Business & Finance The Republic | November 10, 2025

Italian industry, looking for models

The Italian industry is at a crucial crossroads. Technological acceleration and growing attention to sustainability are forcing companies to rethink their operating models, transforming the evolution towards the digital factory into a necessary condition for competing.

It is in this context that our new study “What’s Next in Operations? Benchmarking Study” fits in, which is extensively described in the article by Sibilla Di Palma in La Repubblica.

Our research analyzed the maturity level of the Italian industry in five key areas (operations, supply chain, sustainability, digitalization, and human resources), involving more than 100 companies from 22 sectors.

The results of our benchmarking show a picture of strength and maturity in several strategic areas, but highlight a worrying digital divide.

Efficiency and sustainability at the highest level, digitalization at 48%

The analysis by Bonfiglioli Consulting confirms two pillars of excellence for the Italian industrial system:

• Sustainability: The average maturity index stands at a remarkable 89%, confirming the country’s leadership position in this field.
• Operations: With an average index of 71%, operational efficiency remains a strength.

However, the report issues a clear warning: digitalization remains the front with the greatest growth potential, but it is also the one with the most significant lag.

The average digital maturity index is in fact only 48%. The article in La Repubblica points out, based on our data, that technological transformation is still in an intermediate phase.

Barriers to AI: not the cost, but the organization

Our study has taken a close look at the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The data show that 55%% of companies have not yet started AI projects, and only 3%% are using AI on a consolidated basis.

Contrary to what one might think, the main barriers are not of an economic nature, but organizational. The limiting factors include:

• The lack of internal skills (skill gap).
• The quality of the data.
• The difficulty of integration with legacy systems.

Digitizing means not only introducing new technologies such as ERP and CRM, but rethinking the entire value chain. Our Benchmarking Study, as highlighted by La Repubblica, is an essential tool to help companies measure this gap and define the path towards a truly competitive and sustainable future.

Would you like to learn more about the full results of our "What’s Next in Operations? Benchmarking Study“ and understand how your company ranks?

Download the Complete 2025 Report