Report exposes data-sharing gap slowing global industrial digital transformation

Global industrial software company AVEVA has unveiled its first-ever Industrial Intelligence Report, revealing that although most companies see digital ecosystems as critical for future growth, many are still struggling to share data effectively with partners.

The report, launched at the AVEVA World 2026 in Milan, Italy, was developed in partnership with IMD Business School and reflects insights from more than 275 senior executives across 12 industries worldwide.

According to the report, 74 percent of industry leaders now consider digital ecosystems a top strategic priority, but only 27 percent said they share data substantially or extensively with ecosystem partners. The findings point to a major disconnect between ambition and execution as industries race to modernise operations and respond to global economic and environmental pressures.

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The study showed that companies are increasingly building connected digital ecosystems to solve complex business challenges such as supply chain disruptions, faster innovation demands, and decarbonisation of industrial operations.

However, the report identified several obstacles slowing progress, including integration complexity, outdated legacy systems, weak governance structures, and limited collaboration between organizations.

Speaking during a fireside discussion at the launch event, Caspar Herzberg, chief executive officer of AVEVA, said the partnership with IMD was aimed at helping industries move beyond traditional operational silos.

He explained that the goal was not only to understand why companies are embracing digital ecosystems, but also to define the leadership models, governance structures, and technical frameworks needed to make ecosystem-driven operations successful.

Herzberg noted that industries are under pressure to become more adaptive and interconnected in today’s volatile operating environment, making industrial intelligence increasingly important for long-term competitiveness.

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Also speaking, Michael Wade, director of IMD Global Centre for Digital and AI Transformation, said governance, integration, and organisational learning now matter more than algorithms alone.

According to Wade, industrial sectors already have decades of operational collaboration experience, but emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, connected platforms, and real-time data systems are transforming those collaborations into intelligence-driven ecosystems.

The report also highlighted practical examples from organisations, including the Port of Rotterdam and industrial operations in Kwinana, Australia, showing how companies are beginning to scale digital collaboration across complex value chains.

Industry experts at the event said the findings underline a growing reality that future industrial competitiveness will depend not only on technology investments but also on how effectively organisations collaborate, share data, and coordinate across ecosystems.