ITALY – A recent article by CSIL Market Research highlights that the European furniture industry is in the early stages of digital transformation, with only a few leading manufacturers fully integrating digitalization into their processes.

CSIL’s research shows that most surveyed furniture manufacturers indicate key digital innovations—such as the Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—are either in progress (60%) or just starting (10%). Only 20% of companies have a fully integrated digital transformation roadmap.

A significant gap exists between the availability of digital technologies and their adoption in the European furniture industry. This gap is due to challenges in acquiring necessary skills, limited knowledge of new technologies, and a managerial culture resistant to change. However, medium-term investments in digital transformation are expected to rise rapidly, potentially doubling their share of company turnover.

These investments will likely focus on integrating digital solutions across business areas, moving towards the “smart factory” concept. Additionally, smart products are projected to grow significantly, with market shares expected to increase at a double-digit rate through 2030.

Key areas for digital investment include cybersecurity, cloud computing, and robotics. Both align with the EU’s Digital Decade Policy Programme, which aims for 75% of EU enterprises to adopt cloud services, big data, and AI by 2030.

Among emerging technologies, AI stands out for its diverse applications. It is being used to optimize production processes and enhance service offerings in the furniture sector. For instance, machine learning algorithms analyze consumer data from social media to identify and predict product trends, enabling companies to tailor offerings and develop innovative materials.