The compliance landscape is ever-changing. We surveyed over 100 compliance, L&D and training professionals from a diverse range of organisations on the future of compliance.
Skillcast has been delivering learning and technology for 25 years, and we wanted to build on this by investigating the future of compliance. To add to the conversation, we believe that this future is shaped by the four main pillars of innovation, data-led regulation, culture, conduct and ethics, as well as value.
Our benchmarking survey aims to investigate these themes year-on-year to help shape, guide and inform our learning content and our technology and product initiatives. We analyse the benchmarking results with comparison to last year to identify trends.
Future of compliance survey highlights
The findings indicate that many organisations are gradually modernising their compliance and training programmes, though some areas need more focus. Our benchmarking survey asked 17 questions across key themes of innovation, data-led regulation, culture and cost management, aiming to provide insight into how these areas impact the future of compliance. Here are some highlights from our respondents:
- 51% don't use AI tools to support control measures, down 57% in 2025
- High use of Excel spreadsheets to collate compliance data remains, although down from 81% in 2025
- Manual processes are the biggest challenge in meeting compliance goals
1. Innovation
The Innovation section of our survey highlights how organisations are increasingly modernising compliance and training practices, but also underscores areas where progress remains uneven. Many firms still under‑utilise reinforcement techniques that help embed learning, and formal evaluation of training impact is inconsistent. This means that many cannot clearly demonstrate how training changes behaviour or reduces risk.
AI usage in compliance and training is growing, but remains cautious: use of AI in training and awareness rose from around 10% to 22% in 2026, yet over half of organisations still do not use AI at all. This cautious adoption reflects concerns about governance, risk and regulatory sensitivity, especially in sectors like financial services, where 61% report no AI use compared with 39% in non‑financial services.
The report suggests that where technology such as AI is paired with clear measurement and governance frameworks, it has the potential to personalise learning and drive engagement but barriers around trust and implementation persist.
2. Data-led compliance
The report highlights continued reliance on traditional approaches such as spreadsheets and email for collecting and managing compliance data. This manual handling can constrain enterprise‑wide visibility and slow reporting processes, even as automation and better tools begin to make inroads.
Nearly half of respondents reported receiving substantial ad‑hoc regulatory requests in the past year, showing how data maturity affects an organisation’s ability to respond to regulators. Improving the quality and consistency of compliance data is viewed as a key enabler for better governance reporting and more actionable performance insight.
3. Value for money
Fewer firms now report frozen budgets than in previous years, although overall capacity for investment remains limited. There is a strong emphasis on justifying compliance expenditure in terms of risk mitigation, regulatory readiness and operational effectiveness, rather than purely as a cost centre.
The pressure to demonstrate value is heightened where formal measures of training impact are lacking, making clear, data‑backed narratives around compliance outcomes especially important for securing leadership support.
4. Culture, conduct & ethics
The Culture, Conduct & Ethics pillar highlights leadership's role in shaping compliance culture. Only around 40% of boards regularly participate in training or development, which can weaken consistent "tone from the top." In contrast, almost 70% of senior managers are actively engaged in promoting compliance, signalling a positive shift toward shared accountability across organisations.
The report also reveals variation in how organisations handle reporting channels for breaches and concerns: only 46% offer an anonymous hotline, which may limit employees' willingness to speak up. These patterns suggest that while leadership involvement and accountability have improved, there is still scope to strengthen cultural tools and communication channels that support ethical behaviour and robust compliance practices.
How to navigate the future of compliance
1. Reinforce learning beyond initial training
Many organisations deliver compliance training, but underuse reinforcement methods. To improve retention and real-world application, firms should integrate refresher modules, scenario-based exercises, and frequent microlearning touchpoints. Reinforcement ensures that key messages are consistently applied in day-to-day decision-making rather than forgotten after a single course.
2. Formalise evaluation of training impact
About 25% of organisations don't formally measure the business impact of compliance training. To improve this, organisations should agree a small set of outcome measures, such as behavioural indicators, control performance, and trends in incidents or queries, improve tracking beyond spreadsheets where possible, and provide clear, board-ready reporting.
This approach allows organisations to evidence the effectiveness of training, identify gaps, and prioritise interventions that deliver the greatest value, creating a stronger link between compliance learning and measurable business outcomes.
3. Increase leadership visibility and engagement
The report shows that board-level participation is only around 40%, while senior management engagement is higher. Stronger involvement from leadership reinforces the tone from the top, drives accountability, and embeds compliance into organisational culture. Training that includes leadership endorsement or participation is more likely to be taken seriously and applied across the organisation.
Compliance made simple
We are making compliance simpler for both learners and leaders by adopting strategies that enhance accessibility and effectiveness.
For learners
Shorter courses provide a focused and time-efficient learning experience, while simplified content ensures clarity and ease of understanding. Leveraging AI fosters an inquisitive culture, encouraging proactive engagement with compliance topics.
For compliance leaders
Smooth onboarding ensures that new team members quickly understand compliance requirements, minimising disruption and accelerating integration.
Clear manager dashboards provide a comprehensive view of all compliance activities, enabling leaders to monitor progress, identify gaps, and maintain control effortlessly. Actionable data further empowers leaders to make informed decisions, addressing risks proactively and ensuring compliance.
We offer various options to meet you where your organisation where it is at:
Looking for more compliance insights?
Our Essentials Library contains e-learning content designed to help organisations meet fundamental compliance requirements. If you’re looking for focused training, our training packages offer a complete solution for your compliance programme.
Our e-learning courses are designed to engage employees with our microlearning library, which was created to support knowledge retention. In addition, our Compliance Portal also features a range of tools to digitise and automate your compliance learning.
If you would like to access leading insights and compliance tips, you can browse our free resources by topic to find guides, modules, compliance bites and more.
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