Half of firms lack AI expertise despite rising interest in EAM tech
A global survey of maintenance professionals has found that almost half of industrial businesses lack internal expertise to adopt advanced tools such as artificial intelligence.
The Ultimo Maintenance Trend Report, based on input from over 200 maintenance professionals worldwide, highlights how emerging technologies including AI, machine learning, and digital twins are increasingly being recognised as key enablers in enterprise asset management (EAM). The report also points to persistent workforce challenges and the important role of human skill in the successful implementation of these next-generation tools.
Shift to next-generation technologies
According to the survey, there has been a significant increase in interest in advanced technologies since the last Ultimo EAM Trend Report in 2023. When respondents were asked about which innovations they believe will have the most positive impact on their maintenance and business practices, contextual intelligence was cited by 68% of participants, markedly up from 8% one year earlier. Automation and robotics (49%) and machine learning (41%) were also highlighted as areas of strong interest. The proportion of professionals interested in digital twins has more than doubled, now reaching 40%.
Despite the interest in and potential benefits of these technologies, some significant barriers remain. The survey found that 49% of respondents lack the internal expertise necessary to implement advanced tools like AI and machine learning. For many organisations, this skills gap poses a key challenge to the wider adoption of digital technologies in industrial asset management.
Workforce challenges
The survey data also indicates that workforce issues continue to be a dominant concern. An aging workforce was identified as the most pressing trend impacting maintenance strategy by 63% of respondents, underlining the urgency of knowledge transfer and workforce planning for businesses in asset-heavy sectors. In parallel, 50% of participants stated that recruiting experienced staff was their primary source of disruption over the past year, suggesting that both immediate and long-term workforce needs are being keenly felt.
Insights from Ultimo
"From global instability to changing regulations, socio-economic and political shifts are creating uncertainty across industries. In this environment, agility is critical," said Berend Booms, Head of EAM Insights at Ultimo, an IFS company. "EAM can also serve as a catalyst for innovation. Internet of Things (IoT), AI, ML, digital twins, and predictive analytics are rapidly transforming industrial businesses. They unlock smarter decision-making, greater efficiency, and a sharper competitive edge."
Role of data and analytics in asset maintenance
The report further explores how increased availability of real-time data, enabled by technologies such as IoT and predictive analytics, is contributing to the evolution of EAM systems. The perceived impact of predictive modelling has tripled according to this year's findings compared with the previous year's survey. Yet, with 49% of businesses citing inadequate internal know-how as a limiting factor, practical uptake remains uneven across industries and markets.
Modern EAM systems have moved beyond solely serving as record-keeping tools. By integrating AI and maintenance data, these systems are now being used to produce actionable insights, helping maintenance teams anticipate needs and transition from reactive repairs to proactive strategies. This shift, according to the research, is enabling organisations to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and derive greater value from their maintenance investments.
Ultimo has introduced AI-powered EAM features designed to be accessible and deployable without the need for in-house AI model development or significant infrastructure investments. These capabilities aim to lower adoption barriers and facilitate immediate operational improvements for asset-heavy enterprises.
The Maintenance Trend Report, which contains contributions from Verdantix, TwinThread, ABS Consulting, and MaxGrip, states that blending human expertise with intelligent systems is likely to be the most effective approach as businesses strive to enhance their asset maintenance functions. As noted in the report, technology alone does not provide a complete solution, but the combination of skilled professionals and advanced digital tools is shaping future directions in maintenance management.
The survey captured perspectives from professionals working in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, utilities, telecommunications, transportation, and logistics, across a wide range of company sizes. Respondents were drawn from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, UK, USA, and Sweden.
