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Differentiating with custom software

A 2026 report on the new priorities shaping higher education technology strategy. 

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Get the 2026 CSD report

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 twelve months.

82%

feel their current technology stacks aren't ready for an AI-first world.

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.

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 riskWhere 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

Whats inside (3)

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 leadersAdditional insights from independent software vendors (ISVs)
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Download the education report to explore the trends shaping custom software development in 2026.

Insights

Expert insights, practical value

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Cloud migration without ‘the fear’ – Practical insights moving a major VLE to AWS

Sometimes it’s easy to under-appreciate a virtual learning environment until you put it through a full cloud migration, modernisation, and the controlled chaos of peak student enrolment. Working with The Open University to migrate and modernise their Moodle-based platforms to AWS – including the core VLE, OpenSTEM Labs and OpenLearn – gave us a front-row seat to what it really takes to future-proof large-scale digital learning. This is not just a story about moving servers; it is about reshaping how learning experiences are delivered, operated and evolved. If you’re considering migrating your education platform to the cloud, here are some practical insights to help you approach the process with confidence and clarity.

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Building a modern SIS and LMS: Custom where it counts 

If you’ve ever tried to force an ‘out of the box’ monolithic student information system (SIS) or learning management system (LMS) into your university, you’ll no doubt have experienced for yourself the missed deadlines, fragile integrations, and a campus-wide chorus of “this isn’t what we asked for.” The good news? You don’t need another ‘Big Bang’ to create a solution that meets all your needs, and you probably don’t even need to rip out and replace your off-the-shelf solution either.

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