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In today's fast-paced manufacturing and service world, staying ahead means having the right systems in place, systems that not only support day-to-day operations but also adapt and evolve as your business does. IFS Cloud stands out as a key player in transforming strategic objectives into actionable outcomes.

At Forseti Solutions, we help companies to seamlessly migrate their data into ERP systems like IFS Cloud, ensuring alignment with high-level business outcomes. This allows business owners, CEOs, IT leaders, HR teams, and developers to concentrate on strategic priorities such as growth, risk mitigation, and gaining a competitive edge, looking beyond the immediate challenges to what's next.

As we look toward 2026 and beyond, key trends are shaping how manufacturers and service firms will plan, deploy, and maximize ERP platforms like IFS Cloud. Let’s explore three major focus areas and how your organization can prepare.

Composable Cloud + Industrial AI = Business Adaptability

One of the big shifts on the horizon is how IFS Cloud is evolving into a composable platform, meaning you can tailor, plug in, and scale modules as business needs change, combined with industrial AI that drives smarter operations.

According to the “State of Service 2025” report by IFS, 63 % of manufacturers are prioritizing cloud infrastructure and emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and AR for future growth.

Did you know? A recent IFS study found that manufacturers using industrial AI tied to their ERP saw a 50 % increase in agility and a 44 % rise in operational efficiency.

For your organization, this means:

• IFS Cloud is not just a traditional ERP but a platform that supports modular deployment.
• Embedding AI-driven insights (for example, predictive maintenance, supply-chain optimization, service scheduling) rather than waiting to bolt them on later.
• Ensuring your data strategy is robust (clean, central, governable) because AI and composability succeed only with good foundational data.
  

In a practical example: a manufacturer might deploy IFS Cloud’s core finance and manufacturing modules now, then stage in advanced AI-driven service modules (via IFS Cloud) when the business moves into outcome-based contracts or servitisation. This gives flexibility and growth readiness.

Sustainability, Servitisation & Hybrid Models

For 2026 and beyond, manufacturers and service firms are no longer simply making products or delivering time-and-materials service. Many are shifting to outcome-based models known as servistation. Servistation embeds sustainability, circular economy practices, and hybrid product-service offerings.

The IFS “Manufacturing Trends 2025” article highlights that sustainability, hybrid models, workforce shifts, and operational resilience are critical.

Why does this matter for IFS Cloud planning? Because the system you choose must support:

• Tracking product-lifecycle data, asset performance, service contracts, and outcomes
• Documentation of sustainability metrics (emissions, circular-reuse, waste-tracking) and compliance
• Service-led revenue, field service management, and supply-chain visibility, not just production scheduling

Did you know? Business Wire states that the FSM (Field Service Management) market is projected to grow from US$2.85 billion in 2019 to US$7.10 billion by 2026, driven by the adoption of cloud and mobility in service workflows.

For a manufacturing or service firm, this means: while you implement IFS Cloud for core operations, you should map how future service models and sustainability demands will layer onto your ERP in the next three to five years. That way, you aren’t just implementing ERP, you’re building a foundation for next-gen business models.

Planning Your IFS Cloud Journey: Steps for 2026 and Beyond

After understanding the strategic trends, what actionable steps should manufacturers and service firms take now to be ready for IFS Cloud in 2026 and beyond?

Step 1: Define your target state and modular roadmap.

Map where your business needs to be in 3-5 years: (e.g., fully service-based revenue, circular economy compliance, digital twin enabled, hybrid product-as-service). Then break that into phases, seeing IFS Cloud not as a one-time “big bang” but as a progressive deployment:

Core ERP → service modules → AI/analytics extensions → new business model enablement

Step 2: Clean and unify your data.

Good ERP deployments rely on reliable data: asset records, service histories, supplier/contractor info, and customer lifecycle details. Before bringing modules into IFS Cloud, ensure your data is prepared (governed, deduplicated, accessible). IFS states that poor data quality is often the blocker to scaling AI and new models.

Step 3: Build organizational readiness.

New technology alone won’t drive value. You need people, process, and culture aligned. In the IFS report, workforce transformation and skills gaps are key risks for manufacturers. Ensure your company's teams (IT, service, HR, operations) understand the change, are trained on composable platforms, and are ready for future-state models (e.g., outcome service contracts, circular operations).

Step 4: Choose a partner experienced in IFS Cloud and industrial transformation.

Here at Forseti Solutions, we specialize in implementing IFS solutions across manufacturers and service firms. We help turn your data into a well-configured ERP system and plan for future phasing, extension modules, and business-model innovation.

Planning for the Future

In 2026 and beyond, IFS Cloud is more than an ERP upgrade; it's the essential platform for composable solutions, industrial AI, and sustainable, service-driven operations. Companies that invest now in modular plans, data quality, and adaptable teams will drive the next transformation wave.

Ready to see what IFS Cloud can do for your business? Visit Forseti Solutions to start planning your future-ready ERP strategy.