Preparing for ISO 9001:2026. Here’s everything you need to know.

ISO 9001 is the world’s most widely adopted quality management standard, providing a framework for organisations to ensure consistent quality in their products and services. First published in 1987 and most recently revised in 2015, ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for a quality management system (QMS) and is based on principles like customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management.

Over a million organisations across 170 countries use ISO 9001 to demonstrate their commitment to quality and continual improvement. But like all standards, it must evolve to stay relevant – that’s where ISO 9001:2026 comes in. In this article, we’ll discuss the upcoming changes to ISO 9001, as well as what businesses need to do to prepare for the transition to ISO 9001:2026.

Upcoming changes

The ISO 9001:2026 revision is currently under development by the International Organization for Standardization , the technical committee responsible for quality management and quality assurance standards. Although nothing is certain yet,  experts believe that the 2026 updated standard  will reflect global changes in technology, industry practices, and stakeholder expectations.

It is likely that the core structure of the standard won’t change – instead, revisions will be made to the previous high-level structure to reflect the harmonised structure used in the recent update to ISO 27001:2022.

The updates are still being considered by the ISO technical committee, but our experts are expecting significant updates in these main areas:

• Greater emphasis on digital transformation and data analytics.
• Stronger integration of risk-based thinking and risk management across the QMS.
• Enhanced focus on sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations.
• Refined requirements for supply chain and external provider management.
• A stronger link to business performance and strategic direction.

Why are these changes taking place?

The revision of ISO 9001 is driven by several key factors:

• Changing business environments: globalised supply chains, and rising customer expectations demand more agile and responsive QMS structures.
• Evolving technology: technology has changed so much in the past 10 years, this will no doubt impact how we work and how quality management systems function.
• Increased use of data: organisations are leveraging big data and analytics for decision-making, and the standard must accommodate this shift.
• Need for relevance: the previous revision (ISO 9001:2015) is now a decade old. A review process conducted in 2020 and 2023 indicated that updates were necessary to keep the standard future ready.

Transitioning to ISO 9001:2026

The transition period for ISO 9001:2026 is expected to be three years after its official publication. This means that certified organisations will need to update their QMS to adhere to the revised standard by around 2029. During this period, both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026 will be valid for certification.

How businesses can prepare

Getting ready for the ISO 9001:2026 revision means taking proactive steps now:

1. Stay informed: we will share updates when they are available, you can subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed, or you can check our website resources page regularly.
2. Conduct a gap analysis: compare your current QMS against the draft revisions (once available) to identify gaps.
3. Invest in training: educate your internal teams on upcoming changes, especially those in quality assurance, compliance, and operations.
4. Update documentation: begin reviewing your quality manual, procedures, and records to align with new requirements.
5. Engage leadership: reinforce the importance of quality at the strategic level and align QMS objectives with business goals.
6. Leverage technology: adopt digital tools that enhance data collection, performance monitoring, and decision-making capabilities.

How can Citation Certification help?

When the time comes to update your certification, we’ll be there to simplify the changes and get you up-to-date. In the meantime, if you want to be certified in ISO 9001:2015 – we’re all about simplifying the standards. We offer a range of training to get you started on your journey, and we have countless resources designed with beginners in mind. Contact us here to see how we can best help with your certification journey.