You've probably seen it hundreds of times without noticing: a small seal with the acronym "ISO 9001" on a company's website, at the bottom of an invoice, on the side of a truck, or at the entrance of a factory. Behind this seemingly discreet mark is a very specific commitment: that the organization displaying it works following an orderly method to do things right, detect errors before they reach the customer, and continuously improve.
This standard—the most widely used international quality reference on the planet, present in over a million organizations in about 190 countries—is about to get a new version.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the body that publishes it, plans to release the updated edition in September 2026.
Why change a working standard
The current version dates from 2015. In a decade, the world in which companies operate has transformed: digitalization has become widespread, artificial intelligence has entered work processes, sustainability has moved from being a voluntary gesture to a demand from customers and administrations, and the pandemic and supply chain crises have shown how fragile supplier chains can be.
It's worth clarifying a point that often causes confusion: the new version does not require companies to start from scratch. Certification bodies agree that it is an update of approach rather than a complete rewrite. Those who already comply correctly with the current version will need to make adjustments, not a radical transformation.
People and ethics
More weight is given to internal culture, leadership, and ethical behavior as part of quality, not just written procedures.
Resilience against unforeseen events. The ability of companies to anticipate disruptions and maintain control over their suppliers is strengthened.
Three years to adapt
Companies that already have the certificate need not worry: once the new standard is published, a transition period of approximately three years will open, until the end of 2029, during which current certificates will remain valid and organizations can adapt in an orderly manner.
Qmkey is a platform that supports organizations in these types of processes. Its software allows for cloud-based quality system management.
"The update of a standard like ISO 9001 is not just a matter for quality managers: it affects how companies demonstrate that they deserve their customers' trust," they point out from Qmkey.
"Our goal is to make the transition as simple and orderly as possible, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises."
This standard—the most widely used international quality reference on the planet, present in over a million organizations in about 190 countries—is about to get a new version.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the body that publishes it, plans to release the updated edition in September 2026.
Why change a working standard
The current version dates from 2015. In a decade, the world in which companies operate has transformed: digitalization has become widespread, artificial intelligence has entered work processes, sustainability has moved from being a voluntary gesture to a demand from customers and administrations, and the pandemic and supply chain crises have shown how fragile supplier chains can be.
It's worth clarifying a point that often causes confusion: the new version does not require companies to start from scratch. Certification bodies agree that it is an update of approach rather than a complete rewrite. Those who already comply correctly with the current version will need to make adjustments, not a radical transformation.
People and ethics
More weight is given to internal culture, leadership, and ethical behavior as part of quality, not just written procedures.
Resilience against unforeseen events. The ability of companies to anticipate disruptions and maintain control over their suppliers is strengthened.
Three years to adapt
Companies that already have the certificate need not worry: once the new standard is published, a transition period of approximately three years will open, until the end of 2029, during which current certificates will remain valid and organizations can adapt in an orderly manner.
Qmkey is a platform that supports organizations in these types of processes. Its software allows for cloud-based quality system management.
"The update of a standard like ISO 9001 is not just a matter for quality managers: it affects how companies demonstrate that they deserve their customers' trust," they point out from Qmkey.
"Our goal is to make the transition as simple and orderly as possible, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises."
