According to a recent article by CSIL Market Research experts, the European furniture industry is still in the early stages of digital transformation, with few leading furniture manufacturers that fully integrate digitalisation in their processes.
CSIL’s research shows that for most furniture manufacturers surveyed, key digital innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are either in progress (60%) or just starting (10%). Only 20% of the companies have developed an advanced or fully integrated digital transformation roadmap.
A significant disparity exists between the availability of digital technologies and their widespread adoption in the European furniture industry. This gap is mainly due to challenges in acquiring the necessary skills, limited knowledge about new technologies, and a managerial culture that is not always ready to change. However, in the medium term, investments in digital transformation are expected to increase rapidly, doubling their share of the company’s turnover, according to the CSIL sample. These investments are expected to focus on integrating digital solutions across business areas, moving towards the concept of the “smart factory.” Smart products, too, will play a key role, with market shares projected to grow at a double-digit pace through 2030.
Key areas of digital investment include cybersecurity, cloud computing, and robotics. Both cybersecurity and cloud computing align with the EU’s Digital Decade Policy Programme, which aims for 75% of EU enterprises to adopt cloud services, big data, and AI by 2030.
Among the emerging technologies, artificial intelligence stands out for its diverse applications. AI is being used to optimise production processes and enhance service offerings in the furniture sector. Machine learning algorithms, for example, analyse consumer data from social media to identify and predict popular product trends. This allows companies to customise offerings, meet individual customer needs, and develop new, innovative materials.
Read the full article on World Furniture Online.