North American Chemical Firms Update IT for Age of Change

Companies partner with providers on digital technologies to accelerate innovation, take on geopolitical, business and sustainability issues, ISG Provider Lens™ report says

North American chemical companies are increasing their adoption of digital technologies in the face of growing IT and business challenges, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2024 ISG Provider Lens™ Chemical Industry Services and Solutions report for North America finds that chemical companies in the region, which has become a net exporter of chemicals in recent years, are adopting digital technologies to develop new products for a growing range of industries. They are also using IT innovations to address issues including geopolitical disruptions, price fluctuations, supply chain problems and cybersecurity risks.

“Digitalization is helping the North American chemical industry expand while preparing for stricter regulations and ongoing uncertainty,” said Dale Hearn, ISG partner, Oil, Gas and Chemicals. “Together with service providers, companies are tapping into the power of data to improve operations and decision-making.”

Moving more quickly than many European chemical producers, North American firms are migrating functions to the cloud and investing in AI, automation, augmented reality, blockchain and other new tools to achieve a wide range of objectives, ISG says. They are using digital technologies to develop new, sustainable materials, reshape supply chains, optimize processes and plan product portfolios.

A key focus of modernization is AI, which can help companies accelerate R&D, predict and prevent supply chain disruptions and resolve environmental issues, the report says. Enterprises and service providers are also exploring generative AI (GenAI) to improve customer experience, supply chains, R&D and sustainability, though most GenAI projects are still proofs of concept.

Enterprises also are focusing on supply chain management, powered by big data analytics, to standardize and streamline supply processes to better serve customers, ISG says. Amid ongoing changes and disruptions, they are also looking to diversify supplier networks to become more adaptable and resilient. Chemical companies pursuing these goals are seeking providers with comprehensive business strategies, consulting services and platforms.

Meeting new standards for decarbonization and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting are also rising concerns for chemical companies, ISG says. While some European companies are moving more quickly in this area, North American firms are taking steps toward tracking and addressing carbon emissions from their own operations and those of their suppliers.

“Chemical companies’ legacy systems are not built to track the metrics needed for ESG reporting,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Service providers can help clients update their capabilities to meet emerging regulations.”

The report also explores other technology-related trends in the North American chemical industry, including growing talent shortages and the ongoing convergence of IT, operational technology (OT) and engineering technology (ET).

For more insights into chemical industry challenges in North America, including the limitations of legacy systems and the increasing complexity of logistics, see the ISG Provider Lens™ Focal Points briefing here.

The 2024 ISG Provider Lens™ Chemical Industry Services and Solutions report for North America evaluates the capabilities of 23 providers across three quadrants: Digital IT/OT Services, Supply Chain and Logistics, and Sustainability and Innovation.

The report names Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, HCLTech, IBM, Infosys, PwC, TCS and Wipro as Leaders in all three quadrants. It names EY as a Leader in one quadrant.

In addition, Genpact, Kyndryl and Tech Mahindra are named as Rising Stars — companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in one quadrant each.

In the area of customer experience, Accenture is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2024 among chemical industry service and solution providers. Accenture earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG's Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence™ program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

The 2024 ISG Provider Lens™ Chemical Industry Services and Solutions report for North America is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About ISG Provider Lens™ Research

The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG's global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG's enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage.

About ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including AI and automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

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