2026, validated, transparent audience metrics have become non-negotiable for successful influencer marketing campaigns. But what does this actually mean? Validated, transparent audience metrics refers to audience data that has been verified by third-party systems or industry-standard methods to confirm authenticity, eliminate bot activity, and provide honest performance insights.

The stakes have never been higher. According to a 2025 Influencer Marketing Hub report, approximately 67% of brands still struggle to validate influencer audiences accurately. This creates massive problems. Brands waste millions on partnerships with creators who have inflated follower counts or fake engagement. Meanwhile, trust in the influencer marketing industry continues to erode.

The landscape has shifted dramatically. New regulatory frameworks like the EU's Digital Services Act demand transparency. Advanced AI systems now detect fraud in real-time. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have strengthened their validation requirements. Smart brands are demanding validated, transparent audience metrics before signing contracts or releasing payments.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about validating audience metrics in 2026. We'll explore detection technologies, regulatory standards, practical implementation strategies, and how tools like InfluenceFlow help brands maintain transparency throughout campaigns.

Understanding Validated Audience Metrics in 2026

What Are Validated, Transparent Audience Metrics?

Validated, transparent audience metrics means audience data that has been authenticated and verified to be genuine. It includes confirmed follower counts, real engagement rates, authentic demographic information, and documented performance data. Transparency means brands and creators openly share this data without hiding manipulation or inflated numbers.

Think of it this way: raw metrics are what a platform reports. Validated metrics are what independent verification confirms is actually real. In 2026, this distinction matters because fake engagement runs rampant. Bots generate fake comments. Services sell fake followers. Engagement pods artificially inflate interaction numbers.

Validated metrics eliminate these problems. A 2025 study by the Association of National Advertisers found that brands using validated metrics saw 43% better campaign ROI than those relying on unvalidated data. The difference comes down to reaching real audiences instead of ghost followers.

Why Validation Matters for Your Campaigns

Unvalidated metrics create three major problems: financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory violations.

Financial Impact: When you partner with an influencer whose metrics aren't validated, you're essentially gambling. That creator claims 500,000 engaged followers, but perhaps only 150,000 are real humans. Your campaign reaches far fewer people than expected. Your cost-per-engagement doubles or triples. Money disappears into thin air.

Reputational Risk: If your brand associates with creators peddling fake metrics and the fraud becomes public, your brand takes the hit. Consumers lose trust. Competitors exploit the story. Social media amplifies the scandal. In 2026, one validation failure can damage relationships with customers and partners.

Regulatory Compliance: The EU's Digital Services Act and various FTC guidelines now require transparency about audience authenticity. Violating these rules invites fines, legal action, and platform penalties. Companies operating internationally must follow stricter standards.

Creating transparent influencer marketing campaigns requires starting with validated data. This foundation determines everything else—targeting accuracy, ROI projections, contract terms, and payment structures.

Current Industry Standards in 2026

The Media Rating Council (MRC) has released updated standards for audience validation. Their 2026 framework emphasizes real-time fraud detection, demographic verification, and cross-platform consistency checks. These aren't suggestions—they're becoming expected industry practice.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has also strengthened guidelines. They now require platforms to publish transparency reports showing fraud rates, bot detection success, and audience authenticity percentages. Major platforms must comply to maintain advertiser trust.

Different platforms have different requirements. Instagram's Creator Studio now mandatory offers real-time audience quality scores. TikTok requires Creator Fund participants to maintain minimum engagement authenticity thresholds. YouTube's Partner Program demands audience verification for monetization. Emerging platforms like Threads and Bluesky are building validation into their core systems from day one.

The Technology Behind Modern Audience Validation

AI and Machine Learning in Fraud Detection

In 2026, artificial intelligence powers audience validation at scale. Advanced systems analyze behavioral patterns in milliseconds. They identify impossible activity signatures—followers from countries that don't speak the language, engagement times that don't match human sleep patterns, comment sentiment that contradicts the creator's typical audience.

These AI systems achieve impressive accuracy rates. According to a 2025 Adverity report, machine learning models now detect bot activity with 89% accuracy. However, this isn't perfect. The remaining 11% matters. Fraudsters constantly adapt tactics. AI must continuously learn new deception methods.

Real-time detection is now standard. Rather than auditing campaigns after they end, validation systems flag suspicious activity as it happens. A sudden spike in followers from Venezuela when the creator never mentioned that country triggers an alert. Mass engagement from inactive accounts gets flagged. Pattern anomalies are caught instantly.

The limitation? AI struggles with sophisticated fraud. Fake accounts that mimic real human behavior—following relevant creators, posting occasional comments, using devices in appropriate locations—can bypass detection. This is why multi-layer validation strategies work better than single-technology approaches.

Blockchain and Distributed Validation

Blockchain's role in validation remains limited in 2026, but growing. Some platforms are experimenting with immutable audience records. Smart contracts can verify engagement automatically. Distributed ledgers create transparent audit trails that no single party can manipulate.

The reality? Blockchain solutions remain expensive and complex. Most brands don't need them. Traditional validation methods work fine. Blockchain shines for enterprise-scale campaigns where multiple parties need to verify metrics independently. A multinational corporation running campaigns across 50 creators benefits from blockchain's transparency. A startup? Unnecessary overhead.

Integration challenges remain. Marketing tech stacks weren't built for blockchain. APIs don't exist for seamless connection. Data standards are still evolving. In 2026, blockchain validation is a tool for specific use cases, not a universal solution.

Data Integration and API Standards

Your validation data needs to flow smoothly through your marketing ecosystem. This requires standard APIs and consistent data formats. Fortunately, 2026 has better integration than previous years.

Most major marketing platforms now accept validated audience metrics through standard APIs. Data can sync in real-time. Dashboards automatically update with verification status. When you use InfluenceFlow's platform alongside validation services, data flows cleanly. Your campaign management dashboard shows which influencers have validated metrics and which don't.

First-Party vs. Third-Party Audience Validation

First-Party Data Validation

First-party validation comes directly from creators. They own their data. They control their accounts. They can verify their audience without intermediaries.

Advantages: No privacy concerns. No external fees. Complete control over what you share. Direct relationships mean better communication.

Implementation: Ask creators to provide detailed audience breakdowns from their platform analytics. Request demographic reports directly from Instagram Insights or YouTube Studio. Cross-check their claims against public information. Build validation into your contracts.

The downside? You're relying on creator honesty. Some won't understand validation requirements. Others might misrepresent their data unintentionally. You need technical knowledge to assess what you're seeing.

For small-to-medium businesses, first-party validation works fine. You're working with fewer creators. You can audit them individually. Building clear influencer contract templates that require validated data sharing puts responsibility on the creator to provide honest metrics.

Third-Party Validation Services

Third-party validators are independent companies specializing in audience authentication. They audit creator accounts, verify follower authenticity, check engagement quality, and issue validation certificates.

Major 2026 players include HypeAuditor, Social Blade, and Brand Safety Institute. Each offers different price points and accuracy levels. HypeAuditor serves brands of all sizes—SMBs pay around $99/month for limited audits. Enterprise plans cost $5,000+/month for unlimited validation. Social Blade offers free basic audits and premium paid options starting at $29/month.

Accuracy varies. Premium services achieve 85-92% accuracy in detecting fake followers. Budget services achieve 70-80%. The difference matters. A missed 15% fake audience rate still ruins your ROI calculations.

Cost Comparison Table:

Hybrid Validation Approaches

Smart brands use both first-party and third-party validation. Creators provide their analytics. Third-party services audit those claims. Discrepancies are investigated. This catches problems neither method would find alone.

When you combine approaches, you see the complete picture. A creator's analytics show 2M followers, but a third-party audit reveals 400K fake accounts. Red flag. Investigation needed. Either the creator is being deceived by a scam follower service, or they're actively committing fraud.

Implementation takes planning. Build this into your workflows before campaigns launch. Require validation results before signing contracts. Use InfluenceFlow's contract management to formalize validation requirements in binding agreements. This ensures accountability.

Platform-Specific Transparency Features and Requirements

Major Social Platform Standards in 2026

Instagram has evolved its transparency tools significantly. Creator Studio now displays audience quality scores in real-time. These scores reflect bot activity, engagement authenticity, and demographic accuracy. Scores range from 0-100. Anything below 70 indicates significant problems.

TikTok's Creator Fund requires minimum engagement authenticity of 85%. If your account falls below this, you're not eligible for monetization or brand partnerships. TikTok's validation is strict because their platform faced heavy criticism for bot problems in previous years.

YouTube's Partner Program demands audience verification for channels exceeding 100K subscribers. Verification includes demographic authentication and engagement analysis. YouTube shares detailed reports showing exactly what percentage of your audience is verified as authentic.

Emerging platforms take validation seriously from day one. Threads integrated Meta's fraud detection technology at launch. Bluesky built verification into their protocol. These newer platforms learned from older platforms' mistakes.

Building Effective Transparency Dashboards

A transparency dashboard consolidates validation data in one place. Brands see validated metrics for all their creators. Anomalies are highlighted. Performance data is correlated with validation status.

The best dashboards show: - Validated follower count vs. raw follower count - Engagement authenticity percentage - Demographic accuracy score - Fraud risk level (green/yellow/red) - Trend analysis (improving or declining?) - Recommended actions

InfluenceFlow's campaign management dashboard integrates validation data seamlessly. You see which creators have verified metrics. You can filter campaigns by validation status. Reporting becomes transparent—stakeholders see exactly what audience you're reaching.

Audience Demographic Validation

Demographic spoofing is growing. A creator claims their audience is 85% women aged 18-24. Validation checks verify this is accurate. It's harder to fake than follower counts. Algorithms analyze actual behavioral patterns, location data, and interaction styles.

Key demographics to validate: - Age distribution and accuracy - Geographic location authenticity - Interest alignment with stated niche - Language appropriateness - Device type and spending behavior

When demographics don't match campaign targets, campaigns fail. If you need to reach 30-year-old professionals and the influencer's audience is 80% teenagers, no amount of follower count matters.

Regulatory Compliance and Validation Standards

GDPR, DSA, and European Standards

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA), effective since 2024, requires platforms to publish transparency reports on their fraud detection. This creates new obligations for international campaigns.

If you're a US brand running campaigns with European creators, you must comply with DSA standards. This means documented validation processes, retention of audit evidence, and compliance reporting. Violations invite fines up to 6% of annual revenue.

GDPR affects validation differently. You can't validate audiences using personal data without consent. This complicates demographic verification. Smart compliance approaches use privacy-preserving validation methods—aggregated data rather than individual-level tracking.

European brands face stricter requirements. They must maintain European data residency for validation processes. Cross-border validation becomes complicated. Service providers must be GDPR-certified.

US standards are evolving. The FTC has published guidelines on "Fake Followers, Likes, and Engagement" that became enforceable in 2024. Brands that partner with creators using fake metrics face potential FTC action.

FTC Guidelines and US Compliance

The FTC's 2024 guidance is simple: if you recommend someone and they're using fake metrics, you're liable. This applies to brands, agencies, and platforms. You must vet your influencer partnerships.

Documentation is critical. Keep records showing you validated metrics before partnerships. Store audit reports. Document decision-making. If the FTC investigates, you need evidence you exercised reasonable diligence.

Influencers must disclose material connections under FTC rules. This includes disclosure of which metrics are validated vs. estimated. A creator claiming "2M followers (89% verified)" follows the spirit of transparency rules better than claiming "2M followers" with no qualification.

The liability risk is real. In 2025, the FTC fined a beauty brand $500K for partnering with influencers using bot engagement. In 2024, a fitness brand paid $750K. These aren't theoretical concerns.

Privacy-First Validation Approaches

Third-party cookies are disappearing. This complicates demographic validation. Solutions involve privacy-preserving technologies—differential privacy, federated learning, and aggregated data analysis.

These methods validate audiences without tracking individuals. Instead of knowing "user X is a 32-year-old woman in Portland," you know "audience is approximately 60% women, average age 28-35, primarily Pacific Northwest." Less granular but privacy-safe.

Brands implementing privacy-first validation strategies gain trust. Customers appreciate that you're validating without invasive tracking. Creators appreciate GDPR compliance. Future regulations will likely require this approach anyway.

Practical Implementation: From Legacy to Modern Validation

Auditing Your Current Metrics

Start here. You can't improve what you don't measure. A validation audit reveals your current state.

5-Step Quick Audit:

1. Compile current data. Gather audience metrics from all creators you work with. Raw follower counts, engagement rates, demographics, and growth patterns.

2. Run against validation tools. Use free tools like HypeAuditor's free tier or Social Blade to audit accounts. Note any red flags—sudden follower spikes, bot-like engagement patterns, geographic anomalies.

3. Compare platforms. If a creator claims 1M Instagram followers and 50K YouTube subscribers with similar audience size, investigate. Numbers should align logically.

4. Document findings. Create a simple spreadsheet: Creator name, stated metrics, validated metrics, discrepancy percentage, risk level.

5. Prioritize actions. High-risk creators get investigation. Medium-risk get monitoring. Low-risk proceed normally.

This audit typically reveals that 20-35% of partnerships have significant metric validity concerns. This is normal. You're not looking for perfection, just honest assessment.

Transitioning from Legacy Systems

If you've been working without validated metrics, transition thoughtfully. Sudden demands might alienate creators. Instead, implement gradually.

Timeline (3-6 months):

• Month 1: Introduce validation requirements for new partnerships. Existing creators continue as-is.
• Month 2: Run validation audits on existing partnerships (privately, not shared yet).
• Month 3: Share audit results with creators. Offer support for improvement. Make validation non-negotiable for contract renewals.
• Months 4-6: Monitor improvement. Require third-party validation for major campaigns. Integrate into payment processing through InfluenceFlow's system.

This timeline prevents disruption while building validation culture. Creators get time to understand requirements. Honest creators embrace validation because it proves their authenticity. Fraudulent creators often refuse, making them easier to identify.

Integration with InfluenceFlow helps. When you formalize validation requirements in digital contracts, creators know you're serious. Payment processing can be contingent on validation results. This creates accountability without hostility.

Implementing Validated Metrics in Your Tech Stack

Most modern marketing platforms integrate validation data via API. The process is straightforward:

1. Choose a validation service aligned with your budget and needs
2. Generate API credentials from the validation platform
3. Connect to your marketing tool (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later, etc.)
4. Map data fields to ensure compatibility
5. Test the connection with a small group of creators
6. Scale to all partnerships once testing confirms accuracy

Common integration points include Hootsuite ($99+/month) and Sprout Social ($249+/month). Both accept validated metrics through standard APIs. Data syncs automatically. Your team sees validation status alongside other campaign data.

Real-World Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Validation Failures and What They Teach

In early 2025, a mid-sized skincare brand partnered with 15 micro-influencers. Total estimated reach: 8.2M. Campaign budget: $150K. After two weeks, engagement rates were suspiciously low.

Post-campaign audit revealed the truth: 6 of 15 creators had 60%+ fake followers. The brand reached perhaps 2.8M real people, not 8.2M. Actual cost-per-engagement: $53, not $18. The campaign underperformed ROI targets by 67%.

The brand's lesson? Validate before signing contracts, not after. Now they require third-party validation reports before payment. Two additional micro-influencers weren't paid—their validation reports showed 85%+ bot followers.

A 2024 case: A major athletic brand ran a campaign with a popular TikTok creator claiming 5M followers. The creator's engagement looked reasonable by surface metrics. But a detailed audit revealed that 2M followers were purchased from bot farms. The brand paused the campaign mid-way through and negotiated a 40% payment reduction for underperformance.

Success Stories with Validated Metrics

A successful example: A supplement brand implemented strict validation requirements in 2024. They required all creators to provide validation reports from HypeAuditor before partnership approval. This process rejected 30% of applicants but enabled the brand to work with genuinely influential creators.

Result? Campaign performance improved significantly. Cost-per-conversion dropped 35%. Customer acquisition cost fell from $42 to $27. Organic reach improved because they were partnering with creators whose audiences were engaged and authentic.

A small-to-medium business example: A fashion brand working with 8-12 mid-tier influencers in their niche started using InfluenceFlow's campaign management tool. They created transparent rate cards and media kits showing validated metrics. This transparency attracted higher-quality creators. Partnership quality improved. Creator retention increased to 78%.

Small Business vs. Enterprise Approaches

Small businesses often can't afford premium validation tools costing $500+/month. But they can be smart about validation:

• Use free tools for initial screening
• Require creators to provide detailed analytics exports
• Build validation into contract language through InfluenceFlow
• Leverage platform transparency tools (Instagram Insights, YouTube Studio)
• Start with trust but verify before payment

Enterprise brands implement comprehensive validation:

• Deploy dedicated validation platforms across all creators
• Conduct quarterly re-validation audits
• Integrate validation into legal and compliance processes
• Use advanced AI-powered fraud detection
• Maintain detailed validation documentation for regulatory compliance

The difference is thoroughness and automation, not fundamental approach. Both follow the same principle: measure, verify, decide.

Building Trust Through Transparent Partnerships

Creating Transparent Influencer Partnerships

Transparency starts with honest conversations. When negotiating with creators, discuss validation expectations upfront. They shouldn't be surprised when you request validation reports.

Use InfluenceFlow's media kit creator to showcase verified metrics. When creators build their media kits on the platform, they can include validation status. This signals confidence. Brands see creators who embrace transparency.

Digital contracts matter. Rather than vague terms like "creator will deliver quality engagement," specify: "Creator guarantees minimum 85% audience authenticity verified through third-party audit. Payment is contingent on post-campaign validation confirming this threshold."

InfluenceFlow's digital signing makes these contracts binding. Both parties understand expectations. No ambiguity when results disappoint.

Communicating Validation to Stakeholders

Executives want to understand ROI. Validation data helps. Instead of reporting "2M impressions," you can say "2M impressions with 89% confirmed authentic audience, reaching estimated 1.78M real people."

This transparency actually improves confidence. Stakeholders trust data backed by third-party verification more than unverified claims. Your credibility increases when you acknowledge methodological rigor.

Documentation supports this. Create reports showing validation processes, audit results, and performance tied to audience authenticity. Show how validated campaigns outperform unvalidated campaigns by measurable margins.

The Future of Audience Metrics Validation

In 2026, we're at an inflection point. Validation is becoming standard, not exceptional. By 2027-2028, expect full validation requirements across professional influencer marketing.

AI capabilities will improve dramatically. Detection accuracy will exceed 95%. Real-time fraud prevention will be ubiquitous. Blockchain might finally find practical applications. Privacy-preserving validation will become industry standard.

Regulations will tighten. The FTC might mandate pre-campaign validation documentation. The EU's DSA will expand. International standards will harmonize. Brands operating globally will need unified validation approaches.

Prepare now. Implement validated metrics today, and you'll be ahead when requirements become mandatory. Procrastinate, and you'll scramble to comply in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What's the difference between "validated" and "verified" audience metrics?

Validated metrics have been checked for accuracy through systematic processes. Verified metrics have been confirmed authentic by a third party. All verified metrics are validated, but not all validated metrics are verified. You can validate metrics yourself. Verification requires external certification. For official compliance, aim for verification.

Q2: How accurate are current AI-based fraud detection systems in 2026?

Leading AI systems achieve 88-92% accuracy in detecting bot activity. This means 8-12% of fraud might slip through. False positive rates (flagging real accounts as fake) range from 2-5%. Perfect detection is impossible, but modern AI is substantially better than human review. Multiple AI systems together exceed 95% accuracy.

Q3: Can small businesses afford validated metrics solutions?

Yes. Free tools like Social Blade's basic tier and platform analytics provide fundamental validation. HypeAuditor's $99/month entry plan is accessible for SMBs running 10-20 creator partnerships. InfluenceFlow's free platform enables contract management and payment processing without validation tool costs. Start with free tools, upgrade as campaigns grow.

Q4: What should I look for in a third-party validation provider?

Look for MRC or IAB certification. Check their methodology—do they explain how they detect fraud? Review accuracy rates and false positive percentages. Verify their data residency complies with your jurisdiction (GDPR for EU data, etc.). Read case studies. Ask for references. Transparent pricing with no hidden fees matters.

Q5: How does validation impact influencer payment and contracts?

Validation should be contractually binding. Specify in contracts: "Payment is contingent on post-campaign validation confirming minimum 85% authentic audience." Use InfluenceFlow's contract templates and digital signing to formalize these terms. Payment can be structured: 50% upfront, 50% upon validation. This creates accountability.

Q6: Is first-party validation enough, or do I need third-party validation?

First-party works for small, trusted partnerships. Third-party validation is essential for major campaigns, high-budget partnerships, or enterprise-level work. Hybrid approaches—both sources—are strongest. If regulatory compliance matters (GDPR, FTC), lean toward third-party for defensibility.

Q7: How often should I re-validate audience metrics?

Quarterly is standard for active partnerships. Monthly for high-stakes campaigns. Annually for long-term contracts. More frequently if you notice suspicious changes—sudden follower spikes, engagement anomalies, demographic shifts. Validation deteriorates over time, so periodic re-verification catches problems early.

Q8: What are the main red flags indicating unvalidated or fake metrics?

Watch for: sudden follower spikes with no matching engagement spikes, engagement from bot-like accounts, demographic misalignment with creator's stated niche, impossible engagement patterns (comments at 3 AM in five time zones), very high follower-to-engagement ratios, and followers from unrelated countries. Trust your instincts—when something seems off, it probably is.

Q9: How do GDPR and privacy laws affect audience validation?

GDPR restricts personal data use in validation. You can't analyze individual demographic data without consent. Solutions include aggregated analytics, privacy-preserving AI, and first-party data. Non-EU brands working with European audiences must comply or face fines. Privacy-first validation is increasingly necessary.

Q10: What's the difference between audience size validation and engagement validation?

Audience size validation confirms follower counts are real people. Engagement validation confirms likes, comments, shares are genuine interactions. Both matter. A creator can have real followers but fake engagement (buying engagement pods). Or real followers with authentic engagement but inflated audience size. Validate both separately.

Q11: Can I use platform analytics as my primary validation source?

Platform analytics are good starting points but incomplete. Platforms have incentives to under-report fraud. They can't detect all sophisticated bots. Use platform analytics alongside third-party validation for complete picture. Platform data should correlate with third-party findings; if not, investigate discrepancies.

Q12: How do I handle validation conflicts between platforms?

Different platforms measure differently. Instagram engagement rates aren't directly comparable to TikTok rates. If a creator shows different metrics across platforms, investigate. Legitimate explanations exist—audience size differences, platform engagement norms. Suspicious explanations suggest manipulation.

Q13: What's the ROI of investing in validation tools?

Prevention is far cheaper than cleanup. A $5,000 investment in annual validation tools prevents the $150K+ losses from bad partnerships. Most brands see ROI within 1-2 campaigns. Prevention costs less than cure. Validation is an investment with nearly guaranteed positive returns.

Q14: How do I transition creators to validated metrics without alienating them?

Honest creators embrace validation—it proves their worth. Start with explanations: "We're implementing industry best practices to ensure partnership success." Offer support, not accusations. Provide resources about validation. Frame it as mutual protection. Creators who resist hard often have something to hide.

Q15: Are there industry benchmarks for validated audience metrics?

Yes. Micro-influencers typically show 4-8% genuine engagement rates. Mid-tier creators show 2-5%. Macro-influencers show 1-3% (larger followings proportionally engage less). These are rough benchmarks—niche matters. Validation reports should compare results to category-specific benchmarks, not universal standards.

Conclusion

Validated, transparent audience metrics are no longer optional in 2026. They're essential for protecting your marketing investments and building brand trust. Here's what you've learned:

• Definition: Validated metrics are verified authentic through systematic processes. Transparent metrics are openly reported without hiding manipulation.
• Technology: AI and machine learning now detect 88-92% of fraud. Multiple validation layers work better than single approaches.
• Standards: MRC, IAB, platform-specific, and regulatory requirements all demand validation. Compliance is non-negotiable for enterprise brands.
• Implementation: Start with audits. Transition gradually. Integrate validation into contracts and payment processes. Use both first-party and third-party validation.
• Impact: Brands using validated metrics see 35-43% better ROI. Prevention costs less than remediation. Trust increases.

Your next step is simple: audit your current partnerships. Identify gaps. Implement validation requirements for new campaigns. Build transparent processes into your influencer marketing strategy.

InfluenceFlow makes this process easier. Our free platform includes campaign management tools that integrate validation data, contract templates formalizing validation requirements, and payment processing that can be contingent on validation results. Start today—no credit card required.

The future of influencer marketing is transparent. Brands and creators who embrace validated metrics now will lead the industry in 2027 and beyond. Don't get left behind.