Product Roadmap Update
iSAMS by IRIS continues to develop its school management information system, with a growing emphasis on platform modernisation, user experience, analytics and closer integration across school operations.
The company maintains an active customer-facing roadmap, supported by regular product webinars and an Ideas Portal through which schools can propose and vote on development priorities.
The most recent dedicated roadmap webinar identified publicly was held on 24 June 2026. Detailed roadmap information remains primarily accessible to customers through the iCommunity portal.
However, recent announcements from Nicholas Clark, Product Director for iSAMS, provide further insight into the company’s development direction, particularly its plans for a substantial evolution of the core iSAMS platform.
1. Modernising the core iSAMS platform
One of the most significant developments is a planned overhaul of the main iSAMS interface and underlying workflows.
In his article The Road to the Next iSAMS Starts Here, Nicholas Clark describes an evolution of the platform intended to make it more intuitive and easier to navigate while retaining the depth and configurability valued by schools.
Key development priorities include:
- Modernising the user interface and everyday workflows.
- Improving search and information discovery, including work informed by the existing Query Builder.
- Simplifying the teacher experience.
- Improving the experience for parents, students and administrators.
- Involving customers in beta testing and product design.
iSAMS has also announced a programme of communications designed to provide greater visibility of its development priorities and the thinking behind future changes.
2. Student and Parent Cloud Portals
The redesigned Student Cloud Portal provides access to key school information, including timetables, attendance, homework, examinations and notices.
The portal forms part of a wider programme to improve how students and parents interact with school information and services.
iSAMS has indicated that further improvements to the student and parent experience form part of its continuing platform development.
3. Analytics and reporting – iSAMS Central
iSAMS Central remains a significant strategic development area, particularly for school groups and multi-campus organisations.
The platform encompasses several complementary capabilities:
- Central Analytics: Dashboards and reporting to provide visibility of performance across individual schools and groups.
- Central Connect: Secure access to data across the organisation, supporting deeper analysis and reporting.
- Central Manage: Greater consistency and central control over configurations and reporting structures across multiple schools.
Recent product information highlights the availability of Gradebook Characteristics management within Central Manage.
Two webinars scheduled for 14 October 2026 will provide further information about Central’s analytics capabilities and its application to school groups.
iSAMS has also signalled a longer-term vision for AI-powered insights and enhanced group-level intelligence. These should be regarded as future development ambitions rather than confirmed product releases.
4. APIs and interoperability
Integration remains an important component of the iSAMS proposition.
The platform supports third-party connectivity through its established APIs and developer resources, enabling schools to connect iSAMS with other systems and services.
Central Connect also forms part of this strategy by providing secure access to information across school groups.
The wider IRIS ecosystem creates opportunities for integration with complementary services, including finance, HR, payroll and asset management. However, specific new integrations and delivery dates require confirmation from IRIS.
5. Customer-led development
Customer involvement continues to be central to the iSAMS development approach.
Through its Ideas Portal, schools can suggest enhancements and vote on development priorities.
The company has also highlighted customer participation in the redesign of the teacher experience and future search functionality, with beta opportunities forming part of its wider modernisation programme.
The increased public discussion of development priorities suggests a move towards greater transparency around the roadmap, although the detailed delivery schedule remains primarily customer-facing.
Upcoming Webinar
Webinar: See every school, in one place: iSAMS Central for school groups
As school groups grow, maintaining consistency, visibility and control across multiple campuses becomes increasingly challenging. Different configurations, disconnected reporting and varying processes can make it difficult to gain a clear picture of performance across your organisation.
Join the iSAMS team for an exclusive look at iSAMS Central, our platform designed specifically for school groups and multi-campus organisations. We’ll explore how Central Manage helps central teams standardise and govern key configurations across all schools, while Central Connect provides secure access to group-wide data for deeper analysis and reporting.
When: Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 AM
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b4e65bae-2be6-41d2-832a-b9b863ea27a9@7c3e7564-9bb8-411a-9ce2-775ceabd88be/registration
WhichMIS? View
The most significant development in the iSAMS roadmap is arguably the proposed modernisation of the core platform rather than the introduction of individual new modules.
iSAMS has traditionally served independent and international schools with complex operational requirements, and the challenge will be to deliver a more modern and intuitive experience without compromising the functionality and flexibility on which those schools depend.
The continuing investment in Central also suggests that school groups and multi-campus organisations remain an important strategic market.
The commitment to involving customers in product development is encouraging, as is the move towards greater public visibility of the roadmap.
However, schools evaluating iSAMS will want clarity on delivery timescales, the scope of the proposed interface changes, migration arrangements and the availability of new functionality.
WhichMIS? would welcome further detail from IRIS on its planned releases and delivery milestones for 2026–27.