What UK Leaders Think About Servitisation
So, it turns out that only 28 % of senior bosses in UK businesses feel their unit is actually ahead of the servitisation curve – compared to the same realm in rival firms. That’s the shock‑vertising headline from a study that IFS (yes, the cloud‑software guy) asked top execs across a handful of sectors to weigh in.
The Servitisation Trend
Servitisation is basically turning your good old product line into a “service‑as‑a‑thing” offering, which is a hot ticket for firms wanting to squeeze extra value into their workflows. And many leaders are already hunting for that sweet spot.
- Supply chain – 88 % of heads see it as prime gold.
- R&D – 80 % flag it as a natural fit.
- Even higher numbers say those two need to evolve fast to get the best payoff. About 43 % want supply chain turbo‑charged, and 32 % urge R&D to catch up.
Tech (and more) that will make it happen
Though technology is only part of the puzzle, the leaders did point out priorities:
- Mid‑half (48 %) think AI is the lifeblood.
- Just under half (47 %) urge machine learning next.
- And 41 % are convinced automation will level up the game.
Barriers that still bite
Beyond tech, there were a few real roadblocks:
- Limited analytics for effective delivery.
- Insufficient modern tech.
- Hurdles in stitching together new service offerings.
Fixing these means greater operational juice, smoother customer experiences, and a flow of fresh ideas that keep you on the winning side of the competition.
Expert Insight – Maggie Slowik says:
“In this cut‑throat climate, the shift to an outcome‑based model is a must‑have for some firms. But you must prove the promised benefits – the transformation is huge.”
“Our survey shows many UK big‑shot organisations hit problems like a lack of in‑house talent, tech gaps, and difficulty linking systems. That’s why a partner who can dismantle these barriers, pull your data together, and give you a single, clean view of it, can be your secret weapon.”
— Maggie Slowik, Global Industry Director for Manufacturing, IFS
