{"id":234304,"date":"2026-02-17T20:44:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T19:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itta.net\/?p=234304"},"modified":"2026-02-20T11:06:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:06:49","slug":"itil-5-whats-new-in-itil-version-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itta.net\/en\/blog\/itil-5-whats-new-in-itil-version-5\/","title":{"rendered":"ITIL 5: What\u2019s New in ITIL Version 5?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The world of IT service management<\/strong> has just turned an important page. Announced in January 2026 by PeopleCert<\/strong>, ITIL 5<\/strong> (or ITIL version 5) marks a major evolution of the most widely used framework in the world for ITSM (IT Service Management). Why this update? Because artificial intelligence is reshaping operating models, organizations have become digital first, and the boundary between digital products and services has almost disappeared. With an estimated total of more than three million certified professionals<\/strong> worldwide (itil.com<\/a>), this new version directly affects IT teams in Switzerland and beyond. So, what exactly changes with ITIL version 5<\/strong>? And how can you prepare without losing the value of your current certifications?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"itil<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contents:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. First of all, what is ITIL?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Why was a new version necessary?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Key new features in ITIL 5<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. ITIL 4 vs ITIL 5: detailed comparison table<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The new ITIL 5 certification pathway<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Training in ITIL 5 in French-speaking Switzerland with ITTA<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. What impact for IT professionals in Switzerland?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Should you move to ITIL 5 now?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    First of all, what is ITIL?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before diving into what\u2019s new, a quick refresher is useful. ITIL<\/strong> (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a global framework for IT service management<\/strong>. Originally developed by the UK government in the 1980s, it provides best practices to align IT services with business needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Over the decades, ITIL has evolved. Version 3 structured everything around a service lifecycle. ITIL 4<\/strong>, released in 2019, modernized the approach by introducing the Service Value System (SVS)<\/strong>, the service value chain<\/strong>, the seven guiding principles<\/strong>, and 34 management practices. This version also integrated Agile, DevOps and Lean<\/strong> methodologies into the framework (PeopleCert, 2026<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But the digital landscape has changed at an incredible pace since 2019. And that is precisely the reason for ITIL 5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"what<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why was a new version necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The global ITSM market is expanding rapidly. According to estimates from Grand View Research<\/strong>, it was worth around USD 13.5 billion in 2024<\/strong> and is expected to reach USD 29.9 billion by 2030<\/strong>, with annual growth of 14.4% (Grand View Research, 2025<\/a>). This growth is driven by digital transformation<\/strong>, cloud adoption, and above all the rise of artificial intelligence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Organizations no longer manage only traditional IT services. They run digital products<\/strong>, automated workflows, and hybrid operating models. AI is transforming operations deeply, and an increasing share of ITSM solutions on the market now include AI capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As relevant as it is, ITIL 4 was not designed for an AI-first, product-centered world. That\u2019s why an evolution was needed. And it truly is an evolution rather than a revolution: ITIL 5 builds on ITIL 4<\/strong> instead of starting from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Key new features in ITIL 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now to the heart of the topic. Here is what distinguishes version 5<\/strong> from its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An AI-first approach built in by design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This is probably the most striking change. ITIL 5 puts AI front and center in its positioning<\/strong> and is expected to include structured guidance around AI governance and operational use. Artificial intelligence is no longer an optional add-on but a core element of the framework. In practice, this means the framework provides guidance to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n