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Our third State of Specification Management Report has just been released, and it reveals critical insights into how companies are managing their specification data in today’s increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
Since our first survey in 2021, we've tracked how Specification Data Management (SDM) practices have evolved across industries. While our 2023 report highlighted the growing need for better SDM solutions, our 2025 findings reveal that despite 75% of respondents recognizing this need, many organizations are still struggling when it comes to implementing a spec data strategy.
This strong awareness demonstrates that industry professionals understand the value effective Specification Management can bring to their operations. Yet, despite this recognition, our research shows that shared drives, spreadsheets, and email continue to be the primary ways companies manage critical specification data.
What's Changed Since 2023?
The specification management landscape has evolved significantly over the past two years:
- Sustainable packaging regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) have moved from peripheral concerns to immediate business priorities
- Data accuracy concerns have risen
- Supplier quality issues resulting from poor Specification Management have increased
- Regulatory and compliance teams' reliance on specification data has grown dramatically, jumping from 36% to 61%
What's Stayed the Same?
Despite these changes, many core challenges remain consistent. Companies continue to use siloed, legacy systems to manage increasingly complex data, which is having negative impacts across all business units.
As a result of both legacy and disconnected systems, companies continue to face version control issues that are negatively impacting operations and success in today’s competitive market. And, these are just a few of the persistent issues that we discovered in the 2025 State of Specification Management Report.
The Growing Urgency For Improved Specification Data Management
With sustainable packaging legislation expanding rapidly and consumers demanding greater transparency, businesses can no longer afford to delay implementing effective Specification Management systems. The financial implications of non-compliance and the competitive disadvantage of inefficient data management are becoming too significant to ignore.
Our full report explores these challenges in-depth and provides insights into how forward-thinking companies are successfully navigating this complex landscape.
Ready to learn more? Download the complete State of Specification Management 2025 report today to discover the detailed findings and how they can help your organization prepare for the future.
