Smartsheet named Gartner leader as it expands AI tools

Smartsheet has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Collaborative Work Management, marking its fourth consecutive year in the Leaders quadrant.

The designation comes as the work management software provider expands its artificial intelligence features and adds new planning and reporting tools for large organisations.

Recent product updates include the general availability of Smart Assist, an AI feature integrated into planning and workflow processes, and the launch of its Model Context Protocol Server. The server is designed to let customers use their preferred AI systems within Smartsheet workspaces while keeping those environments governed.

Smartsheet said these AI-related features are on track to support more than 100 million AI requests each year. It has also introduced Scenario Planning and portfolio reporting tools for large cross-functional teams.

AI expansion

Smartsheet is positioning these additions as part of a broader push to connect AI more closely to operational work. According to the Gartner report cited by the company, collaborative work management platforms increasingly link team productivity with operational work and AI-supported execution, enabling users to plan, coordinate and automate work.

Used by more than 85% of the Fortune 500, Smartsheet is underscoring its focus on large corporate customers. Its latest product announcements suggest it is trying to deepen that foothold by offering AI tools within existing work processes rather than as separate applications.

Pratima Arora, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Smartsheet, linked the latest recognition to that strategy.

"We believe being recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Collaborative Work Management for four consecutive years reflects the value we deliver as our customers scale," said Pratima Arora, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Smartsheet.

"That value comes from depth, not just scale. We've made our platform's understanding of how work gets done available to the AI tools our customers already use. Our goal isn't to build another assistant, but to give any AI that same context. That's the foundation we're building on as we help enterprise teams around the world execute with more clarity, control and speed," Arora said.

Enterprise focus

The latest updates suggest Smartsheet is trying to address a common issue for large companies adopting AI: many deployments remain tied to individual tasks rather than to the systems and processes that govern day-to-day operations. Smartsheet argues this can create a disconnect between management intent and execution.

By adding governance controls and organisational context to AI use within projects and portfolios, the company is trying to make the technology part of routine business activity. The approach also reflects growing customer demand for stronger oversight of how AI tools are used in corporate environments.

Smartsheet also pointed to customer feedback on Gartner Peer Insights as evidence of the model's appeal. One IT Manager described the software as a "core platform for collaboration, process improvement and decision making" and said it provides "the security and governance needed for sensitive business information while still being accessible enough for teams to adopt."

The Gartner Magic Quadrant is widely followed by technology buyers and software vendors as a benchmark for assessing suppliers in specific markets. Placement in the Leaders quadrant can support a vendor's position in enterprise procurement discussions, particularly in sectors where product maturity and long-term direction are closely scrutinised.

For Smartsheet, the latest ranking comes as work management software providers face pressure to show how AI can be applied in practical business settings. Its recent product changes suggest it sees controlled deployment, organisational context and portfolio-level visibility as central to that effort.

Together, Smart Assist, the Model Context Protocol Server, Scenario Planning and portfolio reporting form the core of Smartsheet's current pitch to large customers seeking tighter links between project execution, oversight and AI use.