Proving Value in EdTech: Futuresource Explores Impact in New Future Sessions Video

As schools, investors and solution providers face growing pressure, academia has moved beyond asking whether EdTech works, and is now concerned with how well it performs, in which contexts, and at what cost.  

That shift sits at the centre of the latest Future Sessions video from Futuresource Consulting, where analysts explore why impact has become one of the defining issues in education technology. The release of the video also marks the launch of Futuresource’s new EdTech Impact Service, designed to help the education market measure, interpret and communicate the real value of technology investment. 

From EdTech adoption to full accountability 

For years, the EdTech conversation was centred on access and adoption. Today, the focus is narrowing. Schools, investors and solution providers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes that are measurable and meaningful. That means there’s a need to understand not only whether technology can support learning, but where it delivers the greatest value. 

“EdTech has moved beyond the point of broad justification,” says Melanie Tagg, Principal Analyst-Head of Education at Futuresource Consulting. “The real challenge now is much more nuanced. It’s about understanding what works, for whom, and under what conditions. That requires sophisticated analysis and a more detailed interpretation of the results.” 

Turning data into actionable insights 

One of the core challenges highlighted in the new Future Sessions episode is the gap between evidence and application. Impact data often exists, but it is frequently too high-level, too fragmented or too removed from the realities of the classroom to support confident decision-making. As a result, schools and stakeholders are left navigating a complex landscape without clear, practical guidance. 

Futuresource’s Impact Service has been developed to address that gap, helping translate research into insight. By combining robust analysis with deep sector expertise, the service makes sense of how EdTech contributes to teacher efficiency, student outcomes and overall educational effectiveness. It also makes the evidence more accessible to those making purchasing and implementation decisions. 

A more disciplined EdTech market 

Public funding, private capital and institutional budgets are all under greater scrutiny, increasing the need for clearer frameworks around value and performance. In this environment, broad claims are no longer sufficient. Evidence must be specific, contextual and actionable. 

“The market is becoming more accountable,” says Tagg. “Technology still has a huge role to play in education, but stakeholders are asking harder questions about impact. The ability to answer those questions clearly is becoming a critical differentiator.” 

Futuresource Consulting’s new Impact Service is designed to help budget holders, school leaders and technology providers assess effectiveness, reduce uncertainty in decision-making and build stronger, evidence-based cases for investment. 

The latest Future Sessions video explores why this shift matters now, and what the next phase of impact measurement in EdTech needs to look like. Watch the latest Futuresource Future Sessions video to see why impact is moving to the centre of the EdTech conversation, and how Futuresource’s Impact Service is helping to make it visible here.