Organizations are incorporating AI technologies at a pace that outpaces their teams’ ability to adapt, a phenomenon IFS calls the “execution gap.” This is revealed in its new report “IFS Invisible Revolution Study 2025”, where it highlights that, in figures, the adoption of industrial AI has almost doubled in just one year, going from 32% to 59%. But that exponential growth does not guarantee that companies are ready to fully realize their potential.
The reality is that 52% of business leaders admit that their management teams still do not fully understand the scope of artificial intelligence, and 99% of workers will need significant retraining to be able to use it effectively.
The challenge of uniting people, processes and technology
The IFS report makes a key point, technology is advancing faster than corporate culture. AI has become a driver of performance and competitiveness, but without clear alignment between people, processes and products, its impact is diluted.
“AI is a critical driver of business performance. It is time to close the gap in its execution, uniting people, processes and products to achieve tangible results,” says Kriti Sharma, CEO of IFS Nexus Black.
Despite the difficulties, the benefits are already evident. 70% of respondents say that the return on investment in artificial intelligence has exceeded expectations, while 88% say that their profitability has improved since they implemented these technologies. In countries like Germany or the United States, these figures reach 94% and 92%, respectively.
The lack of strategy, the real obstacle
More than half of business leaders (53%) acknowledge that their organizations still lack a clear AI strategy. This generates a paradox: while the initial results are positive, the absence of a structured plan slows down scalability and limits the impact of innovation.
The research also shows that over the next year, companies still experimenting with AI will fall from 24% to 7%, indicating a transition towards more mature models. However, training and leadership will be decisive for this progress to be consolidated.
More than half of managers believe that up to 60% of their staff will need to acquire new skills, and a third estimate that this need will affect all of their employees.
Trust in AI, a pending issue
The speed of adoption contrasts with caution in decision making. Only 29% of leaders feel comfortable delegating strategic decisions to AI without human intervention. 68% consider it essential to maintain some level of supervision.
Concerns about bias and transparency are still present, especially in the United States, where 63% of managers express concern compared to 40% in the Nordic countries. Against this backdrop, 65% of those surveyed support the creation of an independent international regulatory body that reinforces confidence in the use of AI.
Industrial AI redefines the business model
Beyond innovation labs, industrial AI is transforming frontline operations. Today it automates maintenance tasks, predicts failures, optimizes supply chains and coordinates decisions in sectors such as manufacturing or asset management.
54% of companies already use it for automation, 45% for prediction and 35% are experimenting with agency AI, capable of executing autonomous decisions in multiple workflows. Furthermore, 77% of managers say that artificial intelligence accelerates servitization, that is, the move from selling products to offering results-based services.
“This is not a future promise, but a reality,” they maintain from IFS. “We are living in a new era in which AI redefines the creation and delivery of value. It already automates complex tasks, predicts the unexpected and drives new business models. We are moving from tasks to transformation, and companies that embrace this change will lead the next industrial chapter,” adds Kriti Sharma.
A turning point in the invisible revolution
The study concludes that the next twelve months will be decisive. Organizations that manage to close the execution gap will not only gain efficiency, but will position themselves at the forefront of the new global industrial leadership.
“We are facing one of the most profound changes in the business world. Industrial AI is already transforming how sectors work, compete and grow. The time has come,” concludes Sharma.
