At QAD, we believe that listening is the first step to leading. We’ve met with manufacturing leaders from around the world through the QAD Customer Advisory Board, conducting sessions that weren’t about pitching products; they were about listening. We asked candidly: What’s holding you back today? What’s next for your operations? What do you need from your technology partners to move faster and smarter?

The feedback was clear and consistent: across industries, manufacturers are under pressure to adapt faster than ever before. Global volatility, talent shortages, aging systems and rising expectations from customers and regulators are making the old playbook obsolete. And the message we heard was this: The systems of the past can’t meet the speed of today’s reality.

Here are five key insights that manufacturing leaders shared. These customer insights are shaping how QAD shows up as a strategic partner in this new era.

1. AI Needs to Empower People, Not Replace Them

Manufacturers are cautiously optimistic about AI, but they’re also pragmatic. They don’t want hype. They want tools that help teams work smarter.

One global automotive supplier told us: “AI is everywhere now, but what matters is how it’s used. If it can help our people work more efficiently and reduce the noise, we’re all in.”

Leaders emphasized a need for practical AI, designed to alert, recommend and support human decision-making without overcomplicating day-to-day operations.

2. Speed-to-Value Is the New Competitive Advantage

Manufacturers need modular, scalable platforms that deliver value in weeks, not years.

A finance executive from an industrial manufacturer put it this way: “The idea of waiting 12 or 18 months to get value from a new system? That just doesn’t fly anymore. We need impact in 90 days, not 900.”

This urgency isn’t just about software implementation. It’s about enabling faster innovation across every part of the organization.

3. Data Without Action Is a Liability

Manufacturers are sitting on massive volumes of data, but many still lack the tools to turn that data into action. Fragmented systems and reporting lags are holding teams back.

A senior leader at a consumer products company shared: “We don’t need more dashboards. We need systems that actually help us act. Spot the disruption, recommend a response and do something about it.”

The goal is clear: empower teams to move from insight to execution, seamlessly.

4. Workforce Enablement Is a Strategic Imperative

Leaders are laser-focused on how to close the skills gap, accelerate training and retain top talent. What they need are tools that work for the people closest to the work.

An operations leader in the food and beverage sector said it best: “The people on the floor are our biggest asset. If the system doesn’t work for them, it doesn’t work for us.”

Ease of use, mobile access and tailored workflows emerged as critical factors in workforce productivity and morale.

5. Agility Is Non-Negotiable

Whether it’s a sudden shift in demand, a supply chain disruption or a regulatory change, manufacturers need the ability to pivot quickly.

As one executive from a life sciences company shared: “The systems we use need to adapt at the same pace as our business. If it takes weeks to make a change, we’ve already missed the moment.”

Manufacturers aren’t just looking for flexibility. They’re demanding it.

Join the Conversation at Champions of Manufacturing

These conversations didn’t just validate what’s next. They defined it. The insights shared across our customer community continue to shape how QAD partners for success.

We’re bringing these customer insights to life at Champions of Manufacturing, QAD’s flagship customer event, taking place October 21-22 in Brussels and November 12-14 in Dallas.

This isn’t just a conference; it’s a call to action. Join the boldest manufacturers, sharpest technologists and most forward-thinking leaders for two days that will redefine what’s possible in modern manufacturing.

You’ll see breakthrough technologies in action, including the unveiling of Champion AI—QAD’s new Agentic AI platform built to transform ERP from a passive system of record into a proactive system of action. Get hands-on with product demos, hear from visionary customers and connect directly with the people building what’s next.

Join us for Champions of Manufacturing and discover the future of manufacturing technology.