Global Survey Finds Edge in AI Adoption and Compliance

Aras recently wrapped up its 2025 global survey of more than 600 executives throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. Advances in artificial intelligence, interconnected supply chains, and challenges of regulatory compliance are driving industrial manufacturing, and reaching a new inflection point, according to Aras.

Results found that companies using product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions have more operational resilience, faster AI adoption, and improved compliance efficiency.However, Aras points out, organizations need more than PLM for success—they also need an adaptable and scalable PLM platform and a fully equipped digital thread.

The survey reflects three areas that point to the advantages of PLM: AI as a differentiator with increasing investment in strategy development; connected supply chains to keep a competitive edge; and a need to develop a complete digital thread.

“This study reveals a clear trajectory: companies are embracing AI, modernizing IT infrastructures, and closing the loop from design to production to recycling," says Aras CEO Roque Martin. "Those who fail to act risk being left behind in an increasingly digital world.”

What’s Driving Change

The study found that:

• 59% of companies say that AI adoption will be highly relevant to their business within 2 years
• 9 out of 10 companies acknowledge the importance of the digital thread
• 79% of companies share product design and engineering data with suppliers

AI is a rising influence in industrial manufacturing and fits with the challenges facing product development teams: reducing production costs (35%), managing product complexity (34%), and maintaining regulatory compliance (33%). reports Aras.

The digital thread also plays a role but companies still appear to struggle to use it to capcity; 46% of companies report challenges in managing product complexity, and more than a third cite connectivity as a major challenge, Aras notes. The complexity of tracking product changes across disparate systems remains a barrier to achieving a fully integrated digital thread.

Applications and Barriers to AI

AI is being used by 80% of the respondents’ companies to optimize processes, predict market trends, and determine customer needs, according to Aras. However, respondents cite barriers to scaling AI adoption, such as limited resources, budget constraints, security, and intellectual property concerns.

Other related concerns include compliance and risk management, focused on data privacy, cited as a top priority by 56% of companies, followed by product safety (54%) and ESG compliance. In addition to AI and compliance, supply chain resilience has remained a top priority since the pandemic, Aras adds.

PLM Adoption

For companies with PLM implementations, the adoption of AI in product development is 28% higher among PLM users. They are also 24% more likely to see the significance of the digital thread to their business.

To access the full report, click here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.