We’re proud to announce that Perficient has been named a 2025 CRN IoT Innovator, a prestigious recognition that celebrates solution providers leading the way in delivering impactful Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in the enterprise market across industries. This honor underscores our commitment to helping clients bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds through cutting-edge IoT strategies and technologies.

CRN’s annual IoT Innovators list highlights companies that are shaping the future of enterprise IoT, with solutions spanning connected field operations, AI-powered analytics, digital twins, and edge computing. In the article, the senior editor Dylan Martin remarked:

”Perficient is delivering transformative business outcomes for customers with its end-to-end IoT solutions. In the automotive industry, the St. Louis-based solution provider offers consulting services for the design and integration of advanced driver assist, autonomous, multi-cloud and software-defined vehicle capabilities.”

Perficient’s inclusion reflects our leadership in deploying transformative IoT solutions that drive measurable outcomes, especially in the automotive and manufacturing sectors where data and AI innovation is not just a goal, but a necessity.

Why Perficient Stands Out

In our recent study of nearly 700 consumers in the U.S., 61% of participants in the 29 – 44 year old age bracket responded that they’d want their vehicles to communicate and interact with their in-home devices. This overwhelmingly positive response to connected capabilities across the automotive and manufacturing market reveals a massive opportunity for enterprises to tap into new revenue streams and improved customer experiences.

Perficient is poised to support these enterprises as they continue to innovate in the IoT space. Our approach combines deep industry expertise, AI-first strategies, and robust engineering capabilities to help clients unlock new efficiencies, improve product quality, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Recently, Perficient launched:

• Proprietary research on the connected products market meant to inform strategy for organizations across industries delving into and innovating in the IoT space
• Several Strategic Positions on the latest industry innovations around connected products and vehicles, electrification, EV charging, and autonomous driving
• Solutions that utilize connected capabilities and telemetry data to improve customer experience and drive new revenue streams like Battery Passports

Further, Perficient was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for Software-Defined Vehicles 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc # US51813124, September 2025).

In automotive, we partner with 7 of the top 10 OEMs to modernize operations and accelerate innovation. Our IoT solutions support everything from connected vehicle platforms and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to dealer service integration and mobility-as-a-service models. We help OEMs, suppliers, and dealers create seamless, personalized experiences for vehicle owners and passengers, while optimizing design, manufacturing, and service operations.

In the broader manufacturing market, our IoT offerings empower clients to build smart factories and resilient supply chains. From digital twins and collaborative robotics to predictive maintenance and connected shop floor monitoring, we enable manufacturers to gain real-time visibility into assets, reduce downtime, and improve quality assurance. Our solutions are designed to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by 5G, sustainability goals, and workforce transformation.

An AI-First Future-Ready Partner

We’re a global, AI-first, digital consultancy with thousands of skilled strategists and technologists in the U.S., Latin America, India, Europe, and around the world. We’re transforming how the world’s most admired brands connect with customers and grow their business. As an AWS Advanced Service Partner, member of Microsoft’s 2025-2026 AI Inner Circle, and collaborative partner to AI innovators from Writer and Databricks to Salesforce, Perficient is uniquely positioned to deliver scalable, secure, and intelligent IoT solutions. Our strategic partnerships and technical depth allow us to stay ahead of emerging trends and deliver value that lasts.

Whether you’re an automotive OEM looking to redefine mobility or a manufacturer seeking to build smarter machines, Perficient is your trusted partner for IoT transformation.

Learn more about our industry recognitions and explore our AI in automotive or manufacturing expertise.

Perficient is proud to be included in the IDC ServiceScape: Worldwide and U.S. Microsoft Power Apps Low-Code/No-Code Custom Application Development Services, 2025 (Doc# US53748825 September 2025) report. We believe this inclusion highlights our commitment to helping enterprises accelerate innovation and streamline development through Microsoft Power Platform.

This IDC ServiceScape offers a comprehensive guide on the key capabilities of custom application development service providers using the Microsoft Power Apps low-code/no-code development platform, featuring services from companies including Perficient. The status of each service capability is categorized as fully supported, partially supported, partner provided, road map, or not supported, aiding services buyers in quickly identifying which vendors align with their changing requirements.

Powering Innovation with Microsoft Power Platform

As digital transformation accelerates, low-code/no-code platforms are becoming essential tools for agility and innovation. Perficient is proud to be included in this evolving landscape and remains committed to delivering solutions that drive real business outcomes.

“Our approach to Power Platform is rooted in strategy, scale, and speed. We’re not just building apps—we’re enabling transformation. By combining governance frameworks, multi-shore delivery, and AI-powered experiences, we help clients unlock the full potential of low-code development and drive meaningful business outcomes.” – Eric Schmitt, Director of Microsoft Business Applications.

Perficient offers a comprehensive suite of low-code/no-code services designed to accelerate transformation:

• App modernization programs to migrate legacy systems to Power Platform
• Intelligent automation and rapid RPA migration (e.g., UiPath to Power Automate Desktop)
• Custom Copilot envisioning workshops and enterprise app development
• Governance engagements including CoE setup and citizen developer enablement
• Process mining and lifecycle management
• Multi-shore delivery models with agile development pods and managed services

We’re also increasing investment in Copilot Studio Agents, helping clients build custom functionality and deploy agents within Power Platform environments. Our governance frameworks ensure scalable, secure adoption—whether you’re enabling citizen developers or launching enterprise-wide automation programs.

Learn more about our Power Platform capabilities: Power Platform / Perficient

Perficient is a global digital consultancy with over 7,000 colleagues worldwide, operating as one unified team across North America, LATAM, and India. With deep expertise in industries like Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Automotive, we deliver strategic technology solutions that drive measurable outcomes. Our Microsoft practice is backed by more than 25 years of experience and over 250 certified cloud consultants, with strong capabilities in Azure, M365, Dynamics CRM, and Power Platform.

Perficient differentiates through global delivery, scalability, and robust governance. With 95% of our business coming from repeat clients, we’re proud to be a trusted partner in building AI-first, low-code solutions that deliver real business value.

Ready to move from ambition to impact? Let’s define your low-code strategy and build the foundation to lead what’s next.

The future of service isn’t reactive; it’s intelligent, predictive, and AI-powered. At Dreamforce 2025, join Perficient and Salesforce for a roundtable built for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize their service strategy. If you’re responsible for uptime, field service, or asset performance, this session is for you. 

Take part in a focused, 40-person discussion where industry peers share how they use AI, IoT, and asset data to reshape aftermarket service. Learn how early adopters reduce operational risks and control rising service costs. 

Led by: 

• Lester McHargue – Director, Salesforce Manufacturing, Perficient 

• Nanda Chitrala – Sr. Director, Manufacturing Solutions & Strategy, Salesforce 

• Lance Fettig – Sr. Director, Business Consulting, Salesforce 

What You’ll Gain 

The manufacturers getting ahead are the ones transforming their service models now. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to: 

• Enable smarter scheduling with real-time asset visibility  

• Prevent asset failures using predictive insights  

• Ensure accurate billing with the right data and tools  

• Drive new revenue models through Servitization 

This session is a chance to see what’s working on the ground and ask the questions that matter to your business. 

Event Details 

Reserve your session spot with the Dreamforce Agenda Builder today: Transform Aftermarket with Asset Service Management 

Dates & Times:
Tuesday, Oct 14 |  2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PDT (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12
Wednesday, Oct 15 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM PDT (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12

Let’s Rethink Aftermarket Service: Smarter, Faster, and Powered by AI 

Manufacturers are transforming service operations with AI, IoT, and asset intelligence. This roundtable offers a chance to learn what early adopters are doing to reduce costs, prevent downtime, and unlock new revenue. 

If you’re interested in meeting with our team during Dreamforce or would like to connect ahead of the event, visit our event page to schedule a 1:1 meeting with our AI strategy team or connect with executive leadership onsite. 

My 30-year technology career has taught me many things…and one big thing: the companies that treat technology as a cost center are the ones that get blindsided. In manufacturing, that blindside is already here — and it’s wearing the name tag “AI.”

For decades, manufacturers have been locked into rigid systems, long upgrade cycles, and siloed data. The result? Operations that run on yesterday’s insights while competitors are making tomorrow’s moves. Sound familiar? It’s the same trap traditional IT outsourcing fell into — and it’s just as deadly in the age of smart manufacturing.

The AI Advantage in Manufacturing

Oracle Fusion AI for Manufacturing Smart Operations isn’t just another software upgrade. It’s a shift from reactive to predictive, from siloed to synchronized. Think:

• Real-time anomaly detection that flags quality issues before they hit the line.
• Predictive maintenance that slashes downtime and extends asset life.
• Intelligent scheduling that adapts to supply chain disruptions in minutes, not weeks.
• Embedded analytics that turn every operator, planner, and manager into a decision-maker armed with live data.

This isn’t about replacing people — it’s about giving them superpowers. Read more from Oracle here.

Proof in Action: Roeslein & Associates

If you want to see what this looks like in the wild, look at Roeslein & Associates. They were running on disparate, outdated legacy systems — the kind that make global process consistency a pipe dream. Perficient stepped in and implemented Oracle Fusion Cloud Manufacturing with Project Driven Supply Chain, plus full Financial and Supply Chain Management suites. The result?

• A global solution template that can be rolled out anywhere in the business.
• A redesigned enterprise structure to track profits across business units.
• Standardized manufacturing processes that still flex for highly customized demand.
• Integrated aftermarket parts ordering and manufacturing flows.
• Seamless connections between Fusion, labor capture systems, and eCommerce.

That’s not just “going live” — that’s rewiring the operational nervous system for speed, visibility, and scale.

Why Standing Still is Riskier Than Moving Fast

In my words, “true innovation is darn near impossible” when you’re chained to legacy thinking. The same applies here: if your manufacturing ops are running on static ERP data and manual interventions, you’re already losing ground to AI‑driven competitors who can pivot in real time.

Oracle Fusion Cloud with embedded AI is the equalizer. A mid‑sized manufacturer with the right AI tools can outmaneuver industry giants still stuck in quarterly planning cycles.

Where Perficient Comes In

Perficient’s Oracle team doesn’t just implement software — they architect transformation. With deep expertise in Oracle Manufacturing Cloud, Supply Chain Management, and embedded Fusion AI solutions, they help you:

• Integrate AI into existing workflows without blowing up your operations.
• Optimize supply chain visibility from raw materials to customer delivery.
• Leverage IoT and machine learning for continuous process improvement.
• Scale securely in the cloud while keeping compliance and governance in check.

They’ve done it for global manufacturers, and they can do it for you — faster than you think.

The Call to Action

If you believe your manufacturing operations are immune to disruption, history says otherwise. The companies that win will be the ones that treat AI not as a pilot project, but as the new operating system for their business.

Rather than letting new entrants disrupt your position, take initiative and lead the charge—make them play catch-up.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital landscape, organizations are seeking clarity on how to strategically integrate AI into their digital experience platforms (DXPs). In its latest report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, Forrester explores how DXP vendors are embedding AI agents to streamline experience operations and expand toolsets — from copilots to code generators. Perficient was proud to contribute its DXP and AI expertise to this research, joining the group of vendors and service providers interviewed for the report. 

“Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping digital experience platforms (DXPs) by automating content and campaign creation, powering intelligent copilots for marketers and developers, and boosting customer engagement through predictive insights and personalization.” —Forrester, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms

Why AI Belongs in the DXP Conversation

Today’s tech leaders face a growing challenge: delivering consistent, personalized experiences across a fragmented landscape of devices, channels, and customer expectations. DXPs are uniquely positioned to address this complexity. As Forrester notes, DXPs are rich in customer interaction data, support high-value business outcomes, and serve a diverse set of practitioners — all of which make them fertile ground for AI innovation. 

“DXP is a trove of trusted customer interaction data… Unleashing AI on this data enables organizations to understand audience intent and respond to that intent with irresistible offers.” — Forrester, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms

And Perficient’s experts agree that DXPs are a great place to start when integrating AI into experience delivery. 

“Marketing and IT leaders are under pressure to deliver personalized, omnichannel experiences at scale, and that’s exactly where DXPs shine. By embedding AI into the core of these platforms, clients can unlock the full value of their customer data and streamline operations across content, commerce, and campaigns,” said Mark Polly, Perficient Principal, Customer Experience Platforms.  

Agentic AI Ushers in a New Era of Experience Operations

The report highlights the rise of agentic AI and how these intelligent agents operate within DXPs to automate tasks, answer questions, and optimize workflows. These agents are transforming how marketers, developers, and content creators interact with their platforms, reducing friction and accelerating time to value. 

Perficient’s experience with orchestration tools and AI agents reinforces this trend. While many vendors offer orchestration capabilities, Perficient often helps clients integrate these tools across their broader tech ecosystem. 

” For marketing and IT leaders, true orchestration moves beyond linear workflows; it’s about integrating platforms like AEM and Optimizely to create a dynamic, responsive system. This integration is the key to driving operational efficiency and gaining the unified insights needed for deeper customer engagement. AI agents play a critical role here, transforming those rigid workflows into the real-time orchestration that a modern customer journey demands. Adoption is still in its early stages, which is where we help clients build a strategic advantage,” said Perficient digital strategy principal Grant Davies. 

Emerging GenAI Use Cases in DXPs

From brand-aware content creation to code generation and experimentation, GenAI is also rapidly expanding its footprint in DXP environments. Vendors like Adobe, Sitecore, and Salesforce are launching copilots and agents that empower users to create, test, and optimize experiences with unprecedented speed and precision. 

Perficient is already helping clients explore these capabilities and align them with business goals. 

Polly said, “We’re seeing real momentum around GenAI use cases in DXP from brand-consistent content creation to intelligent experimentation. These capabilities aren’t just flashy features; they’re solving real business problems like reducing time to market and improving conversion rates. The key is aligning AI with measurable outcomes and ensuring strong governance.” 

Perficient Wins 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award for GenAI Integrity Accelerator   Learn More

Strategic Adoption Requires Strong Foundations 

Successful AI adoption in DXPs requires more than just technology. Organizations must invest in strong data foundations, human oversight, and change management to ensure responsible and effective use of AI. These are areas where Perficient continues to guide clients with strategic consulting and hands-on implementation. 

We believe our inclusion in the research for Forrester’s report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, reflects our deep expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs. Whether it’s integrating predictive analytics, deploying cognitive copilots, or improving data governance, our teams are leading the way in enabling AI-powered transformation. 

We’re honored to be interviewed for this research and proud to contribute to the evolving conversation around AI in digital experience. If you’re exploring how to bring AI into your DXP strategy, we invite you to connect with us and keep the conversation going. 

Access the report here (available to Forrester subscribers or for purchase).

Contact us  to learn more. 

On the hundredth anniversary of its circulation, Automotive News launched a series on the technological innovations driving the shift to “software-defined vehicles” (SDVs). The articles explore the fragmented U.S. roadmap to software integration, intensifying global competition, OEM progress to date, and the uncertainties shaping automakers’ strategies. 

This coverage signals an evolution. As automakers race to redefine themselves as technology companies, the industry is grappling with how software will reshape value, competition, and consumer trust. 

Perficient’s Connected Products Research Provides Clarity 

At Perficient, our latest connected products research “Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy” adds a critical layer of data to the SDV conversation: distinguishing not what automakers think matters most — but what consumers actually care about.

“OEMs are making strategic bets on software-defined vehicles, but consumers are weighing very different factors when making purchase decisions. The gap between those perspectives is significant — and closing it is critical,” said Justin Huckins, Director, Strategy, Automotive Industry Lead.  

This difference matters. OEMs navigating still-undefined SDV pathways need data-based consumer signals to guide product architecture, user experience, data governance, and connected services. Otherwise, they risk widening the gap between industry emphasis and end-user expectations. 

Four Key Insights: Where Automakers and Consumers Diverge 

Our research gathered perspectives from 1,307 respondents including consumers, OEMs, and manufacturers, surfacing a series of misalignments: 

1. Trust is the top consumer priority, but not for manufacturers. Only 22% of manufacturers flagged “trust” as a critical factor in adoption — yet consumers consistently rank it #1. 
2. Consumers don’t feel informed about data collection. Despite widespread anxiety about data privacy, only 19% of consumers feel fully aware of what their vehicles are collecting. 
3. Experience outweighs engineering. “Consumers are more worried about the experience than the engineering. OEMs often enter the connected space for internal reasons — field data, R&D — but buyers expect tangible value in everyday use,” said Kevin Espinosa, Director, Strategy, Manufacturing Industry Lead. 
4. Integration matters. 38% of consumers highlighted integration with other connected devices as a key feature. This points to expectations of seamless cross-device ecosystems — from vehicles to homes to mobile apps. 

Why this Research Matters in the Race to Software Defined Vehicles 

• Trust as a foundation: Software-defined vehicles amplify consumer concerns around data handling, privacy, and transparency.  “It’s alarming that manufacturers and their customers don’t value trust in the same way,” said Jim Hertzfeld, Area Vice President. Trust is no longer a secondary issue; it’s the foundation for adoption. 

• The global race, China’s edge & collaboration: As Automotive News highlights, China’s accelerated SDV progress creates global pressure. Collaborative development models will only succeed if OEMs align around consumer trust and clarity. 

• Roadmap clarity through consumer signals: With the SDV roadmap still fuzzy, consumer insights provide directional clarity on where to invest — from UX and subscriptions to data governance and operating models. “OEMs are looking to monetize, but customers are looking for better experiences. Whoever reconciles that disconnect first will lead the next wave of SDVs,” added Justin. 

Shaping SDV Strategies Around What Buyers Value 

As the SDV era accelerates — with new architectures, shared development models, and software updates over the air — aligning strategy with consumer expectations around transparency and privacy will be just as important as the technology itself.  

Leveraging our position as the global AI-first consultancy, Perficient partners with Fortune 2000 companies across industries—healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and more—to digitize operations, modernize with cloud and AI, and unlock insights from connected data platforms. That cross-industry vantage point matters, because there are now more connected products in the world than people, and vehicles are becoming one of the most important nodes in this ecosystem. 

If you’re exploring how SDV strategies can be shaped by what buyers truly value, our research offers a tangible perspective. Download Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy or schedule an interview with our industry leaders to discuss how consumer insights can inform your software defined vehicle strategy.

In the face of economic uncertainty, shifting buyer expectations, and rapid technological change, manufacturing marketers must evolve to stay competitive. LinkedIn’s 2025 B2B Manufacturing Buyer Research highlights five key trends that define this transformation. By leveraging AI-powered Adobe tools, marketers can meet these challenges head-on and build future-ready brands.

Trend 1: Future-Proofing Through Innovation

What’s happening:

Buyers are increasingly focused on operational efficiency and long-term digital transformation. 87% of respondents say their organizations are prioritizing efficiency, and many struggle to keep up with the pace of technological change.

What marketers should do:

Position their brand as a strategic innovation partner. Showcase how their solutions solve today’s challenges while preparing buyers for future disruptions.

How Adobe can help:

• Adobe Experience Platform enables real-time customer profiling and segmentation, helping marketers tailor messaging to evolving buyer needs.
• Adobe Sensei powers predictive analytics to uncover inefficiencies and forecast trends.
• Adobe Workfront streamlines collaboration and campaign execution, ensuring agility in response to market shifts.

Trend 2: Building Trust Through Expertise

What’s happening:

55% of buyers struggle to differentiate vendors. Trust, credibility, and consistent messaging are now essential for winning business.

What marketers should do:

Lead with transparency and expertise. Use testimonials, data-driven results, and thought leadership to build trust and stay top-of-mind.

How Adobe can help:

• Adobe Real-Time CDP delivers personalized experiences across channels, reinforcing brand consistency.
• Adobe Journey Optimizer ensures relevant, timely messaging that builds credibility.
• Adobe Experience Manager allows marketers to manage and deliver trusted content like case studies and performance data at scale.

Trend 3: Complex Buying Demands a Message for Every Stakeholder

What’s happening:

Manufacturing buying groups are growing in size and diversity, often involving executives, operations, procurement, and finance. Each stakeholder has unique priorities, and manufacturing marketers must tailor messaging accordingly.

What marketers should do:

Develop stakeholder-specific messaging. Use targeted content to address the goals of executives, operations, procurement, and finance.

How Adobe can help:

• Adobe Target enables A/B testing and personalization for different personas.
• Adobe Analytics helps identify stakeholder behavior and preferences.
• Adobe Workfront supports campaign orchestration across teams, ensuring alignment and timely delivery of tailored content.

Trend 4: Creative Impact, Market Presence, and Transparency Get Buyers Talking

What’s happening:

Buyers are seeking solution-oriented vendors who deliver ROI and not just low-cost providers. With 60% of buyers focused on ROI over cost and only 29% feeling confident in their awareness of new vendors, there’s a clear opportunity for marketers to stand out through impactful storytelling and brand presence.

What marketers should do:

Craft compelling brand stories through rich visuals and multimedia, maintain transparency with consistent, personalized messaging, and build a strong market presence through omnichannel campaigns.

How Adobe can help:

• Adobe Creative Cloud empowers marketers to design visually compelling, brand-consistent assets, from event collateral to digital ads, that capture attention and communicate value.
• Adobe Experience Manager enables marketers to deliver personalized, omnichannel content experiences that reinforce brand credibility and transparency.
• Adobe Marketo Engage supports lead nurturing with tailored messaging and automated campaigns that highlight ROI and long-term value.
• Adobe Analytics provides deep insights into content performance, helping marketers refine messaging and creative strategies based on buyer engagement.
• Adobe Real-Time CDP ensures marketers can deliver relevant, personalized content across channels by unifying customer data and activating it in real time.

Trend 5: Social Media Sparks Action and Drives Results

What’s happening:

Social media is a powerful driver of buyer engagement and decision-making. Over 40% of manufacturing buyers say vendor content on social platforms has influenced their purchasing decisions.

What marketers should do:

Lead conversations on relevant platforms. Use social media to share thought leadership, spark engagement, and drive measurable action.

How Adobe can help:

• Adobe GenStudio for Performance Marketing enables marketers to plan, create, and activate high-performing campaigns across social and digital channels. It streamlines content workflows and ensures brand consistency while optimizing for performance.
• Adobe Analytics tracks social media performance and buyer behavior, helping marketers understand what content drives engagement and refine strategies accordingly.

Marketing as a Catalyst for Transformation

The future of manufacturing marketing lies in connecting innovation with trust, personalization with scale, and creativity with performance. These five trends provide a roadmap for marketers who are ready to lead, rather than just react.

By leveraging AI-powered platforms like Adobe Experience Cloud, marketing leaders can deliver unified and personalized experiences that resonate across every stage of the buyer’s lifecycle.

Are you ready to lead the transformation? Let’s manufacture the future together.

Customer experience (CX) continues to be a defining factor in business success. In a digital-first world, even a single poor interaction can drive customers to competitors, contributing to an estimated $1.6 trillion in annual losses in the U.S. alone. On the other hand, exceptional omnichannel experiences build trust, deepen loyalty, and turn customers into lifelong advocates.

Perficient included in IDC Market Glance: Customer Experience Services, 2025

We’re proud to share that Perficient has once again been included in the category of IT Services Providers in the IDC Market Glance: Customer Experience Services, 2Q25 report (doc #US52469525, June 2025).

According to IDC, “Agentic AI and GenAI are working their way into marketing and sales technologies and services, beginning with a pragmatic focus on automating, improving and scaling existing business processes and offerings. New AI-based business models have yet to emerge, but AI is already putting existing CX services under pressure to change.”

Embracing an AI-First Future

As part of our AI-first company mission, Perficient is committed to helping organizations harness the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize customer experiences. From the use of generative AI in content creation and virtual agents, to intelligent automation and predictive analytics, we’re enabling businesses to unlock new levels of personalization, efficiency, and growth.

Strategy Meets Innovation

Our strategists use Journey Science, a core component of our Envision Framework, to help clients identify opportunities, define a customer-centric vision, and build a prioritized roadmap for transformation. This approach ensures that every touchpoint is optimized to deliver seamless, personalized, and measurable experiences.

Operationalizing CX with Data and AI

The future of CX is rooted in customer obsession—and we help you execute that vision. By combining deep customer insights with AI-powered tools and data-driven strategies, we enable organizations to deliver extraordinary value at every stage of the customer journey.

Ready to elevate your customer experience strategy? Explore how Perficient’s AI-first approach and CX expertise can help you drive measurable results: Customer Experience + Digital Marketing Services | Perficient

For manufacturers, customer experience is no longer a differentiator, but a growth strategy. We’re proud to share that Perficient was selected as a company interviewed for Forrester’s May 2025 report, “Transform Your Manufacturing Extended Enterprise For Maximum Business Impact.”  We believe being interviewed for this report underscores our leadership in helping manufacturers modernize their digital ecosystems to deliver seamless, scalable, and personalized experiences across the value chain. 

Access the report here. 

Partnering With Manufacturing Companies As They Digitally Mature 

At Perficient, we have a proven track record in integrating complex systems like PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), PIM (Product Information Management), and OMS (Order Management Systems) to streamline product content and availability. 

As Forrester notes in the report, “As B2C digital experiences become more convenient and more B2B buying groups include younger members, manufacturers must curate, enrich, and distribute product content that supports compelling customer experiences at every touchpoint in the product buying group’s journey.” 

Our client-centric approach addresses these real-world challenges in manufacturing CX — from abandoned carts due to inaccurate lead times to inconsistent product content across channels. We also regularly publish thought leadership on leveraging AI and generative AI to scale personalization and automate product data management. 

“We’ve seen firsthand how aligning product data, systems, and customer expectations can unlock real business value, and we’re proud to contribute to the broader industry conversation on what it takes to lead in this space.” – Kevin Espinosa, Director of Digital Strategy and Manufacturing Industry Lead 

Perficient’s Vision for the Manufacturing Extended Enterprise 

Key insights the Perficient team provided in their interview for the Forrester report included the critical role content plays in customer experience, the responsible use of AI, strategies for overcoming organizational silos, the importance of inventory accuracy, and the path to digital maturity. 

Perficient’s position is that these changes should be addressed with urgency, and we are well-positioned to offer expert guidance. Below are some brief perspectives on each of these topics. 

Content is the Cornerstone of CX 

Accurate, timely, and localized product content is essential to building trust and driving conversions. This is especially true in B2B and D2C manufacturing, where buying decisions hinge on technical accuracy and availability.  

According to a recent Perficient survey of multiple manufacturers, commercial customers, and consumers of connected products, trust in a manufacturer is critical for the end consumers in making a buying decision. Providing consistent, accurate and up to date information about the products is a crucial first step in establishing this trust factor. 

AI is a Game-Changer — But Only When Used Responsibly 

Generative AI is transforming areas like product design, search, product descriptions and recommendations, virtual agents, agent assistance, coding, content creation, narrative reporting, and process automation, but human oversight remains critical. Our vision for the future of genAI includes agentic architectures where AI agents validate each other’s outputs and flag for human review, ensuring quality and compliance before content reaches the customer. 

System Integration is the Secret to Speed and Scale 

Manufacturers often struggle with siloed systems and disconnected teams. We’ve helped clients overcome these barriers by integrating PLM and PIM systems, establishing clear ownership models and creating enterprise-wide catalogs that reduce friction and accelerate time-to-market. 

Syndication and Availability Drive Revenue 

A number of our clients have experienced abandoned carts and dissatisfied customers when ATP (available-to-promise) and lead times are not available or inaccurate. Further, if the ordering experience is different online than the information received when calling an agent, the credibility of the brand is at risk. From ATP data to local inventory visibility, we help manufacturers ensure that what’s promised online matches what’s available in reality.  

Maturity Matters 

We help manufacturers assess and evolve their digital maturity, from foundational capabilities like centralized content management to advanced practices like AI-powered hyper-personalization and dynamic UI generation based on user personas. 

Invest in End-to-End Digital Transformation for Manufacturing 

We believe that Perficient being interviewed for the Forrester report is a validation of our commitment to helping manufacturers transform their extended enterprise for a differentiated customer experience. Whether you’re looking to modernize your product content strategy, integrate complex systems, or harness the power of AI, Perficient is the partner to help you lead with confidence. 

Explore our manufacturing industry expertise and our portfolio of commerce and contact center capabilities that make an excellent customer experience a reality. 

As we move through 2025, artificial intelligence — especially generative AI — continues to redefine how enterprises operate and compete. What began as experimentation has rapidly evolved into large-scale adoption, with organizations embedding AI into core strategies, operations, and customer experiences. From intelligent automation and predictive insights to dynamic content generation, AI is now a driving force behind innovation, agility, and growth. Today, staying ahead means not just keeping up with AI but leading with it.

AI Technical Services Landscape

Forrester’s AI Technical Services Landscape, Q2 2025 report provides an overview of 36 notable providers in the rapidly evolving AI services market. It aims to help technology leaders understand the value various vendors bring, and how those offerings align with organizational needs across industries and use cases.

Forrester defines AI Technical Services as: “The delivery capability of repeatable and scalable AI solutions, encompassing AI and data infrastructure, governance, training, and innovation.” When executed with expert partners, AI initiatives can drive significant operational and competitive advantages. We’re proud to be recognized in the Forrester AI Technical Services Landscape as a consultancy with an industry focus in the sectors of financial services, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, and a geographic focus in North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

AI Capabilities and Focus Areas

We believe this recognition highlights our commitment to helping clients harness the power of AI to solve complex business challenges, creating meaningful transformation.

One of the ways we accelerate AI adoption is through our AI AMP Jumpstart, a focused, five-week engagement designed to quickly uncover and activate AI opportunities. Using our proven modeling process, we help clients explore real-world applications of machine learning, natural language processing, and cognitive technologies.

Our services go beyond development. Through our PACE framework, which emphasizes governance, AI literacy, data readiness, and responsible innovation, we help organizations lay the foundation for scalable, ethical AI solutions that last.

We’re continually expanding our expertise across key domains, including generative AI, predictive analytics, and natural language understanding, empowering our clients to innovate faster, operate smarter, and deliver better outcomes.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale existing AI initiatives, choosing the right partner is key to getting real results. At Perficient, our team of over 300 AI experts, spanning data scientists, engineers, architects, and developers, brings the hands-on experience needed to turn potential into performance.

Contact us to explore how our expertise can accelerate your transformation.

Download the Forrester report, The AI Technical Services Landscape, Q2 2025 to learn more (link to report available to Forrester subscribers and for purchase).

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We are thrilled to announce that Perficient has been recognized in Forrester’s recent report, “The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025.” Forrester defines connected product engineering services providers as:  

“Firms that conceive, design, develop, launch, and scale new connected (or embodied) products that combine a physical product with digital applications to directly deliver new revenue for their clients.” 

We believe this acknowledgment highlights our commitment to driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to our clients through connected product engineering services. 

Access The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025 to find out more. 

Driving Connected Product Innovation Across Key Industries 

Whether it’s enabling a shift to product-as-a-service models, managing the ongoing support and monetization of field-deployed connected products, or improving workforce productivity through modern workplace technologies, we believe our strategic and management consulting expertise empowers organizations to navigate complexity and deliver meaningful outcomes. Notably, we’ve achieved success for clients in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, manufacturing, and utilities industries when it comes to connected product innovation. Our clients rely on us not only for engineering and implementation, but also for the high-value strategic work that drives connected product success. 

What Are Connected Product Engineering Services? 

From Perficient’s perspective, Connected Product Engineering Services are a comprehensive suite of offerings designed to create products that blend physical components with digital applications. These services cover the entire life cycle of product development, including: 

Conception: Ideating new connected products that meet market needs and client requirements. 

Design: Crafting designs that integrate both physical and digital elements to ensure seamless functionality and user experience. 

Development: Building and programming the product, including hardware and software integration. 

Launch: Bringing the product to market, including strategies for deployment and initial user adoption. 

Scaling: Expanding the product’s reach and capabilities to grow user bases and evolving market demands. 

The goal of connected product engineering services is to deliver products that not only function effectively but also generate new revenue streams for clients by leveraging the synergy between physical and digital technologies. Perficient’s expertise in this area runs deep and provides clients with improved data strategy, monetization, and user interfaces that ultimately instill customer trust and loyalty. 

Common Disrupters and Challenges  

With the results from Perficient’s own research, we have found that as the connected product landscape evolves, so do the challenges and disruptions organizations must navigate. One disruptor we’re seeing in the marketplace is the growing customer expectation for seamless interoperability between connected products. Namely, 50% of commercial users responded that their connected products integrated only “somewhat well” with their existing systems and infrastructure. 

Buyers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on how well new products integrate with their existing connected ecosystems. This shift is creating a strong push for increased collaboration and partnerships between OEMs to enable cross-product connectivity, such as linking garage door openers with vehicles or syncing household appliances with mobile devices. 

Another challenge is overcoming negative customer sentiment toward connected features. Some consumers view these features as unnecessary luxuries or express concerns about privacy and data security. Only 19% of consumers feel aware of data collection practices. In industrial settings like manufacturing and supply chain, connected products are sometimes perceived as intrusive or overly surveillance-focused. 

Additionally, there’s often a gap in user education. Many OEMs struggle to implement the right structures for ongoing support and training, making it difficult for customers to fully understand and leverage all available product features. Addressing these concerns through thoughtful design, transparent data practices, and strong customer enablement programs is essential for long-term success in the connected product space. 

Perficient’s Approach to Connected Product Engineering 

At Perficient, we take a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to connected product delivery, combining strategy, engineering, prototyping, and testing to bring innovative ideas to life. Especially when it comes to connected products, we understand that it starts with a strong data foundation. That’s why we prioritize helping clients define a robust data strategy from the start.  

When the foundation is solid, identifying how to utilize that data and create new revenue streams is the next step. Subscription models are becoming a key driver of connected product monetization, and we guide clients in building scalable ecosystems that support recurring revenue. Additionally, we recognize that customer experience is a critical differentiator, often enabled through companion apps that provide seamless access to product features and functionality. These strategic considerations—data, subscriptions, and experience—are essential components of a successful connected product strategy, and they remain central to how Perficient delivers value to our clients. 

Real and actionable insights drive our strategy. We’ve based our approach for connected product manufacturers on our own research – a study on the sentiments of consumers, commercial users, and manufacturers of connected products – which you can explore here. 

Learn more about our manufacturing industry expertise. 

When it comes to manufacturing, companies (OEM) require services from their manufacturing partners to help with the production of finished and semi-finished products.  There are two known solutions that Oracle Fusion SCM suite offers: Outside Processing (OSP) and Contract Manufacturing.  Both solutions involve a third-party vendor and a service component to either help complete a work order, fulfill a sales order, or fulfill subassembly demand. Both solutions serve a purpose and are quite powerful. Before I jump into the comparison, here’s a textbook definition of both solutions:

OSP:

OSP is the process of outsourcing a portion of the work order that is being done in house. For example, a steel shop that can cut and weld steel to manufacture frames may send the frames to a paint shop (vendor) to get painted. The steel shop then receives the painted frames in house and perhaps performs a few more value-added steps to complete the work order.  The paint portion of this work order is considered an outside job.  Companies may prefer outside processing for various reasons. The steel manufacturer may not be interested in installing a paint booth and employing painters, or the company may have a paint booth but it’s backlogged or is down. Specialization may be required. In all these scenarios, a vendor is needed to help.

Contract Manufacturing:

Contract Manufacturing is to (optionally) provide materials to a vendor and expect the vendor to produce assemblies and send them to external or internal customers.  Typically, the company ships raw materials and/or subassemblies to their vendor and manages stock in their warehouse.  With contract manufacturing, the vendor is in complete control of manufacturing process and is supposed to update and complete work orders or communicate back the process.  The OEM usually has owned stock at the vendor location and tracks in its books.

The one-million-dollar question; which one to pick?

In most cases the “textbook” response can be straightforward. In some cases, companies that are using production steps from a vendor as one of the operations in their in-house work orders use the OSP solution. It’s straightforward and quite easy to set up. Read this blog for OSP treatment advice in Cost Management.

Contract Manufacturing may be used directly to fulfill back-to-back sales orders, or to fulfill the Supply Planning generated subassembly transfer orders and work orders.  Two drawbacks to Contract Manufacturing (as of Release 25A), is that the second portion of the solution can only be accomplished by Supply Planning. Contract Manufacturing is a robust solution, but it requires vendors to actively participate providing feedback on inventory levels, or updating the production progress in Oracle Fusion.

There are use cases where companies may use a vendor to produce subassemblies, but would like to create manual work orders, manage the inventory, and want a less complicated solution.  In this case, the OSP solution can work beautifully simulating a Contract Manufacturing solution.

Based on the business requirements, the OEM may choose to go with OSP.  Let’s assume that the inventory sent to the vendor for Contract Manufacturing is only sent when new assemblies are required and there isn’t an opportunity to electronically integrate through webservices and communication is with emails or with other correspondence.

For this OEM, it is feasible to create a Work Center in Oracle Fusion Manufacturing for its vendor, automatically create service purchase orders, and have dedicated supply and completion subinventories.  Inventory Management could be a little challenging dedicating the raw material for contract manufacturer use only, but not unmanageable.  In this simple scenario, the OEM doesn’t have to go through a complex setup to use Contract Manufacturing, and they can go with the OSP solution.

There are various use cases and potential solutions using Oracle Supply Planning, Inventory Management, and min-max planning, Oracle Manufacturing, Inventory and Procurement, and the Supplier Portal to fulfill various manufacturing scenarios.

Contact Mehmet Erisen at Perficient for more introspection of this functionality, and how Perficient and Oracle Fusion Cloud can digitalize and modernize your ERP platform.