What EMS Firms Want From Their Software—and What They Get

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Last November, the Global Electronics Association [as IPC] surveyed EMS and OEM companies to better understand the software tools driving their operations and uncover trends in adoption, satisfaction, and challenges.

The survey assessed software tools across critical functions, including ERP, MES, PLM, QMS, LMS, quoting systems, and CRM. Participants shared insights on tool adoption, satisfaction, and selection priorities.

A total of 82 qualified individuals completed the survey. Respondents spanned EMS and OEM organizations across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East/Africa, with company revenues ranging from under $5 million to over $1 billion.

This article offers a first look at findings from the 2024 EMS Software Survey, which explores how electronics manufacturers select, implement, and assess core business software. The full report, slated for release later this summer, will include detailed benchmarking data and perspectives on satisfaction, integration, and legacy system challenges.

Aging Infrastructure, Rising Expectations

In electronics manufacturing, digital tools often stick around long past their prime. Nearly 60% of ERP and QMS systems have been in place for over a decade, anchoring operations while complicating efforts to modernize.

MES tools show a similar age profile, but with lower adoption and less functionality—revealing a sector still wrestling with paper-based processes, disconnected systems, and limited visibility. As the industry sets its sights on AI, automation, and real-time traceability, the question isn’t just which systems to adopt, but how to navigate the opportunity cost of updating these well-entrenched legacy systems.

To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.