L&D is struggling to cope with the pace of change, Latest Fosway Group research finds
Fosway Group, Europe’s #1 HR industry analyst, has revealed the headline insights from its annual Digital Learning Realities research, in association with Learning Technologies, the world’s leading workplace learning tech event. Now in its 12th year, the research explores how L&D teams are meeting the challenges of a fast-changing business and tech landscape.
Our key headline doesn’t come as a surprise. Budgets are shrinking, expectations are rising, and keeping pace with a learning landscape experiencing ever more rapid change is proving difficult. AI is transforming L&D teams - as well as the expectations of learners - and so inevitably, AI is now top of the strategic priority list.
But many L&D teams are struggling.
Embracing AI — and realising its productivity gains and cost savings — demands a rethink of skills strategy and, in many cases, a fundamental overhaul of the L&D operating model. Yet too many teams remain focused on productivity and content creation, when AI’s greater potential lies in wider transformation.
The hard truth is that the learner landscape is changing with or without the L&D team. So, it’s time for L&D leaders to reframe their role and L&D value proposition. At a time when AI is transforming what learning means, leaders have an opportunity to step up and be true strategic enablers.
This year’s research is split into three clusters: L&D Strategy and Resourcing, AI Value, and Ecosystem and Learning Experience, with the first cluster of results going live on 1 July 2026 download them here.
“As Fosway marks 30 years, we have gone deeper than ever into the realities of corporate learning. What we’re seeing is different from anything we’ve seen before. The old rules are being ripped up,” said David Perring, Chief Insights Officer of Fosway Group. “Learning teams are undergoing major shifts — from the technologies that enable effective development, L&D team skills, the learning tech ecosystem, and what is needed in the modern learning experience. AI is the catalyst for much of this rethinking, and this year’s Digital Learning Realities research provides a forensic view of what that means in practice.
“It’s that depth of insight that makes Fosway the go-to advisors for corporate learning. Because at a time of huge hype and uncertainty, it’s our deep understanding that helps you navigate to the best choices.”
As part of Fosway Group’s support for its corporate members they are also building new Digital Learning Realities benchmarking reports, so members can compare their position on strategy, priorities, AI, budget and learning technology maturity to the rest of the corporate respondents. Coupled with that, the 2026 Phase of the Fosway AI Insights research programme is now open for collaboration. To view the publicly available papers published so far, visit our AI hub here.