Differentiating with custom software
A 2026 report on the new priorities shaping higher education technology strategy
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Report overview
Educational institutions are navigating a period of deliberate transformation.
As expectations around student experience rise and AI accelerates change, institutions are rethinking how technology can create competitive advantage. But modernisation is not simply about adopting new tools. It is about balancing innovation with the realities of governance, budget scrutiny, legacy systems and operational complexity.
This data-driven report explores how education providers are approaching custom software development as a strategic differentiator, revealing where institutions are investing, where challenges remain and what is required to deliver measurable, lasting value.
As expectations around student experience rise and AI accelerates change, institutions are rethinking how technology can create competitive advantage. But modernisation is not simply about adopting new tools. It is about balancing innovation with the realities of governance, budget scrutiny, legacy systems and operational complexity.
This data-driven report explores how education providers are approaching custom software development as a strategic differentiator, revealing where institutions are investing, where challenges remain and what is required to deliver measurable, lasting value.
Key findings
42%
of education leaders says finding it difficult to integrate agentic AI with legacy systems.
47%
expect to adopt AI in custom software development within the next six to 12 months.
82%
feel their current technology stacks aren’t ready for an AI-first world
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What’s inside
By downloading this report, you’ll discover:- Why student and user experience is driving custom software investment
- How institutions are managing governance, accountability and risk
- Where internal capability gaps are slowing delivery
- Why hybrid delivery models are becoming the norm
- How AI is accelerating software modernisation
- What defines long-term value beyond cost savings
This report covers:
- 1000 enterprise IT decision-makers surveyed globally
- Organisations with 500 – 9,999 employees
- Regions covered: EMEA, North America and APAC
- Leadership level: Board members, C-suite executives, senior management and mid-level managers
- Departments: IT, DevOps, data and analytics, engineering and project management
- 116 education leaders
- Additional insights from independent software vendors (ISVs)
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