{"id":3666,"date":"2026-02-19T12:43:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aveso.fi\/?post_type=articles&p=3666"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:03:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:03:00","slug":"ifs-predictions-for-manufacturing-trends-in-2026-ai-becomes-part-of-everyday-processes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/aveso.fi\/en\/articles\/blogs\/artikkeli\/ifs-predictions-for-manufacturing-trends-in-2026-ai-becomes-part-of-everyday-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"IFS\u00a0Predictions\u00a0for Manufacturing Trends in 2026: AI Becomes Part of Everyday Processes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The year 2025 brought major change and new challenges to the manufacturing industry. Tariffs and export restrictions made international trade more complex<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and s<\/span>ustainability requirements<\/span>\u00a0became stricter<\/span>. Supply chains shifted quickly, and many companies struggled to adapt.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>At the same time,\u00a0<\/span>AI advanced fast<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and organizations had to keep up.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Based on IFS\u00a0<\/span>predictions<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and common market expectations, AI<\/span>\u2019s popularity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will keep growing.\u00a0<\/span>In 2026, the trend is expected to be clearly visible across manufacturing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The AI conversation is shifting. Earlier, companies debated whether they should use AI. Now the focus has moved to how to implement AI quickly,\u00a0and how to scale the benefits across the business. Scaling often fails because of\u00a0<\/span>legacy systems,\u00a0<\/span>inflexible\u00a0structures\u00a0and fragmented data.<\/span><\/p>\n

IFS has published\u00a0predictions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that highlight the key trends for manufacturing in 2026. Here are the main takeaways:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Companies will redesign organizational structures for the AI era<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many companies still run on sequential ways of working, where each unit\u00a0optimizes\u00a0its own tasks. These structures slow down AI\u00a0use.\u00a0AI connects information in real time across\u00a0different parts\u00a0of the business,\u00a0<\/span>but departmental boundaries block data flow.\u00a0A<\/span>s a result, the benefits stay limited to individual teams. In 2026, companies will take a fresh look at their structures and remove barriers that prevent them from using AI effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. AI will speed up proactive <\/span>supply chain planning<\/span><\/h3>\n

Supply chain planning will move from occasional analysis to continuous\u00a0modelling\u00a0with AI. AI will organize fragmented data more effectively, generate scenario analyses and support faster decision-making. The result is a more agile and\u00a0<\/span>proactive\u00a0<\/span>supply chain. More manufacturers will build these capabilities in-house instead of relying on external parties for analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Sustainability tracking becomes a daily routine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sustainability regulation will keep changing and becoming more demanding, and manufacturers\u00a0will need to keep pace.\u00a0In 2026, sustainability will not live only in annual reports. Companies will move toward daily sustainability tracking, where AI plays a key role. AI can\u00a0monitor\u00a0energy use and emissions, flag\u00a0exceptions\u00a0and suggest corrective actions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Robots will take a bigger role in production<\/span><\/h3>\n

OECD statistics<\/a> show that industrial productivity growth has slowed in recent years, even though companies have adopted\u00a0new technologies. Why?\u00a0Legacy systems are part of the reason, but\u00a0labour\u00a0shortages also play\u00a0a major role, so many companies are turning to robotics.\u00a0Robotics has reached a point where robots can work flexibly and efficiently alongside people. Collaborative robots and humanoid robots will become more common on\u00a0the shop floor, handling routine and support tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra: Aveso\u2019s 2026 prediction<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>for industrial AI in manufacturing<\/span><\/h3>\n

Last year, IFS made a major push in industrial AI. The IFS Cloud 25R1<\/a> and 25R2<\/a> releases introduced more than 200 new industrial AI capabilities. Release 25R2 also included IFS Loops Digital Workers<\/a>.\u00a0At the same time, IFS launched the Nexus Black initiative<\/a>. Its goal is to speed up the practical use of agent-based and contextual AI in industrial companies and to bring AI solutions directly into operational processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aveso\u00a0expects that manufacturing companies using IFS will<\/span>\u00a0upgrade t<\/span>o newer 25R1 and 25R2 versions,\u00a0and to the upcoming 26R1 and 26R2 releases,\u00a0at\u00a0a faster pace\u00a0in 2026. These upgrades will give them access to the new IFS AI capabilities delivered through the releases.\u00a0<\/span>Aveso\u00a0also predicts that\u00a0i<\/span>ts Finnish manufacturing customers\u00a0will start bringing their first AI use cases into everyday ERP work in 2026.\u00a0By doing so, they will improve efficiency and strengthen their competitive advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summary<\/span><\/h3>\n

AI and robotics will develop faster in 2026 than ever before.\u00a0<\/span>The pace\u00a0will not slow\u00a0down, so companies will need the ability to evolve with technology and redesign the way they work to get the most out of technology<\/span>.\u00a0Competitive advantage comes from breaking down organizational silos and ensuring that data and processes support decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n

This blog post is based on IFS\u2019s \u201cManufacturing Trends 2026\u201d blog post<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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