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Essential Software Solutions

See what manufacturers doing right and where AI pays off

Real results from plants cutting wasted hours and service costs. Free research report from Infor.

Access to the report

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH AI SOLUTIONS?

The 'Value Void': Why AI Alone Isn't Enough to Solve Manufacturers Problems

Most manufacturers are investing in AI and automation but few are seeing the returns they expected. The gap between technology spend and real-world results is what we call the Value Void.

Five root causes drive organizations into the void:

Disconnection from strategy

Tech deployed to incubate capabilities rather than solve specific operational pain points.

The digital divide


A widening gap between manufacturers who implement effectively and those still piloting.

Ambiguity and Hype


Leaders struggle to separate meaningful solutions from vendor noise.

No meaningful measures

Organizations lack the KPIs to track whether value is actually being created.

Legacy and over-customized systems

Outdated software and over-customized cloud systems block adoption at the speed of business.

See How to Tackle These Challenges

KEY BARRIER

Why Legacy Systems and Over-Customization is a Productivity Killer?

Running outdated ERP systems — or over-customized cloud platforms — is one of the most damaging and least visible barriers to productivity in manufacturing today.

Legacy, customized systems
Root cause
↓
Inability to adapt
Fails when conditions shift
Hindered innovation
Blocks new AI capabilities
↓
Fragmented data
M&A-driven ERP sprawl
↓
No single source of truth
Visibility gaps undermine decisions
↓
Long-term maintenance burden
Point solutions patch symptoms
↻ reinforces legacy debt
Click any box
Select a step on the left to see a short explanation here.

THE FRAMEWORK

What High Performers Do Differently?

High-performing manufacturers deliver 35–50% productivity gains by closing the gap between AI adoption and core business strategy.

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Productivity Gain
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Workload Reduction
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Lower Service Costs

The top-performing organizations in this research share four defining characteristics. These aren't aspirational ideals — they're operational realities that separate the leaders from the laggards.

Processes and Systems

Strong processes win the day. The most efficient manufacturers use simple, connected tools to tighten operations, improve visibility, and keep everyone on the same page — from the shop floor to accounting.

Future-Readiness

The smart ones stay flexible. They’re using Generative AI, automation, and process intelligence to adapt fast when orders change or supply gets tight — without slowing down production.

Culture of Data

They don’t guess. They trust their numbers — using automation and real-time data to spot issues early, fix problems faster, and make decisions based on facts, not gut feel.

Customer Focus

They know success isn’t just about throughput — it’s about keeping customers coming back. That means building feedback into every job and using data to anticipate needs before the phone rings.

Implement AI Successfully to Join High Performers Club

THE OPPORTUNITY

How AI Delivers the 35–50% Productivity Gain

These gains aren't theoretical. They're documented outcomes from manufacturers who integrated AI directly into core ERP systems — not as standalone tools, but as operational infrastructure.

From automating tasks to automating decisions. It's automating real business decisions on the floor — not just repetitive tasks.

See demand shifts before they become problems.One manufacturer cut tracking workload by 90% by catching anomalies automatically.

Fix it right the first time, every time. Combilift cut service costs 40% by having AI recommend the correct part on the first visit.

Orders move faster, customers get smarter recommendations.Less manual processing, more relevant upsells.

Answers, not reports.Your workforce gets real-time insight they can act on immediately — not another dashboard to interpret.

Infor customers use AI to automate their processes and lower the inventory cost

Explore AI for Your Plant

THE TOOL

The Industry Process Catalog: A Business-First Starting Point

The research is clear: a 22% gap exists between high and low performers in manufacturing on this single factor — having clear, meaningful KPIs. 

    What it does for you:

    • Ensures digital investment is tied to real business outcomes — not vendor roadmaps.
    • Translates operational gaps directly into technology requirements.
    • Highlights redundant manual steps that should be automated.
    • Identifies exactly how your processes are currently running (via process mining).

Ready to Close Your Value Void? 

Let's identify exactly where your organization is losing productivity and build a roadmap to get it back.