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Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025

IT leaders are looking to address the unique challenges facing the manufacturing and retail sectors.

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As new technologies spread exponentially, the manufacturing and retail sectors are particularly primed to benefit, particularly as generative AI use cases continue to expand. But this technological upheaval poses challenges as well as opportunities, and IT leaders are poised to take on higher-profile roles to drive innovation. Building a strong IT foundation is more important than ever.

We’ve consolidated the most critical research for IT leaders in the manufacturing and retail sectors so far in 2025. Use our industry-leading insights, tools, and expertise to:

  • Build an IT strategy that supports your organization’s long-term strategic plan.
  • Take control of your data with improved governance and use it to enhance your operations and decision-making.
  • Adopt autonomous technologies to boost productivity and efficiency.
  • Build a generative AI roadmap and seek out ideal use cases for your organization.

Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025 Research & Tools

1. Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025 Report

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Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025

IT leaders are looking to address the unique challenges facing the manufacturing and retail sectors.

IT leaders are using research to address the unique challenges they face in Manufacturing and Retail

As new technologies led by generative AI present challenges and opportunities, IT leaders in the manufacturing and retail sectors have more opportunity than ever before to lead business outcomes for their organizations. The time to move into true innovation mode is now, and it’s critical to build a strong foundation along the way.

We’ve consolidated the most critical research for IT leaders in 2025 that addresses challenges with:

  • Building an IT strategy that supports the business.
  • Improving data governance to deliver business value.
  • Adopting autonomous technologies.
  • Finding generative AI use cases and building a generative AI roadmap.

Best Research in Manufacturing and Retail

“Empower Manufacturing and Retail success through actionable research and advisory expertise.”

Steve Schmidt

Steve Schmidt
Managing Partner
Info-Tech Research Group

1 Build a Durable Goods Manufacturing Business-Aligned IT Strategy
Success depends on IT initiatives clearly aligned to business goals, IT excellence, and driving technology innovation.

Research 1

2 Generative AI Use Case Library for the Durable Goods Manufacturing Industry
Identify value-driven generative AI use cases to transform your organization.

Research 2

3 Retail Industry Business Reference Architecture
Business capability maps, value streams, and strategy maps for the retail industry.

Research 3

4 Autonomous Technologies in Manufacturing
Elevate your operations through the transformative power of autonomous technologies.

Research 4

5 Establish Data Governance
Deliver measurable business value.

Research 5

6 Build Your AI Strategy Roadmap
Transforming the organization with AI.

Research 6

Build a Durable Goods Manufacturing Business-Aligned IT Strategy

Success depends on IT initiatives clearly aligned to business goals, IT excellence, and driving technology innovation.

Technology Research
Manufacturing – Durable Goods

Gord Harrison

Chief Research Officer

Jack Hakimian

Senior Vice President

Sanchia Benedict

Senior Product Manager

Kevin Tucker

Advisory Practice Lead

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Critical challenges in durable goods IT

Info-Tech's approach

Manufacturing and Retail

Generative AI Use Case Library for the Durable Goods Manufacturing Industry

Identify value-driven generative AI use cases to transform your organization.

Technology Research
Manufacturing - Durable Goods

Shreyas Shukla

Principal Research Director

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Gen AI use case library

Digital use cases must drive value

Manufacturing and Retail

Retail Industry Business Reference Architecture

Business capability maps, value streams, and strategy maps for the retail industry.

Technology Research
Retail

Steve Schmidt

Principal Research Director

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Reference architecture framework

Illustrative example of strategy map

Manufacturing and Retail

Autonomous Technologies in Manufacturing

Elevate your operations through the transformative power of autonomous technologies.

Technology Research
Manufacturing – Durable Goods

Shreyas Shukla

Principal Research Director

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Getting you started with autonomous robots

Core technologies for autonomous operations

Manufacturing and Retail

Establish Data Governance

Deliver measurable business value.

Technology Research
Data Management & Governance

Crystal Singh

Research Director

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Book a Workshop

Info-Tech's data governance framework

Create impactful data governance by embedding it within enterprise governance

Manufacturing and Retail

Build Your AI Strategy Roadmap

Transforming the organization with AI.

Technology Research
Strategy & Governance

Bill Wong

AI Research Fellow

Cem Sezen

Research Analyst

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Book an Analyst Call
Book a Workshop

Build your AI strategy roadmap

Take the lead in your AI transformation

Manufacturing and Retail

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Over the course of five days, our expert facilitators help you complete a key initiative, work through critical project deliverables, and train your team. We use a learning-based approach to implement road-tested Info-Tech methodologies tailored to your unique situation.

1 Get 90% of any project done in five days

  • Collapse project timelines and make major project decisions over five intense and focused days.
  • Select any topic that is important to you from hundreds of available workshops.

2 An intense, collaborative learning experience

  • Work through industry best practices and workshop materials that have been rigorously road-tested.
  • Develop and train your team through collaboration with our expert facilitators across a wide range of specialties.

3 High-value, no-hassle negotiating

  • Gain and share expertise over a variety of short, focused engagements.
  • Participate in high-value engagements, not long, runaway consulting projects that never end.

Proven results

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Overall satisfaction

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Average savings per engagement

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Collaborate with IT leaders and peers throughout the three days and through dedicated networking events.

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  • Your CKIP, with guidance from our seasoned advisors and counselors, will help you address your major pain points and deliver on your key objectives in the next 12-18 months.
  • Sessions will be led by highly experienced IT leaders who have walked in your shoes and helped build highly successful IT departments.
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This three-day immersive experience offers an exclusive chance to meet and get to know like-minded CIOs as we work together to understand, assess, and conquer IT’s greatest challenges. A perfect balance of business and pleasure.

Niagara Falls, ON

May 14-16, 2025

You’ll have opportunities to build peer relationships and take in the majesty of Horseshoe Falls, as well as the city's bustling food and entertainment scene. Treat yourself and your companions to a taste of the Niagara region's unique vintages, paired with succulent wagyu steak at a local vineyard.

Primary Activity: Wine & Wagyu at a Niagara Vineyard

Systematically Improve Your IT Department

Learn the 8 secrets to becoming a world-class CIO and begin our 12-step systematic improvement program. Your Executive Counselor will help you craft an enterprise Key Initiative Plan and help you leverage your Info-Tech membership to your greatest advantage.

Chicago, IL

June 18-20, 2025

This three-day immersive experience offers an exclusive opportunity to build a comprehensive enterprise IT Key Initiative Plan and participate in valuable sessions on succeeding as a CIO and senior IT leader today. You’ll have opportunities to build peer relationships and experience Chicago’s rich architectural heritage, beautiful beaches, and distinctive culinary delights.

Primary Activity: Wrigley Field Tour & Cubs Game

Exclusive Enrollment, Expenses Paid

Open to all new Core Memberships and new Counselor seat holders. All expenses paid including accommodations, meals, and outrageously fun activities. Personal travel (e.g. flights) excluded.

Toronto, ON

July 16-18, 2025

Get revved up with your peers ahead of one of the most anticipated IndyCar races of the season. You’ll have opportunities to build peer relationships while you take in the thriving nightlife, excellent cuisine, and cultural gems of Canada’s largest metropolis. This three-day immersive experience offers an exclusive opportunity to build a comprehensive enterprise IT Key Initiative Plan.

Primary Activity: Toronto Honda Indy

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A can’t-miss opportunity for IT leaders to bridge theory and practice.

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Featured Speakers

Malcolm Gladwell
Author of Eight New York Times Bestsellers including Revenge of the Tipping Point

Gary Brantley
Chief Information Officer
National Football League

Download the LIVE 2025 preliminary agenda here

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Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025 preview picture

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

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  • Info-Tech’s Best Research for the Manufacturing and Retail Sectors 2025 Report

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Authors

Arzoo Wadhvaniya

Caroline Dias Alencar

Kennedy Confurius

Paulina Pryciak

Gord Harrison

Search Code: 107381
Last Revised: April 22, 2025

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