Evolution of the ISO 9001:2015 standard towards ISO 9001:2026

1. What is ISO 9001: definition

ISO 9001 is an international quality management standard designed to ensure that products and services meet the requirements of customers and stakeholders, while adhering to management principles such as customer focus, leadership, people engagement, process management and continuous improvement. It establishes a framework for optimising organisation, ensuring compliance, enhancing customer satisfaction and promoting operational excellence.

The next revision of ISO 9001-2026, expected to be published in 2026 (probably in October), is progressing towards the final draft stage and is expected to have the same structure while offering modernisations.

Why these changes?

The previous version of ISO 9001 dates back to 2015.
Since 2015, many societal and social changes have taken place. For example:
In the digital sphere: data has become a major issue, as have cyber security and artificial intelligence.
New customer expectations: huge growth in e-commerce, increasing importance of social media and the customer experience designed as an omnichannel experience.
Climate and sustainability: these current issues and their consequences must also be integrated into corporate strategy and therefore into the ISO9001 standard.
Resilience to crises: implementing health and geopolitical risks and supply chain disruption issues.

2. Main changes expected for ISO 9001:2026

The changes in version 2026 are gradual but strategic, focusing on seven key areas:

1. Integration of climate change.

   As in ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, climate risks and opportunities must now be integrated into the organisation’s strategy (clause 4.1). This revision is based on the 2024 amendments, which require organisations to take climate-related risks and opportunities into account in their strategic vision, thereby strengthening environmental responsibility within management systems in general.

2. Strengthened leadership and quality culture.

   Article 5.1.1 specifies that managers must embody and promote ethics and a culture of quality at all levels. Leadership is no longer just responsible, but exemplary: it sets the tone and embodies the expected behaviours. A few examples are provided to managers to demonstrate their commitment.

3. Quality policy and strategic alignment.

   Quality policy and strategic alignment.

4. Optimised risk and opportunity management

   The reorganisation of clause 6.1 makes it easier to distinguish between risks and anticipate major opportunities for resilience. From 2026 onwards, the standard should explicitly separate the analysis of risks and opportunities in order to help organisations structure their approach, reporting and management in these two areas.

5. Employee awareness and engagement

   Awareness requirements have been expanded; quality culture and ethics must be known, understood and practised in the field. According to clause 7.3, employees must adopt behaviours that promote quality and integrity at work.

6. Technology: digitalisation, data and digital tool management.

   The standard recognises the importance of cybersecurity, software reliability and data management in measuring and controlling quality. These new requirements involve validating the digital tools used for quality management in order to guarantee the reliability and cybersecurity of processes.

7. Sustainability and stakeholders

   The expansion of the ESG (environmental, social, governance) scope now requires the inclusion of specific environmental and social performance indicators in the quality strategy, facilitating cross-functional reporting with ISO 14001 and 45001 standards.

8. Harmonisation and improved guidelines

   The addition of practical examples and improved compatibility with ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 45001 (safety) standards simplify system integration.

3. What steps should be taken to prepare for this?

• Conduct a gap analysis in relation to the new requirements.
• Update the quality documentation and review the documentation scheme.
• Train teams, particularly senior management and managers, in quality culture, ethics and resilience.
• Adapt supply chain and supplier management to anticipate disruptions.
• Strengthen the validation of digital tools (software, AI) used to manage quality.
• Integrate customer satisfaction and feedback loops into QMS management.

4. What are the risks and opportunities associated with this update to the ISO 9001 standard?

Opportunity for improvement of the ISO 9001 standard :

• The standard proposes a sustainable, modern quality system that is connected to current issues.
• Concern for strategic alignment with the expectations of customers and stakeholders.
• More visible leadership, a culture of quality and ethics valued.
• Increased resilience to supply chain risks.
• Facilitated synergy with ISO 14001/45001 for multi-system organisations.

Risks or negative points:

• Transition costs (process updates, training, gap analysis).
• Transition costs (process updates, training, gap analysis).
• Concepts that are sometimes abstract or difficult to implement in practice (quality culture, climate context).

In conclusion: why and how should you prepare for the changes to the ISO 9001 standard and maintain your certification? Here are a few tips 👇

The new ISO 9001:2026 version is not a complete overhaul of ISO 9001:2015. It builds on the latter and develops it further by incorporating current issues such as technological change and climate and societal challenges.

The revision aims to update the standard so that it remains relevant to technological changes, new customer expectations, and climate and societal issues. After official publication in September 2026, organisations will have three years to migrate to the requirements of the new standard, with the 2015 version remaining valid until 2029.

Key steps to prepare effectively:

• Update the analysis of the context, particularly climate and ESG.
• Review how management promotes a culture of quality.
• Modernise the management of data, tools and technological biases.
• Boost customer and stakeholder engagement, strengthen risk planning and resilience.
• Follow the resources, guides, and transition training offered by certification bodies.

In conclusion: ISO 9001:2026 modernises quality by strengthening customer culture, ethics, resilience and digitalisation. The key is proactivity – engaging management, raising staff awareness and consolidating the value of the QMS in the service of customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

Novallia supports you in understanding the new challenges posed by the standard and, thanks to its network of partners, will accompany you through the transition to 2026. Contact us!