89% of Industrial Companies Recognize the Digital Thread is Essential to Success

Aras, a leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) and digital thread solutions, today highlighted findings that emphasize the importance of establishing a strong digital thread in manufacturing and product development organizations. The insights come from Aras’ recent survey, “The Future of Product Lifecycle Management and Digital Engineering.”

The report found that nearly 9 out of 10 organizations view the digital thread as critical to driving success with next-generation technology initiatives, such as AI, automation, and robotics.

“Today’s transformative technologies, like AI, are fueling a seismic shift in how products are designed, built, and maintained,” said Roque Martin, CEO of Aras. “Meeting the demands of this new era requires visibility, security, and compliance – all of which rely on accurate, connected data. That starts with a strong digital thread.”

 

AI Is Only as Powerful as The Data Behind It

When asked about the top drivers for improving digital thread capabilities, 41% of respondents cited enabling advanced analytics and AI, 38% pointed to improving product quality, and 36% reported improving service and support. These priorities reflect a fundamental challenge: AI’s ability to deliver meaningful results depends on the quality of the data behind it.

As AI takes on more responsibility for operational decisions — from the factory floor to the logistics hub to the consumer’s home — validating and governing those decisions becomes increasingly complex. The level of control and traceability required is nearly impossible to achieve. As organizations begin to explore broader AI adoption, ensuring that only the right people have access to the right information becomes critical. Not every request for information should return the same result — especially when security, IP protection, and regulatory compliance are on the line.

That’s where the digital thread proves essential – acting as the backbone that connects and structures information across the product lifecycle. When supported by a PLM solution built for traceability and scalability, the digital thread provides an environment for consistency, security, and visibility. These are the very capabilities that AI and other advanced technologies depend on to deliver real value. For Aras users, Aras InnovatorEdge extends this foundation as a low-code API management framework – enabling intelligent, secure, and scalable connectivity across the digital thread ecosystem.

To fully realize the benefits of AI and automation, industrial organizations must prioritize building a resilient, connected data infrastructure. By investing in a strong digital thread strategy today, they position themselves to drive smarter decisions, accelerate innovation, and stay competitive.

 

Significant Implementation Challenges

Even as companies rally around the importance of the digital thread, many are struggling to implement it. According to the report, 46% of respondents cite product complexity as a significant challenge, while 36% point to difficulty tracking changes over time. Extensive configurations (35%) and disconnected supply chains (33%) are also seen as major obstacles to success.