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Digital Solutions for the Manufacturing Industry: Consulting & Implementation
From Smart Manufacturing to AI in Mechanical Engineering
The manufacturing industry is facing multiple pressures. Geopolitical uncertainties, structural labor shortages, volatile markets, and fragile supply chains call for new strategies, digital innovation, and internal readiness. valantic helps companies keep pace with rapid technological change, tap into business potential, and operate profitably—with end-to-end services ranging from consulting to implementation.
Planning is key: How can industrial companies escape crisis mode?
How AI-powered planning can boost efficiency by up to 30% and measurably increase resilience: Our meta-study charts the path from Excel silos to integrated, data-driven planning – with quick wins…
Download Meta-Study
Download Meta-Study
A lot of pressure, little strategy
Where does digital transformation in manufacturing stand?
Volatility is the new normal. Global trade uncertainties caused by tariffs and geopolitical conflicts are jeopardizing supply chains. A structural shortage of skilled workers is hampering production capacity. Technological advances driven by AI, automation, and connected systems in the“smart factory”are placing greater demands on processes and infrastructure. What was once viewed as a medium- to long-term transformation has become an urgent matter requiring immediate action for many companies in the manufacturing industry.
The status quo: Manufacturers recognize the need to invest in digitalization but struggle with implementation. A lack of strategies, unclear responsibilities, and an overwhelming array of technological options slow down decision-making precisely where speed translates into a competitive advantage.
Current figures from sources including valantic & Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI), Deloitte, McKinsey, and VDI underscore the urgency for action in the manufacturing industry:
> 80 %
the manufacturer
fear that they will not survive more than three years without technological investments (VDI).
only 35 %
all companies
have confidence in the accuracy of their inventory forecasts (Deloitte).
> 82 %
industrial companies
In the DACH region, people are convinced that AI will be the most important technology by 2030 (valantic & HRI).
34 %
of B2B revenue
is generated through e-commerce and digital sales channels (McKinsey).
Supply Chain Optimization, Service Innovation, and Industry 4.0
Which trends give manufacturers the competitive edge?
Based on findings from recent studies and market analyses, our experts in the Manufacturing Practice have identified five trends that will determine future business success in the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers and distributors in the mechanical and plant engineering, automotive and supplier, electronics, and metalworking industries should be prepared for these developments.
Top 5 Manufacturing Trends 2026
Agentic AI & Automation
along the production and value chain
- About 40% of all enterprise applications will integrate task-specific AI agents in the coming months. (Gartner).
- By 2030, semi-autonomous agents are expected to coordinate 10% of key production, quality, and maintenance processes (Gartner).
- Global GDP is projected to increase by 15% by 2035 as a result of AI (PwC).
Sales & Service Innovation
for a personalized omnichannel experience
- Companies with a clear personalization strategy generate 40% more revenue from service and marketing (McKinsey).
- 73% of B2B buyers conduct online research before contacting a sales representative (Forrester).
- 67% prefer self-service portals for routine reorders and product information (Salesforce).
Smart Manufacturing
with AI, IIoT, robotics, and cloud solutions
- 80% of manufacturers plan to invest at least 20% of their budget in smart manufacturing initiatives and view this as a key competitive factor over the next three years (Deloitte).
- The IIoT is expected to generate between 1.2 and 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars in economic value for the manufacturing industry annually, including through real-time monitoring, optimized supply chains, and resource planning (McKinsey).
Agile Supply Chain & Logistics
with dynamic S&OP processes and a scalable APS system
- By 2030, 50% of cross-functional supply chain management solutions will use intelligent agents for autonomous decision-making; 70% of companies will use AI-based demand forecasting (Gartner).
- 25% of companies lack visibility beyond Tier 1 suppliers; only 18% systematically track supplier activities and emissions across multiple tiers (PwC).
Corporate Sustainability
Compliance as an opportunity: ESG-compliant and legally sound from CSRD to DPP
- Global investment in industrial energy efficiency rose by 45% between 2020 and 2025, reaching approximately $30 billion (PwC).
- The use of AI for sustainability reporting nearly tripled last year (PwC/McKinsey).
- 55% of CEOs expect significant returns from sustainability investments by 2030 (KPMG).
Manufacturing Trend No. 1
Agentic AI & Automation
The transition from individual GenAI tools to agentic systems holds potential for the manufacturing industry across the entire value chain. Machine learning and agentic AI—self-learning, adaptive, and autonomously controlled systems—are accelerating automation from production planning to process control.
The transformation is already in full swing: AI agents in the manufacturing industry orchestrate interconnected process chains and production workflows, analyze real-time data on orders, materials, and machines, dynamically adjust plans, and reduce downtime by up to 50 percent through predictive analysis.
Strategic Recommendations: From GenAI to the Agentic Enterprise
- Business Analytics and Process Intelligence: Data Analytics, combining Business Process Management (BPM) and Operational Process Improvement to map business processes transparently and comprehensively and leverage data potential—for fact-based decisions, more accurate predictive forecasts, and targeted optimizations in sales, marketing, production, logistics, and HR
- AI Strategy: Prioritize AI use cases with measurable ROI, develop a robust AI operating model, and transition experimental pilot applications into solutions that can be scaled for production
- Robotic Process Automation ( RPA): Automate industrial processes with AI-powered robotics solutions—from inspection, maintenance, and repair to production and manufacturing
Ready for Agentic AI with measurable business outcomes? Find out how:
Agentic AI Guide 2026
Greater impact through agentic AI: How intelligent orchestration drives measurable value and scales success in service, sales & commerce – proven use cases and real-world examples in our AI guide…
Manufacturing Trend No. 2
Sales Excellence & Service Innovation
Manufacturing companies develop and sell custom-made capital goods. AI-powered product configurators map this complexity online — from standard variations to engineer-to-order systems. B2B service portals open up new sales channels for digital commerce: CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) accelerates and automates pricing and quote generation; centralized product, pricing, and configuration logic ensures data consistency, governance, and compliance; data- and AI-driven pricing and forecasting models improve planning capabilities and the quality of consulting.
Customer centricity from the first point of contact through after-sales service becomes a strategic differentiator — and a personalized omnichannel journey becomes a driver of margins.
Strategic Recommendation: Personalized Omnichannel Experience
- B2B Customer Portal & Self-Service: A central platform for 24/7 support with direct access to information and products (equipment and replacement parts, machine status, service tickets) as well as innovative features (visual 3D configurators, chatbots) for a consistent self-service experience
- Customer Centricity & Personalization: Integrate customer feedback and AI-driven insights into planning and production processes for targeted cross-selling and upselling, proactive solution recommendations, and personalized communication
- CPQ Integration: Modular sales applications (CRM, CPQ, pricing) and guided selling for faster quote generation, confidence in negotiations, and higher close rates
- Architecture Blueprint: Globally standardized, locally adaptable processes and data catalogs for international expansion without system disconnects, consistent sales methods, and technical scalability with reduced customization and operational overhead
- Omnichannel Consistency: Consolidated data and systems for cross-channel transparency (availability, prices, replacement parts, delivery times), improved control (sales, aftersales, operations), and higher conversion rates
Service Innovation and Sales Excellence in the Manufacturing Industry? Let’s get started!
Manufacturing Trend No. 3
Smart Manufacturing
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) — combined with edge computing, the cloud, AI, and robotics — is expected to generate between 1.2 and 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars in economic value annually in the manufacturing sector, according to McKinsey, particularly through real-time monitoring, optimized resource utilization, and predictive maintenance.
The concept of the Smart Factory describes a hyper-connected, highly automated industrial enterprise that uses digital threads for product lifecycle management (PLM) and software-defined products: Virtual models of physical assets (Digital Twins) make it possible to simulate their performance and predict future behavior in real time, which improves planning accuracy.
Strategic Recommendation: Digitize and Connect End-to-End
- IIoT: Retrofitting existing machinery with modular IoT sensors to automatically collect and analyze real-time data
- Cloud Migration: Build a cost-effective, robust, and secure cloud environment to reduce total IT costs and shorten deployment times
- Predictive Maintenance: Use predictive forecasts for proactive services to prevent production downtime and associated costs, and replace wear-and-tear parts “just in time”
- Thinking Holistically: Unlock productivity and efficiency potential, reduce project lead times, and minimize sources of error with an end-to-end digitized, intelligently connected value chain
Ready for smart manufacturing? Let’s work together to set the right levers in motion!
Manufacturing Trend No. 4
Agile Supply Chain & Logistics
Driven by geopolitical uncertainties, rising energy and raw material prices, and structural labor shortages, supply chain optimization ranks among the most important areas of AI application for 91 percent of manufacturing companies in the DACH region (Digital Excellence Outlook 2026).
AI already plays a key role in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS): According to McKinsey, companies that use AI in their supply chains reduce logistics costs by 15 percent, inventory levels by 35 percent, and improve service levels by 65 percent. An intelligent, customizable platform for Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) connects all business units, warehouses, and production facilities to manage bottlenecks more effectively and anticipate market changes.
Strategic Recommendation: Digital Solutions for Real-Time Planning
- Dynamic S&OP: Using rolling forecasts and integrated S&OP processes to enable predictive, constraint-based capacity planning in real time—from material procurement, sales, financial, and workforce planning to production and inventory management
- Single Source of Truth: A central database for breaking down silos and harmonizing the system and process landscape by linking ERP, MES (Manufacturing Execution System), and APS software as the foundation for AI-driven automation and the simultaneous optimization of logistics processes
- Flexible APS System: Engineer-to-Order processes by integrating development and design with logistics planning from production and procurement
Wantto optimize your supply chain with a central database and smart S&OP? We’ll show you how:
SAP Services for Supply Chain Management
With the SAP Digital Supply Chain portfolio, manufacturers can intelligently and holistically manage, monitor, and analyze their supply chain—from planning, procurement, and logistics to manufacturing and compliance »
Discover Supply Chain Management with SAP
Discover Supply Chain Management with SAP
Manufacturing Trend No. 5
Corporate Sustainability
Industrial manufacturing processes rely on a reliable supply of energy and raw materials. At the same time, increasingly stringent global regulations and EU directives—such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)—require transparency, proof of sustainability, and comprehensive reporting. Increasing compliance requirements—from the Supply Chain Act and the EU Packaging Regulation to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Digital Product Passport (DPP)—are shifting the focus toward balancing economic efficiency with climate-friendly, low-emission production.
Digital innovation and AI are making an impact here as well: Companies that use raw materials and energy intelligently, consistently incorporate the circular economy into their thinking, and holistically map product life cycles digitally can achieve planning certainty.
Strategic Recommendation: A Digital Foundation for Sustainability and Compliance
- Twin Transformation: Combining digitalization and sustainability strategies to leverage synergies; adopting a data-driven approach for the agile implementation of ESG initiatives; implementing AI-powered tracking and reporting tools to automate compliance and sustainability practices
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): Digitize the product lifecycle end-to-end, map and document it transparently for CSRD-compliant reporting
- Compliance as an Opportunity: Anticipate market changes; implement new regulations early and reliably using a centralized database and scalable systems, e.g., for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) with powerful PIM and SAP solutions
Want toeffectively implement sustainable value chains? We’ll show you how:
Smart Manufacturing with valantic
Our End-to-End Services for the manufacturing industry
To build measurable business value, we drive digital transformation in the manufacturing industry in a holistic manner and unlock potential along the entire value chain—with a clear go-to-market approach, deep industry insight, and end-to-end expertise ranging from strategy and technology consulting to implementation.
Our core competencies and digital solutions for the manufacturing industry:
Transformation Strategy
From product development and market positioning to AI, IT, marketing, and sales excellence in B2B: In-depth analyses and a KPI-based roadmap for strategic planning and achieving your business goals »
More about Transformation Strategy
Data & Business Analytics
Breaking Down Silos and Harnessing Data Potential: From PIM, MDM, and DAM for a robust, centralized database, through smart product lifecycle management, to IIoT, AI, and predictive analytics for smart manufacturing »
More about Business Analytics
AI-powered automation
Prioritize AI use cases for the manufacturing industry and translate them into solutions that can be scaled for production—with Agentic AI for automated process control and intelligent orchestration in planning, logistics, production, marketing, and sales »
More about AI Strategy
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Dynamic Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) for synchronized sales, production, and financial planning; system integration—from ERP, APS, and PIM to CRM and CPQ—to ensure on-time delivery, reduced inventory, and rapid response »
More about Supply Chain Management
ESG Consulting
Scope 3 emissions, supplier transparency, sustainability reporting: Viewing ESG as an opportunity rather than a compliance burden, fulfilling regulatory obligations, and integrating it into business processes—from assessing the current situation to legally compliant implementation »
More about ESG & Sustainability
Customer Experience (CX)
Dynamic pricing, product, and offering models; AI-powered B2B customer services; and a consistent focus on the customer to deliver a personalized omnichannel journey—from the first point of contact through B2B sales to after-sales service »
More about CX Innovation
Digital Commerce & B2B Sales
Intelligent CRM and a 360-degree view of the customer for data-driven sales, innovative commerce channels, and modern CPQ solutions to increase closing rates and foster long-term customer and business relationships »
More about Digital Commerce
Quality Assurance & Operations Services
For scalability, resilience, and agility in production, retail, and logistics processes: AI-powered monitoring and automated testing for quality assurance, continuous optimization, and robust data, process, and system environments »
More about QA & Software Testing
Why Choose valantic for Digital Transformation?
What Sets Us Apart
As one of Anthropic’s first European implementation partners, valantic is a Select Partner in the Claude Partner Network (Services Track), as well as a Gold Partner of IBM, SAP, and Microsoft, and a strategic partner of Informatica, MicroStrategy, Anaplan, Cognigy, and graphomate.
Our constantly growing partner network enables us to provide vendor-neutral consulting and implement customized solutions for a variety of business models, industries, and application areas.
With our dedicated Competence Centers and our Manufacturing Practice, we support manufacturing companies as a consulting firm, implementation partner, and creative agency on their path to new markets and competitive advantages—as demonstrated by numerous successful projects.
valantic is represented in more than 20 countries worldwide and is one of the fastest-growing digital consulting, solutions, and software companies in the German-speaking world.
We approach every transformation project with an analytical eye on market trends, global economic developments, and the most pressing challenges facing the respective industry. In doing so, we draw on best practices and experience from a total of more than 2,000 digital transformation projects over the past five years to deliver industry-specific solutions — for DAX-listed corporations as well as leading mid-sized companies in the B2B sector, including those in mechanical and plant engineering, the automotive and supplier industries, electrical engineering, metal processing, the chemical, pharmaceutical, and medical technology sectors, and aerospace.
Insights from Real-World Projects
What Our Customers Say
Jürgen Münch
Head of Scheduling, KNAPP AG
”Together with valantic, we have implemented a planning process that covers the entire value chain, from project management to delivery to the construction site. Our cross-functional approach to optimization is supported by the high level of transparency we achieve with wayRTS.“
Philipp Fröbel
IT Project Manager at Siemens
”The problem was assessed very well and resolved to a high standard, always with an eye toward efficiency in terms of development and subsequent operating costs.“
Patrick Strickler
Value Chain Engineering, ABB Switzerland
”To put it bluntly, our schedules used to be outdated the moment they were created. Far too often, we had to make last-minute changes to keep our customers satisfied. Our current operations planning in waySuite is driven by real-time information on available and required capacities and resources. We identify potential delays early on and have optimal production sequences for all manufacturing steps at every workstation.“
Bastian Steffens
Supply Chain Process Specialist and Project Manager, Ottobock
”It was helpful to bring in planners from the other plants back then and to develop a standardized daily routine and a consistent way of working in wayRTS. We all work with the same lists and views, which provides us with a high degree of transparency and defines the cross-plant processes.“
Manufacturing Case Studies
Our success stories tell the whole story
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
Multi-plant planning with waySuite at BBC Cellpack Technology AG
- Magento
- Adobe Commerce
Liebherr revolutionizes customer service with Magento 2
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
APS waySuite at MAN ES: Production planning AI-optimized
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
TGW: Transparent planning with APS software wayRTS waySuite
- AWS
Siemens and valantic revolutionize software deployment with AWS cloud-native framework
- SAP
thyssenkrupp takes the leap to the cloud with SAP IBP
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
KNAPP AG optimizes supply chain with aps system wayRTS
- Adobe Commerce
- SAP
- Hyvä
MyTriflex: B2B customer portal with SAP integration and self-service functions
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
APS Advanced Planning Tool wayRTS improves delivery reliability at motan
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
ABB Switzerland: Efficient production planning and capacity planning with waySuite
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
Grenzebach plans and controls supply chain processes with valantic’s waySuite
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
- valantic
Ottobock: Automated production planning with APS wayRTS
- Pimcore
- Adobe Analytics
More efficiency for Metrohm through targeted analysis with Adobe Analytics
- APS wayRTS/waySuite
valantic Optimizes Supply Chain Management at Seepex
- valantic
Optimization of procurement processes at the knitting machine manufacturer STOLL
- valantic
Productization of IoT offers in a batch process
Expertise from Manufacturing Practice
Know-how & Current Topics for the Industry
Blog
AI Potential in Manufacturing: Which Use Cases are already live – and what pays off?
Blog
Digital Twins made easy – Meet the new Microsoft Fabric feature
Blog
Customer Centricity in B2B: How Manufacturers are meeting rising Customer Expectations
From Strategy to Scalable Business Success
Looking for the right drivers to future-proof your business?Let’s talk: We combine industry experience with technical expertise to deliver solutions that yield measurable business results. Contact our manufacturing experts or let us know what you need using the form.
Hello from Düsseldorf
David Holtkemper
Principal
valantic
- Supply Chain Management & Procurement
- Sales & Operations Planning & Process Management
- Business Strategy & Development
Hello from Munich
Darya Basarhina
Vice President Sales & Marketing waySuite
valantic
- Manufacturing Practice Lead
- Development & Market Positioning of the valantic waySuite
- Supply Chain Software & Logistics Solutions
Hallo from Mannheim
Fabian Littau
Director Industry Business | Prokurist
valantic
- Digital Transformation in Sales, Marketing & Customer Service
- Strategic Business Development in B2B
- End-to-End Industry Innovation
FAQ: Questions we often get from the manufacturing industry
TBD