On October 22, 2025, the AI OPERATIONS FORUM took place in Milan, a strategic event that brought together Italian industry to discuss the topics of sustainability and digitalization. The highlight was the presentation of the results of the research study "What’s Next in Operations? Benchmarking Study.“
As a testament to the importance of the topics covered, *Il Sole 24 Ore* dedicated an in-depth article to the study, highlighting the gap between Italy’s excellence in sustainability and its lag in the digital transition.
Italian industry is efficient and growing, but it shows a concerning shortfall in its readiness to adopt digital technologies. The study, based on a sample of over 100 companies, paints a picture of a two-speed economy. Italian companies demonstrate a high level of maturity in sustainability, with an index reaching an excellent 89%. In contrast, digitalization is the area lagging the most, stuck at 48 %, and represents the greatest potential for growth.
CEO Michele Bonfiglioli reiterated that the adoption of AI and innovative technologies is an indispensable driver of competitiveness and resilience, and that such a gap is no longer acceptable. 53% of executives acknowledge a low level of digitalization within their organizations.
The article in *Il Sole 24 Ore* highlights the link between the digital lag and the poor integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI): 55% of companies have not yet implemented AI; only 3% use it on a consistent basis; and Generative AI is integrated into only 9% of processes.
The main barriers to digital adoption are not costs, but rather a lack of internal expertise, data quality, and integration with existing systems. The key challenge lies in practical application: achieving significant benefits requires substantial investments in training, time, and technological infrastructure.
The full article offers a comprehensive analysis of investment strategies, data on the most widely used technologies (ERP, CRM, MES), and the implications for corporate competitiveness. Read the full article in *Il Sole 24 Ore* dated October 23, 2025.
ai translated