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IFS Unveils Global AI Optimism League Table

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Despite global leadership in AI, respondents from the UK and USA were least optimistic about realizing benefits quickly from AINorway ranks most optimistic about AI FutureCountries that have invested in AI skills are more optimistic about AIOrganizations that are architecturally-ready and have strong sustainability planning found to correlate with AI optimism

LONDON, July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Research from IFS, the leading technology provider of enterprise cloud and industrial AI software, has revealed the Global AI Optimism League Table. The global study Industrial AI: the new frontier for productivity, innovation and competition involved 1,700 senior decision makers from Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Aerospace & Defense, Services, Construction & Engineering, and Energy & Resources companies. It found that optimism about artificial intelligence (AI) is a direct indicator of AI strategy maturity within their business. The study found firms between $200–$500m the most optimistic about AI, while the UK and USA were the least optimistic countries.

The IFS Global AI Optimism League Table by Country

Country

Optimism Rank

Norway

1

Sweden

2

France

3

Australia

4

Japan

5

UAE

6

Canada

7

Denmark

8

Finland

9

Germany

10

UK

11

USA

12

The IFS Global AI Optimism League Table by Company Size

Revenue Band

Optimism Rank

$300 Million – $499.99
Million

1

$200 Million – $299.99
Million

2

$500 Million or over

3

$100 Million – $199.99
Million

4

$50 Million – $99.99
Million

5

Cash isn’t always king

An easy assumption to make with AI is that the more financial resources available, the more optimism there would be about what could be done with AI. However, the research reveals that businesses with revenues of over $500 Million ranked only third in terms of optimism due to a clear polarization in strategy, data readiness, and skills. Indeed, the polarization in AI readiness has led to 25% of this group believing AI benefits will materialize within 12 months, while the laggards don’t expect to see benefits for at least three years. Large enterprises showed the widest gaps in time to benefits of any of the company size groups surveyed.

In contrast, the survey revealed mid-sized ($50–$200m) firms being less optimistic about AI purely because they have fewer resources and skills to deploy to the technology today, and therefore are planning over a longer period of time to drive benefits from a maturing technology.

Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, IFS, commented: “At the surface level, the lack of optimism across some respondents may suggest we are at the edge of a trough of disillusionment, particularly following the all-encompassing hype that AI enjoyed for much of the last 18 months. What we are actually witnessing is enterprises differentiating themselves with AI. Organizations that have established a strong data foundation, invested in skills, and embedded sustainability into their strategy are optimistic because they can see the benefits coming into view quickly. It is vital that leaders see AI as a strategy, not a tool.”

Factors paving the way on the smooth path to AI

Delving into what fuels optimism around AI, the research suggests that companies’ architectural readiness directly correlates with their overall optimism about the technology. Respondents who report being more architecturally ready are more likely to be optimistic about AI. This indicates that companies with a strong cloud-based foundation are further along in their AI journeys and are most likely to believe that the tangible benefits of AI will become a reality sooner.

Pedersen continued: “We see direct evidence from our research that the market is splitting into those who have embraced AI and those who have not. There is an element of ‘following the herd’ fueling the board’s desire for AI programs. McKinsey has found that AI could be the key to unlocking an additional $4.4 trillion in corporate profits per year, which is building pressure to adopt it. Without a clear direction and strategy, AI programs stall, making the end result seem further away than it needs to be.”

Emergence of Industrial AI for productivity, innovation and sustainability

Innovative products and services (31%) and data accessibility (30%) are the most common areas senior decision-makers expect AI to make large differences, followed closely by cost reductions (29%). Interestingly, at a country level, the USA (32%) and Germany (31%) were the only nations most likely to believe that AI will lead to consistent business growth.

The survey reveals a positive correlation between skills and AI optimism. The nations most likely to identify as having invested heavily in skills for several years are generally more optimistic about AI overall. France (49%), UAE (53%), Norway (48%), Australia (46%), Sweden (46%) and Japan (45%) are leading the way here.

Sustainability planning also correlates directly with overall AI optimism. The less wide-ranging a country’s sustainability strategy was with regard to AI, the less likely they were to be optimistic about AI in general. UK (5%), Canadian (6%), Danish (6%) and Finnish (4%) respondents were least likely to have an AI strategy for sustainability in place and all feature in the bottom half of the optimism league table.

“The lofty expectations for AI bely a fundamental misunderstanding of how it is supposed to drive value. The real power lies in Industrial AI, where data flows through every part of your business, combining structured, interlinked datasets to uncover insights, optimize every process and marry the digital with the physical world. That’s where the true value lies. If a business doesn’t have a strategy to reach that point, then they need a partner who can guide them on that journey,” concluded Pedersen.

Discover more insights and actions in the Industrial AI: the new frontier for productivity, innovation and competition Executive Report.

Research Methodology:

Censuswide surveyed 1,709 C-level/President/SVP/Directors who work in Manufacturing, Telecommunications, A&D, Services, Construction & Engineering or Energy & resources in organizations with $50m+ annual revenue (Aged 18+) across the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, France, UAE, Norway, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

About IFS:

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers — at the Moment of Service™. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of over 6,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 6,500+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com.

IFS Recognition

IFS ranked #1 for EAM market share in the Gartner® Market Share: All Software Markets, Worldwide, 2023 report for third consecutive yearGartner® Peer Insights Customers’ Choice 2023 – Cloud ERPIFS named a leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Field Service Management Solutions 2023-2024Top 100 Companies (3rd), The Software Report, 2023

IFS Press Contacts:
EMEA & APJ: Adam Gillbe
Corporate Communications
Email: press@ifs.com
Phone: +44 7775 114 856

USA: Mairi Morgan
Corporate Communications
Email: press@ifs.com
Phone: +44 7918 607 299

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/ifs-unveils-global-ai-optimism-league-table,c4013900

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Manufacturo Partners with Mach Industries to Power the Next Generation of Defense Manufacturing

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BREA, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scaling five defense platforms from development into production requires a manufacturing operation that can grow just as quickly. Mach Industries, a defense manufacturer building advanced unmanned systems for modern defense, uses the manufacturing management platform from Manufacturo, a manufacturing software company, to manage traceable, compliance-ready workflows as production expands.

Mach Industries, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, is dedicated to advancing national security interests and supporting U.S. and allied readiness amid global competition. The company has taken five products from concept to flight since the inception of the partnership, most recently delivering an autonomous strike aircraft from concept to first flight in 71 days. Sustaining that pace at production scale requires a digital backbone that can enforce structured, traceable processes without becoming a bottleneck.

“For a defense startup moving as fast as we are, the manufacturing system must move just as fast. We needed a platform that could scale with us, from first builds through full production,” said Tyler Pancake, VP of Manufacturing, Mach Industries. “It has to deliver the traceability and controls that defense programs require. Manufacturo gives us that foundation without forcing us to choose between speed and rigor.”

With Manufacturo, Mach centralizes digital work instructions, monitors real-time shopfloor activity, and maintains quality and traceability across every build. The platform enables rapid iteration for engineers and production teams, supporting the kind of agile development cycle that defense hardware at this scale demands.

The transition from manual to scan-driven and work-order-controlled WIP tracking resulted in end-to-end WIP visibility and eliminated “lost in factory” scenarios. With real-time consumption introduced into the system, inventory accuracy improved by 20% to 40% (depending on the area). Last but not least, thanks to the MRP + MES closed loop, overproduction in manufacturing was reduced almost completely—to circa 1%.

“Mach is building an entirely new category of defense capability, and that requires a production system that can evolve alongside the technology. Our platform gives their teams the structure to execute with precision while preserving the flexibility to move fast. We’re proud to support their path from prototype to program of record,” said Kenzo Takai, COO, Manufacturo.

About Mach Industries 
Mach Industries is a defense manufacturing company headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, that develops advanced unmanned systems and the industrial capacity required to produce them at scale. Through a deeply vertically integrated, hardware-first approach, the company rapidly designs, builds, tests, and fields defense systems while advancing manufacturing, testing, and supply chain capabilities that support both its own programs and the broader defense industrial base. Through Mach Propulsion and Mach Energetics, the company develops and produces jet engines, solid rocket motors and energetic systems, and serves external customers as a component and subsystem provider for booster, sustainer, and unmanned aerial platforms. Mach Industries delivers the speed, adaptability, and resilience needed to preserve the allied edge in an increasingly contested world. For more information, please visit machindustries.com and follow on LinkedIn and X. Media contact: press@machindustries.com

About Manufacturo 
Manufacturo provides a unified manufacturing management platform for high-complexity, high-change manufacturing, bringing production, supply chain, and quality together in one system. Built by a team with decades of hands-on experience in complex manufacturing, including SpaceX, it supports companies shaping the future of new space, aerospace, defense, and new energy, such as Relativity Space, Sierra Space, ICEYE, SES, Boom Supersonic, Hermeus, Antora, and more. Manufacturo has offices in Brea (CA), USA; Kraków, Poland; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information and an interactive demo, please visit manufacturo.com and follow on LinkedIn and X. Media contact: info@manufacturo.com

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SOURCE Manufacturo, Inc.

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Sandler Partners Announces 2026 Channel Manager and Executive of the Year Award Recipients

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Top Independent Technology Distributor Sandler Partners’ 2026 National Summit Concludes with Awards Recognizing Top Industry Professionals and Organizations at its Closing Gala & Dinner.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Provider Channel Managers and a Channel Executive received recognition at the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit in San Diego, California. This year’s event brought together more than 1,100 members of the Sandler Partners community for a mix of educational panels, a keynote, and sessions across the Technology, Sales, and Growth tracks. Attendees also connected with 65+ leading technology Providers in the Exhibit Hall, making it a week of both recognition and opportunity.

Sandler Partners congratulates the following award winners:

Channel Executive of the Year Award Recipient: 

Chad Townes, AT&T

National Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Kevin Bednarz, GraniteStevie Heap, Comcast Business Patrick Cupp, CallTowerJennifer Rutherford, ZayoSarah Manley, AT&TBrett Harman, AT&TNikki Beck, FrontMatt Winterburn, Lumen

East Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

New England | Kyle Michaels, VonageNew York/New Jersey | Tom Mezzapella, Comcast Business Mid-Atlantic | Connor Cook, Comcast BusinessGeorgia & The Carolinas | Kristina Pagano, Five9Florida | Henry Cruz, Telesystem

Midwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Great Lakes | Sarah Macdonald, Five9Central | Peter Gasparro, ZultysMidwest | Kirsten Bonnesen, AT&TMountain | Mark Merritt III, SpectrumMountain | Nicole Brungardt, Comcast BusinessPacific Northwest | Chris Risse, Comcast Business

Southwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Southwest | Kelsey Laycock, TierPointSouthwest | Kaycee Mikeska , NHC

West Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

SoCal | Yvette Bratt, BroadvoiceNorCal | Brad Pepper, GTTAZ/NV/UT | Max Howell, NHC

“Channel Managers are often the first point of contact for our Partners,” says Managing Partner Alan Sandler. “What sets them apart is how much they care about the outcomes they help create. You see it in the extra effort, the collaboration, and the drive to find the right solution for every customer. This year’s winners work side by side with our Partners to build trust, solve problems, and make the experience better from start to finish. That’s what the Sandler Partners community is all about.”

This year’s National Summit also featured The Surfrider Foundation as Sandler Partners’ designated charity partner, with an on-site exhibit sharing their mission to protect the world’s oceans and coastlines—and ways for attendees to get involved through personal action and support.

About Sandler Partners
Sandler Partners helps empower its network of leading independent Sales Partners to deliver a comprehensive range of technology solutions to organizations worldwide, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and Continuity. Its community-focused approach enables Partners to identify the right solutions for customers quickly and objectively from a diverse portfolio of 220+ Providers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to an innovative suite of sales tools within the Sandler Portal—including SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center—several of which are AI-powered, all backed by a robust support network, dedicated Sales Engineering expertise, and rich marketing resources. Together, these tools and resources empower Partners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality, value, performance, innovative solutions, unmatched expertise, and exceptional service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partners community also benefit from the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a dedicated team committed to ensuring commissions are accurately identified, tracked, and paid. For more information, visit www.sandlerpartners.com.

Sandler Partners – Media Contact

Tina S. Dyksterhouse

tina@sandlerpartners.com

310-861-2295

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Rockford Fosgate to Debut TMA Adaptive Amplifiers, The Rockford Fosgate App and New RV Speaker Category at 2026 SEMA Show

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New TMA Power Amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate App and Adventure Series RV speakers headline a wide-ranging slate of automotive, off-road and marine launches.

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockford Fosgate will bring a major slate of new audio products to the 2026 SEMA Show, led by its TMA Adaptive Power Series Amplifiers, the Rockford Fosgate app and the brand’s entry into purpose-built RV speakers with its new Adventure Series Speakers. The launches bring together powerful performance, simplified tuning and rugged, installation-focused design for life on the road, trail and water.

Rockford Fosgate to Debut TMA Adaptive Amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate App and New RV Speaker Category

Power Redefined: TMA Adaptive Amplifiers
Leading the 2026 product introductions is the all-new TMA Adaptive Amplifier Series, engineered to redefine how power, performance, and control come together. Designed to adapt across automotive, marine, powersports, and other custom audio applications, TMA delivers unmatched versatility with the highest power-to-size density in Rockford Fosgate history. The lineup includes four models: the 600-watt TMA-600X4, 750-watt TMA-750X6, 1,000-watt TMA-1000X1, and 1,200-watt TMA-1200X5. Each combines powerful output with advanced adaptive technology, patented Constant Power 2.0™, and rugged IPX7-rated Element Ready™ construction to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of installations and environments.

More than just amplification, TMA serves as the foundation of the Rockford Fosgate connected audio ecosystem. With integrated digital signal processing, Bluetooth® connectivity, and RF Link 2.0 technology, TMA amplifiers are designed to work together as one intelligent, expandable system. From a single-amplifier installation to a complex multi-amplifier setup, RF Link 2.0 allows users to connect up to four TMA amplifiers within a network of up to 16 compatible devices, simplifying system integration while providing the flexibility to expand as audio needs evolve.

At the center of the experience is the Rockford Fosgate app, putting advanced system tuning and control directly in the user’s hands. Through an intuitive smartphone interface, users can configure and optimize their system with precise control over gain, crossovers, time alignment, 32-band parametric EQ, and Punch EQ+. Guided C.L.E.A.N. 2.0 calibration and available vehicle-specific Load + Go Tunes further simplify setup, while connected diagnostics, saved presets, and firmware updates provide ongoing control and customization. Together, TMA, RF Link 2.0, and the Rockford Fosgate app introduce a new level of adaptability, scalability, and intelligent performance to the Rockford Fosgate audio experience.

Connected Sound: Rockford Fosgate App and RF Link 2.0
The app brings compatible Rockford Fosgate devices together in one interface for setup, personalization and ongoing system management. Users can access Load + Go vehicle-specific tunes on supported kits, save and recall presets, protect settings with a four-digit PIN, review supported system diagnostics and install compatible firmware updates. Available for iOS and Android, the app can manage an RF Link 2.0 network through a single Bluetooth Low Energy connection, without requiring an account for initial setup or tuning.

Powering that experience is RF Link 2.0, Rockford Fosgate’s new connected-audio network. It supports up to 16 compatible devices, including as many as four TMA amplifiers, and lets connected products communicate as one system. New bidirectional RF Link cables streamline installation by carrying data, power, ground and turn-on signals in a single connection. The DRLC-10 Digital Remote Level Controller expands physical control with a 40-step rotary interface, customizable RGB illumination and multiple mounting options.

Adventure Series Opens a New RV Speaker Category
Rockford Fosgate is also expanding into dedicated RV audio with its 6.5-inch Adventure Series speakers, purpose-built for the demands of recreational vehicles. Rather than adapting a conventional car speaker, the new design accounts for RV wall construction, exposed locations and the need for an integrated look inside and outside the coach.

Available in black or white, the speakers fit both 5.25-inch and 6.5-inch openings, with a shallow 1.25-inch mounting depth that minimizes installation challenges. A compression-style rear gasket helps seal against flat or corrugated surfaces, while the UV-stable frame and grille, Santoprene surround and Element Ready™ construction are engineered to handle moisture, dust, UV exposure and vibration. Each speaker pairs a 6.5-inch driver with a grille-integrated 1-inch tweeter and concealed crossover, delivering 50 watts RMS power handling and a clean, OEM-style appearance.

Additional SEMA Launches Span Off-Road, Marine and Automotive
New vehicle-specific Stage-6 systems bring TMA power and app-based tuning to select side-by-sides. The new Can-Am Maverick R Stage-6 system for select 2024-and-newer models is a 1,200-watt, eight-speaker package with dual 10-inch subwoofers, Color Optix™ lighting and Rockford Fosgate’s first aftermarket side-by-side front-door speaker pods. For select 2020-and-newer Polaris RZR PRO models with Ride Command, the RZR20PRORC-STG6 delivers a 1,200-watt, seven-speaker system with a 10-inch subwoofer and vehicle-specific integration.

For marine audio, the PMX-6BB hide-away digital media receiver provides independent dual-zone control and NMEA 2000 connectivity for compatible multifunction displays. The PMX-HTML MFD Controller adds an Ethernet-based interface for compatible HTML5 multifunction displays, bringing source selection, volume, playback, album artwork and audio settings to the vessel’s screen when paired with supported PMX source units.

Rounding out the introductions are updated Prime coaxial and Prime component speaker families. With 50-watt RMS power handling and installation-friendly designs, the lineups offer straightforward ways to upgrade everyday vehicle audio, including vehicle-friendly coaxial mounting and flexible placement of separate component tweeters.

“We’re not just launching new products. We’re building a connected Rockford Fosgate ecosystem that redefines how customers experience audio,” said Zach Luke, President, Rockford Fosgate. “By bringing together powerful technology, intuitive app-based control, and expansion into exciting new categories like RV audio, we’re creating more ways for people to experience Rockford Fosgate performance. This is about pushing beyond traditional boundaries, and delivering an experience that grows with our customers, wherever their adventure takes them”

For more information visit: rockfordfosgate.com or visit an authorized dealer.

About Rockford Fosgate
Setting the standard for excellence in the audio industry, Rockford Corporation markets high-performance audio systems under the brand Rockford Fosgate® for the mobile, marine, motorsport, and motorcycle audio aftermarket and OEM market. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Rockford Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK).

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SOURCE Rockford Fosgate

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