AI ROI: Data Foundation is Key for Manufacturing & Life Sciences

Many companies are struggling to get real results from their AI initiatives. The core issue is a disconnect between advanced AI capabilities and foundational data systems. For instance, 93% of manufacturing professionals point to disconnected production systems as a major problem. A manufacturing leader at Pfizer even expressed frustration about people discussing advanced AI while still using paper records. What's interesting is that while AI development in life sciences is spiking, with over 950 AI medical devices cleared by the FDA, many of these projects don't deliver scalable returns. This is because companies aren't ready for production. A recent survey found that 59% of manufacturing professionals see integrated systems as the top requirement for AI deployment. However, 24% cite integration issues as their biggest barrier. This means companies know what they need, but haven't done the work to get there. The bottom line is that a strong digital foundation, with consolidated data and integrated systems, is crucial for AI to deliver actual return on investment, not just impressive demonstrations.