Manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the convergence of smart digital technologies, connected operations, and customer-centric strategies. Perficient is uniquely positioned to guide this evolution, applying deep industry knowledge and a suite of next-gen solutions, from IoT‑powered manufacturing ecosystems to AI‑driven supply chain and aftermarket optimization. 

An independent industry analysis recently recognized Perficient as a leader in delivering IT consulting and technology services for manufacturers, affirming our ability to deliver substantial, measurable results. This honor validates what we’ve long known: Perficient delivers high-value outcomes by blending deep manufacturing domain expertise with cutting-edge technology. 

“We empower manufacturers to embrace the speed at which digital innovation is happening, accelerating their efforts, streamlining processes, enhancing experiences, and sustaining a competitive advantage via AI.” – Kevin Espinosa, Director of Manufacturing & Strategy, Perficient 

Elevating Factory Operations Through Smart Innovation 

Perficient empowers manufacturers to overcome fragmented IT and OT environments, data silos, and legacy infrastructure limitations. By deploying digital twins, AI enhanced predictive maintenance, and real-time asset monitoring, we enable clients to make smarter, faster decisions on the plant floor. For example, we’ve enabled access to equipment telemetry data and streamlined data ingestion into a top 10 automaker’s future-proof and AI/ML-ready infrastructure to perform analytics and proactively identify issues. Further, we designed a container-based cloud-agnostic solution to support the real-time collection and processing of telemetry data from millions of connected vehicles and enabled scaling on demand while containing costs. 

Reimagining Aftermarket and Field Service 

Competitive advantage in manufacturing often hinges on post-sale service. At a Fortune 500 manufacturing conglomerate, Perficient reengineered customer service using AI and machine learning alongside Amazon Web Services. The initiative automated email responses, introduced intelligent chatbots, and gave agent productivity a significant boost. These enhancements slashed service costs by $25 million annually and unlocked an additional $61 million projected in revenue, transforming service into a strategic business driver. In addition, we’ve streamlined dealer service reporting with Microsoft AI and automation at a global industrial machinery manufacturer by enabling technicians to generate service reports from shorthand notes, saving them 1.5 hours on average per service report and reducing warranty claim denials. 

Building Extended Ecosystems, Forging Supply Chain Resilience 

Perficient helps manufacturers smooth out extended enterprise complexities, aligning systems like PLM, PIM, OMS, and ERP to create consistent product content, inventory accuracy, and seamless buyer journeys. As featured in a recent industry report, our consultants shed light on real-time content sync and eliminating abandoned carts and improving conversions, an essential move amid growing digital sophistication in B2B and B2C channels. In addition, Perficient recently transformed Roeslein’s supply chain with Oracle Cloud to unite all locations and provide a flexible, scalable foundation for growth. 

Industry Recognition That Matters 

Our manufacturing leadership extends beyond project results. This past year, Perficient has been awarded and recognized by several publications, firms, and organizations for expertise and contributions in the industry, namely:  

• Won Platinum dotCOMM award for proprietary voice of the customer (VOC) research on connected products 

• Recognized as a 2025 CRN IoT Innovator for our role in building connected, autonomous, and sensor-driven solutions across industrial environments

• Named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for SoftwareDefined Vehicles 2025 

• Awarded Coveo Relevance Award for AI-Powered Search work for ADI Global: Snap-One 

Orchestrating the Future of Manufacturing 

Innovation in manufacturing is no longer optional. It’s essential. Perficient’s expertise spans cloud-to-edge infrastructure, integrated digital twins, real-time analytics, and AI-first strategies. Whether driving smart factory initiatives, optimizing aftermarket service, modernizing IT and OT systems, or improving the operation of and experience with connected products and equipment, we empower manufacturers to achieve operational agility, customer-centric experiences, and sustainable growth. 

Explore how we can help your organization lead in connectivity, resilience, and innovation. 

Discover Perficient’s approach to manufacturing transformation. 

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.

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. 

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.

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).

Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester’s objectivity here .

Perficient’s longstanding partnership with Salesforce is a testament to our belief in this platform’s transformative power in solving complex business challenges and designing superior digital experiences.   

We strive to stay ahead of the evolving Salesforce ecosystem and actively shape its future. Our talented Salesforce professionals go beyond mere implementation; we focus on driving innovation, fostering connections, and creating meaningful change for our clients and the broader technology landscape.  

Whether you’re an experienced Salesforce expert or looking to develop your skills, joining Perficient’s Salesforce team gives you a refreshing opportunity to step into a role that challenges and inspires you to drive impact at a global scale.   

So, what makes Perficient’s Salesforce practice truly exceptional? Keep reading to learn more about:  

• The ways we’re redefining Salesforce innovation across industries  

• How our people and collaborative culture serve as the backbone of our Salesforce practice  

• How our ongoing impact through Salesforce solutions will facilitate continuous professional growth  

Spearheading Advanced Solutions with Salesforce  

Our colleagues are not just Salesforce experts—they are digital innovators. Perficient’s Salesforce team is dedicated to harnessing the full potential of Salesforce’s robust ecosystem, including Data Cloud, Einstein AI, Marketing Cloud, and Experience Cloud. 

We partner with clients across industries such as healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, and financial services to solve complex problems, create personalized digital experiences, and drive sustainable growth.  

Perficient’s commitment to crafting meaningful and measurable solutions doesn’t end with clients; we ensure that our Salesforce professionals have access to continuous learning and development opportunities to stay ahead of industry trends and technologies.  

Our goal is simple—to deliver digital solutions that matter, while fostering a work environment where your skills and ideas are championed.  

“Our clients are always excited to see how the changes we make will help make their lives easier,” said Katie Wilson, who started as an associate technical consultant and is now a technical architect on our Salesforce team in Fargo. 

READ MORE: Katie Wilson Develops Her Career Through Client Relationships  

Delivering Real Impact Through Collaboration  

Our Salesforce experts don’t work in silos. We foster a collaborative culture where our consultants, architects, engineers, and strategists come together to build tailored solutions.  

“Perficient’s collaborative spirit is what truly sets us apart,” said Jideofor Onyeneho, lead technical consultant, Salesforce. “We work together seamlessly to develop effective solutions that address our clients’ critical business challenges.”   

READ MORE: Jideofor’s Contributions to Perficient’s Salesforce Team  

We leverage Salesforce products and expertise to address industry-specific challenges—whether that’s transforming patient experiences in healthcare, improving partner engagement in manufacturing, or empowering advisors in financial services.   

“I transitioned from web development to Salesforce because problem-solving has always been my passion,” says Carl Thress, technical architect, Salesforce. “The most rewarding part of my job is delivering Salesforce solutions that simplify our clients’ lives. I’m currently pursuing my sixth Salesforce certification to keep growing in my career.”   

LEARN MORE: Carl Thress Learns on the Job and Continues to Thrive   

 Our people are at the core of our success. We believe in creating an environment where professionals with a problem-solving mindset, a collaborator’s approach, and a creator’s mentality can thrive.  

READ MORE:  Highlights from Our Demo Jam Events 

Our promise to challenge, champion, and celebrate our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a supportive environment where your ideas matter and foster growth for everyone. Whether through our mentorship programs, our commitment to work-life balance, or our collaborative culture, you’ll find that Perficient is a place where you can thrive personally and professionally. 

Driving Success Across Industries  

• Healthcare  

To expand its community impact and improve patient engagement, a leading pediatric health system partnered with Perficient to modernize its outreach strategy. The organization relied on a legacy CRM that lacked the scalability needed to support its growth ambitions. Managing critical data such as leads, forms, and campaign information became increasingly difficult, limiting its ability to connect with patients effectively. 

By integrating Salesforce Health Cloud with the organization’s existing Marketing Cloud, we created a unified platform that streamlined patient data management and enhanced communication capabilities. Additionally, we optimized system functionality to improve workflows and outreach efforts, making engagement more seamless and efficient.  

The results of this transformation were significant. Improved patient engagement became possible through enhanced data visibility, enabling more effective and personalized communications. Operational efficiency also saw a boost, as the integrated Salesforce ecosystem eliminated manual processes and streamlined workflows. 

This success story highlights the power of digital transformation in healthcare. As Perficient continues to partner with healthcare organizations, we remain committed to driving innovation that enhances patient care, optimizes operations, and strengthens community impact. 

READ MORE: Learn more about how we’re reshaping healthcare technology solutions. 

• Finance 

By leveraging Salesforce to streamline operations and unify data, financial organizations can improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive better business outcomes. 

For one of our leading clients in Mexico, inefficiencies in its lease platform caused integration gaps, reporting challenges, and manual processes that hindered call center performance. We automated dealer communication, digitized third-party vendor data, and updated Salesforce to address these issues to prevent future business disruptions. As a result, internal processes became more efficient, agent productivity improved, and management gained greater visibility into business operations. 

In another instance, a global financial organization sought to unify its marketing processes by consolidating multiple marketing automation platforms into Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement (MCE). Perficient developed a roadmap and architecture integrating multiple CRMs using Multi-Org in MCE and companion orgs in Data Cloud. 

This solution provided the marketing team with a centralized data hub, enabling consistent workflows, advanced segmentation, and seamless cross-organization communication.

• Manufacturing  

Manufacturing companies often face challenges in consolidating data from multiple systems and ensuring seamless sales operations. Perficient has helped industry leaders use Salesforce to streamline workflows, enhance data visibility, and drive revenue growth. 

For a leading manufacturer, the need to consolidate key sales data and generate actionable insights was critical to identifying new business opportunities. Perficient’s Agile global delivery team developed a custom digital sales analytics tool, integrating Google Cloud’s data storage and Tableau’s reporting into the Salesforce interface with a real-time API. This solution provided sales and marketing teams with a single, user-friendly platform to research prospects, follow up efficiently, and generate leads based on detailed asset and account data. As a result, productivity improved, and the company gained a scalable system for driving future revenue. 

Interested in learning more about our work within the manufacturing space? Click here.  

• Data 

In today’s digital-first world, businesses need a solid data foundation to deliver seamless, personalized experiences. For companies rolling out Agentforce, integrating Salesforce Data Cloud is a game-changer. By unifying customer data across multiple sources, Data Cloud enables agents and brokers to gain real-time insights, improve customer engagement, and make informed decisions that drive business growth. 

With AI-powered analytics, Salesforce Data Cloud enhances personalization by equipping sales teams with predictive insights, helping them anticipate customer needs and tailor interactions. Additionally, its scalability and security make it a future-proof solution for growing organizations. By centralizing and optimizing data, businesses can empower their teams to operate with agility and precision. 

READ MORE: Learn how Salesforce Data Cloud is transforming sales and customer engagement across industries. 

Insights From the Salesforce Manufacturing Summit 2025 

Our team had the opportunity to participate in the Salesforce Manufacturing Summit in Atlanta, an event that brought together over 800 attendees with more than 40 sessions and 20 product demonstrations. It was an exciting space for industry leaders, peers, and customers to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of manufacturing, with a strong focus on innovation and digital transformation. 

A key highlight of the summit was the increasing role of Generative AI in manufacturing, particularly within Salesforce’s Agentforce and Data Cloud solutions. These technologies are set to transform the industry by streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and improving customer satisfaction. According to the Salesforce State of Manufacturing Survey 2024, over 80% of manufacturers are now engaged with Generative AI. 

Salesforce’s Manufacturing Cloud was another major focus, with its goals centered on unifying digital experiences across the value chain. The platform aims to modernize commercial operations by streamlining sales and fulfillment processes, simplifying partner engagement by enhancing collaboration with suppliers and channel partners, and transforming service experiences by improving customer interactions and field service operations. 

The summit also featured exciting announcements, including new integrations with Revenue Cloud, agent-first field service capabilities, and expanded manufacturing-specific skills for Agentforce. These innovations further reinforce Salesforce’s commitment to helping manufacturers optimize operations and stay ahead in an evolving landscape. 

Read the full article here to dive deeper into the key takeaways, trends, and insights from the Salesforce Manufacturing Summit 2025. 

Join Our Salesforce Team   

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and join a Salesforce team that’s leading the charge in digital transformation, we’d love to hear from you. With roles available such as lead technical consultant, senior project manager, and solutions architect, there’s a place for you to make an impact.  

Explore our open roles and become part of a global team dedicated to solving complex business problems through the power of Salesforce.   

Learn about current opportunities here. 

By joining Perficient, you’re not just advancing your career. You’re becoming part of a global community striving to shatter boundaries, obsess over outcomes, and forge the future.  

We’re proud to share that Perficient has been honored with a Globee® Gold Award for Customer Excellence: Achievement in Customer Success Story, a global recognition celebrating organizations, teams, and individuals who consistently deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive innovation across industries. 

This award recognizes our significant success for a multinational manufacturing client.   Across functions and seniority levels, our contributions to organizations with digital transformation drives increased conversions, improves customer loyalty, and lowers costs for our clients. From customer service and sales to product development, marketing, finance, training, and operations—our commitment to customer satisfaction is embedded in every part of the business. 

Driving Results Through Innovation and Experience 

As a leading global digital consultancy, Perficient partners with the world’s largest enterprises and most recognized brands to deliver customer service solutions powered by AI, cloud, and data. With over 25 years of experience in customer service strategy and execution, our multidisciplinary teams—strategists, designers, technologists, and engineers—work in lockstep to deliver solutions that make a measurable impact. Our efforts have led to millions in annual cost savings and revenue growth for our clients. 

The Future of Customer Service 

Perficient is reshaping customer service with intelligent, scalable solutions that reduce complexity while improving satisfaction and loyalty. We specialize in: 

• Modern AI-powered tools like intelligent virtual assistants, conversational AI, and intent recognition 

• Omnichannel experiences across phone, email, social media, chat, and messaging apps 

• Intelligent search and knowledge bases that empower users to find answers independently 

• Proactive and predictive support that anticipates needs before customers reach out 

These innovations are helping brands deliver consistent, connected, and customer-centric experiences across every interaction. 

Our Award-Winning Customer Excellence 

Our recent work with a multinational manufacturing conglomerate seeking to modernize its global contact center infrastructure is one of the many reasons we received this award. With multiple disconnected systems, inconsistent customer experiences, and limited scalability, the client needed a transformative solution to support four business units operating across diverse global markets. 

Perficient stepped in as a strategic partner to lead a comprehensive cloud transformation, designing and deploying a future-ready contact center solution. We replaced legacy systems with a centralized, cloud-native platform that unified operations, standardized service processes, and provided greater agility to scale and innovate. The multi-year strategy resulted in $25M in traceable annual cost savings and $61M in projected revenue lift. The modernized contact center and chatbot shifted customers to self-service through proactive email and SMS updates, deflecting 975k inbound customer service calls and emails, translating to a 39% reduction. 

“Our multi-year strategy for cutting internal costs resulted in $25M in annual cost savings and $61M in projected revenue lift.” 

As a result of this collaboration, the client achieved a streamlined global contact center ecosystem that reduced operational complexity, increased system reliability, enhanced customer satisfaction, and improved scalability and cost efficiency. This transformation created a foundation for continuous innovation and long-term customer experience success. 

Learn more about our contact center function expertise. 

Read our connected products research.

Consumer and commercial demand for connected products has risen steadily by 15% since 2000 and is projected to grow another 14% by 2027 according to projections by IoT Analytics Gmbh. Features that were once considered nice to have or premium functionality are now table stakes. This trend indicates a time sensitive opportunity for manufacturers to forge new avenues of revenue generation. It is therefore crucial for manufacturers to continue pushing the envelope of capabilities the market has come to expect, depend on, and demand more of in the future.   

Perficient recognizes the value of thought leadership when competing for market share in a growing market.  To provide key insights that would inform connected product manufacturers’ strategies going forward, we surveyed end users and manufacturers of connected products to discover the factors impacting their sales, user behavior, and future trajectory. Over 1,300 responses across industries, departments, and seniority levels reveal intriguing commonalities and discrepancies.  We share in this piece some of the insight we gained from researching our survey returns.      

Explore our manufacturing industry expertise.

AI & ML is Where Manufacturer, Consumer, and Commercial User Interests Converge

Currently, emerging innovations enable completely new ways of leveraging connected products. Analysis of our results across manufacturers, commercial users, and consumers revealed that AI & ML are recognized by all groups as important, particularly with a market agreement on healthcare, home, and automotive automation and monitoring.     

AI, ML, and 5G technology enable the next era of capability extending well beyond connected thermostats and remote start automobiles many of us have adopted already.  Imagine an AI chatbot on your screen that can answer questions about how much gas money you should budget for your next road trip based on your route and vehicle mileage, fuel efficiency, and localized fuel costs by your designated octane rating.   

Differing Perspectives on Interoperability 

Our research uncovered a surprising gap between manufacturers and end-users in the perception of product interoperability within connected ecosystems. There was a strong proportional alignment among all manufacturer respondents on their products connecting “very well” or “well,” while a disproportionate number of responses from the market indicate a potential disconnect when it comes to products that connect “somewhat well.” 

Knowledge is power.  One of our hypotheses posits that the disconnect between manufacturers and their end users is lack of awareness of the connected features already enabled in their current devices.  This not only impedes demand-side innovation but also inhibits adoption of new technologies because upgrade costs may be perceived as “not worth it.”  This stimulated our curiosity to investigate the considerations our survey results indicate impact adoption.     

Explore our Connected Product Strategic Position.

How Does This Affect Connected Product Strategy? 

The above insights only cover a few of the many key takeaways that our team was able to derive from the research, but even diving into these alone will help uncover a wealth of opportunity. The results from our research highlight the clear need to take a step back and assess more deeply which areas of connected product innovation require more investment, such as rethinking data collection and utilization, product experience, and unlocking new business models. 

Opportunity for Improved Product Experience, Data Strategy, and Revenue Streams

There are many opportunities to improve connected product functionality, usability, and transparency. For example, a companion app can make it easier to change settings and improve personalization from the app instead of directly interfacing the product. The app would also enable remote monitoring, which can enhance safety and convenience for consumers who want to check in on their property or devices while away or get alerts for hazards like fire, carbon monoxide, open doors and windows, or air quality-related issues. ​ 

Not only should manufacturers consider how connected capabilities and opportunities can improve the user experience but also look internally about how they’re organizing and utilizing incoming data from those products. For example, automotive OEMs can create automated, cloud-agnostic data processing platforms that support that help improve the process of making cars by studying telemetry data driver behavior and machinery functionality insights.  In collecting and analyzing this data, manufacturers can then use it to inform new product features or improvements to issues like design flaws or poor user experience.  

Ultimately, manufacturers should look closely at exploring new revenue streams using their improved data strategy and interfaces to increase profitability and enhance customer loyalty. Making some features freely available and upgrades available through subscriptions, for example, is an opportunity to improve user experience and customer retention while bringing in recurring revenue. 

Do these insights resonate with you or ignite curiosity?  Download our guide outlining the research and   reach out to us  today to schedule a workshop or briefing to collaborate on how all of our insights and more can inform your connected products strategy.   

Leveraging data that is ‘trapped’ within unstructured data files like PDFs is a powerful capability within Agentforce.  With an Agentforce Data Library this ability to surface PDF content through an Agent is now available in a ‘No Code’ fashion to all Salesforce Admins.

So what is our Agentforce unstructured data use case?

Let’s say we have a variety of PDFs about the warranty coverage for vehicles.  We have a customer Experience Cloud site where the customer will log in and see their current warranty information. We also want these customers to be able to ask questions about the warranty program.   At this point all of that warranty information is ‘trapped’ inside of these PDFs.  We could surface the actual PDFs or try to work with Knowledge within Service Cloud.  But we can do better: Let’s actually surface the data within the PDFs in a very effective way through a chat interface to these customers.  Let’s let Agentforce work effectively with this unstructured data.

First a demo of how this works.

1. Here is our Agent who is ready to answer our questions.
   

   Agentforce Agent Ready

2. Here is our question: For a 2024 Ford F150 how do I make a warranty claim? 
3. Here is the answer from our Agent
   

   Agentforce Agent Answer

4. It worked!  How do I know that?  Because the answer came word for word from the PDF content that I had uploaded earlier.
5. Here is a piece of that FAQ document that exists as a PDF.
   

   FAQ Content

How was this solution built?

1. An Agentforce Data Library was built.
2. Go to Setup, Search for Agentforce Data Library
3. Click on ‘New Library’
   

   Create new Agentforce Data Library

4. Give it a Name, API Name and Description and click on Save.
5. Once you have your Agentforce Data Library you have to choose between leveraging Knowledge or File Uploads.  You cannot do both in the same Library.  In our example we are doing File Uploads.
6. We then upload whatever PDF files we want so the content can be used by your Agent. In this example I uploaded a couple of FAQ documents about vehicle warranty information.
   

   Upload Files to Library

7. At this point when the file uploads occur there is a lot happening for us automatically in the background in Data Cloud.  Salesforce has ingested that PDF, chunked it out and placed the content in some Data Cloud objects so it can be indexed and easily retrieved.
8. The base object showing that the file has been uploaded goes in the ‘DMO’ called ‘RagFileUDMO’.  You can view it in the ‘Data Explorer’ in Data Cloud.
   

   File level DMO in Data Cloud

9. There are two other objects where the ‘Chunks’ of data live.  When we did the File Upload into the Agentforce Data Library, Data Cloud automatically pulled the content out of the PDF, broke the text/content into ‘chunks’ and then put those ‘chunks’ of text/content into a DMO where it is indexed and made to be searchable.   There is a ‘SI_chunk’ and a ‘SI_index’ DMO.  Here is the ‘SI_chunk’ one…
   

   Search DMO in Data Cloud

10. There will be use cases where doing a manual load into an Agentforce Data Library would not be manageable or scalable, so there are integration options where files (Unstructured Data) could be loaded into Amazon S3, Azure Blog or GCP and then automatically pushed to Data Cloud.  We will save those steps for another blog post.
11. Now that the PDF content is ready to be used, we need to tell our Agent to use this specific Agentforce Data Library.  An Agent can only point at one Agentforce Data Library so it knows specifically where to look.
12. Open up your Agent by going to ‘Agents’ in Setup and then using the drop-down to the right of your Agent to choose ‘Open in Builder’.
13. Now select the Agentforce Data Library you have created after you select the Library ‘Book’ icon on the left.
    

    Agentforce Data Library

14. We now want to make sure that our Agent will use the ‘Answer Questions with Knowledge’ Action when the user prompts the Agent with questions about warranty.
15. In order to do this I created a new ‘Warranty FAQ’ Topic and gave it instructions and examples.
    

    Topic Configurations and Instructions

16. Then I made sure it has only one Action, which is the ‘Answer Questions with Knowledge’.  This out of the box Action will use the Library that is associated with this Agent.
    

    Topic Actions

17. Note that if I did not create this custom ‘Warranty FAQ’ Topic the Agent might default over to the ‘MigrationDefaultTopic’ Topic and not use the proper Action.
18. Building proper and detailed Instructions is very important within an Agent.
19. Remember that you can do a lot of great testing and see which Topics are Actions are being selected and executed within the Agent Builder.

That is it!

We have an Agent that can leverage PDF content that was created with ‘No Code’.  This solution is fully within the Trust architecture that Salesforce has in place for Agentforce. We needed the Agentforce Data Library, our PDFs, and a new Topic.  That is really it!

If you are brainstorming about use cases for Agentforce, please read on with this blog post from my colleague Darshan Kukde!

Here is another blog post where I discussed returning structured data instead of the unstructured data we talked about in this blog post.

If you want a demo of this in action or want to go deeper please reach out and connect!

When it comes to the manufacturing industry, the grainy image of smokestacks and bustling shop floors often comes to mind, however, modern manufacturing is a much more complicated landscape that involves numerous businesses working together. The hazards that can befall a corporation are numerous and can occur at any stage, making it critical for their business partners to grasp the intricacies from end to end of the manufacturing process and avoid pitfalls with forward-thinking strategies.

This year, our experts at Perficient are proud to once again be recognized by a leading global technology research and advisory firm as a notable global manufacturing industry consultancy.

“Our exceptional track record with manufacturing clients has landed us recognition once again, I believe due to our decades of client-side experience, deep industry expertise, and award-winning solutions.” – Kevin Espinosa

Manufacturing Expertise Informed by Research and Client-Side Experience

Our success with clients has much to do with our experts’ comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing process and the unique pain points for all areas of the business. Perficient consistently transforms global organizations in all different product markets, from industrial machinery to chemicals and specialty materials and even forms of transportation. To stay informed and innovative, our team analyzes market trends and conducts first-party research as many OEMs are facing new challenges while they rapidly transition from hardware to software companies.

In 2025 specifically, our experts will be diving deeper into smart manufacturing, AI, and robotics, which are revolutionizing manufacturing. Further, our firm will be continuing to help guide manufacturers as they seek ways to build closer relationships with customers and improve loyalty. At the same time, they’re continuing to emphasize that before true cutting-edge innovation can take place, firm foundations for data and streamlined processes must be achieved.

Guiding Organizations Through Challenges with Primary Research

Manufacturers are increasingly trying to get closer to their consumers, with direct-to-consumer strategies being one of the key parts of these efforts. We help them plan distribution and manage customer data, which is often held by partners, and improve supply chain and estimated delivery dates. Large manufacturing companies also often struggle with customer experience due to acquisitions and need assistance in streamlining marketing and technical campaigns to ensure clear communication and accountability.

Last year, our first-party research focused on customer journeys regarding electric vehicles (EV). With 17 states now requiring a certain amount of EVs, our experts wanted to better understand how OEMs and dealerships were working to improve their EV sales and build customer experiences to drive loyalty. With perspectives from consumers and dealers, we found that consumers needed more education about the vehicles, improved charging infrastructure, and decreased total cost of ownership to be more open to purchasing EVs. Most of all, customers continually expressed that they preferred a seamless digital-first experience when researching and purchasing their new vehicles. These insights helped guide OEMs and dealers to prioritize certain aspects of their electric vehicle strategies.

In 2024, we began our research focused on the manufacturing and use of connected products. As products are becoming more frequently connected to other devices, whether for businesses or consumers, our research discovered the discrepancies in which product types and functions were being prioritized by manufacturers and end-users. Insights like these will guide manufacturers as they build strategies for connected products that answer the increasing customer demands for more impressive and seamless experiences while also keeping privacy and transparency in mind. At the same time, manufacturers of connected products are facing an unprecedented influx of data which they’ll need to quickly understand how to manage and monetize while staying compliant with privacy laws.

Perficient’s manufacturing experts are proud to continue collecting primary research that will inform strategy in key areas for these organizations.

Data-Backed Strategy in Action

Perficient is proud to not only conduct primary research and build strategies, but implement them to achieve incredible results for manufacturers. For example, transparency, flexibility, and sustainability are essential in supply chains, which we support from raw material sourcing to shop floor operations. We’ve helped a coal producer make their systems more transparent and assisted steel manufacturers in better forecasting inputs from their suppliers. We’ve also helped a health and wellness goods manufacturer migrate to the cloud with their ERP system, improving inventory management and quality assurance.

Further, we excel at enabling frictionless and impressive customer experiences, like an AI virtual assistant for an OEM’s website that enhanced the buyer journey and increased site engagement and brand loyalty. Another manufacturer needed to modernize its fire and CO detection systems while also enhancing their remote monitoring to stay competitive in the smart home market. We developed a mobile app that was able to send alerts from their home safety systems with real-time, cloud-enabled IoT infrastructure that connected their detectors to the user’s devices.

There’s no shortage of work to be done with manufacturing organizations and automotive OEMs, and we’re here to help. Learn more about Perficient’s manufacturing expertise

For my first time attending the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), I must say it did not disappoint. This incredible event in Chicago happens every two years and is massive in size, taking up every main hall in McCormick Place. It was a combination of technology showcases, featuring everything from robotics to AI and smart manufacturing.

As a Digital Strategy Director at Perficient, I was excited to see the latest advancements on display representing many of the solutions that our company promotes and implements at the leading manufacturers around the globe. Not to mention, IMTS was the perfect opportunity to network with industry influencers as well as technology partners.

Oh, the People You Will Meet and Things You Will See at IMTS

Whenever you go to a show of this magnitude, you’re bound to run into someone you know. I was fortunate to experience the show with several colleagues, with a few of us getting to meet our Amazon Web Services (AWS) account leaders as well as Google and Microsoft.

The expertise of the engineers at each demonstration was truly amazing, specifically at one Robotic QA display. This robotic display was taking a series of pictures of automobile doors with the purpose of looking for defects. The data collected would go into their proprietary software for analysis and results. We found this particularly intriguing because we had been presented with similar use cases by some of our customers. We were so engrossed in talking with the engineers that our half-hour-long conversation felt like only a minute or two before we had to move on.

After briefly stopping to grab a pint—excuse me, picture—of the robotic bartender, we made our way to the Smart Manufacturing live presentation on the main stage. The ultra-tech companies presented explanations of how they were envisioning the future with Manufacturing 5.0 and digital twins, featuring big data as a core component.  It was reassuring to hear this, considering that it’s a strength of ours, thus reinforcing the belief that we need to continue focusing on these types of use cases. Along with big data, we should stay the course with trends shaping the industry like Smart Manufacturing, which at its roots are a combination of operations management, cloud, AI, and technology.

Goodbye IMTS, Hello Future Opportunities with Robotics, AI, and Smart Manufacturing

Overall, IMTS was certainly a worthwhile investment. It provided a platform to connect with potential partners, learn about industry trends, and strengthen our relationships with technology partners. As we look ahead to future events, I believe that a focused approach, leveraging our existing partnerships and adapting to the evolving needs of the manufacturing industry, will be key to maximizing our participation.

If you’d like to discuss these takeaways from IMTS Chicago 2024 at greater depth, please be sure to connect with our manufacturing experts.