AI is transforming the software industry, but the real breakthroughs happen when it moves beyond pilots and starts delivering outcomes in the industries that power the global economy. At IFS, that shift is already well underway as AI becomes embedded directly into operational workflows across manufacturing, aerospace, defense, energy, and service environments.
To understand how Industrial AI is being applied in the real world and what this means for the future of innovation and careers in the field, we spoke with Andrija Andrijevic, VP within Nexus Black, one of IFS’s strategic AI growth areas.
AI Built for the Real World
Andrija describes IFS’s approach to AI with a clear point of view:
“IFS is first and foremost an AI‑native company. We’ve built AI across our full product portfolio so it can support customers inside the operational environments they actually work in.”
He emphasizes that AI at IFS is not a bolt‑on technology or a separate module. It is embedded.
“This isn’t a lab experiment or a chatbot sitting outside a workflow. Industrial AI has to operate where value is created in maintenance, in planning, in service, in real-time decision-making. If it doesn’t work there, it doesn’t work.”
Where Nexus Black Fits Into the Story
We asked Andrija how Nexus Black complements IFS’s established AI layer. His answer was direct:
“Nexus Black gives customers a firsthand experience of an innovation accelerator built specifically for the most complex, high-impact challenges they face.”
He contrasts this with traditional ERP or digital transformation cycles that often take years to materialize:
“Customers are used to waiting years to see outcomes. With Nexus Black, we can rapidly validate high‑value problems and turn them into scalable product solutions within weeks or months, not years.”
For Andrija, this speed is what builds confidence in AI at scale:
“When AI is industrial by design and outcome-driven by nature, customers clearly see the value. At that point, they’re no longer piloting, they’re scaling.”
Why Industrial AI Is Different
Many organizations are familiar with generic AI or consumer AI tools. But Andrija stresses that Industrial AI is fundamentally different:
“The stakes are higher. You’re dealing with assets, safety, regulatory frameworks, environmental conditions, and mission‑critical workflows. Getting it ‘mostly right’ isn’t good enough. Industrial AI must be context‑aware industry, asset, geography, compliance and it has to fit seamlessly into existing operations.”
This is why Nexus Black focuses so heavily on that context.
“We don’t start from zero. We start from the customer’s operational reality the real data, constraints, and outcomes that matter. That’s what allows Industrial AI to run in production, not just in presentations.”
Sales as a Partner in Long‑Term Transformation
In his role leading AI-focused sales teams, Andrija views sales as a long-term strategic partner:
“Good sales in this space is not transactional. It’s about helping customers shape a roadmap what they can do now, what they can scale later, and how AI initiatives align with business outcomes.”
Customers often come with big questions, What if we automated this? What if we could predict that?
Nexus Black provides a structured way to explore and action those ideas.
“We take those early ambitions and turn them into concrete, funded projects with a clear value hypothesis, measurable outcomes, and a path to scale.”
A Career Where AI Meets Industry
Finally, we asked what keeps Andrija passionate about the work.
“What motivates me is that we’re not talking about AI in abstract terms. Our customers operate the infrastructure the world relies on. When we get Industrial AI right, we help them become safer, more efficient, and more resilient. That impact feels meaningful.”
He sees IFS as a place where ambitious people can grow quickly:
“If you’re curious and willing to take on complex problems, you can build an incredible career here. I started in a very different role, and now I’m helping shape AI strategy with customers across regions. That combination of challenge and impact is what makes IFS special.”
Closing Thoughts
Industrial AI is no longer theoretical, it is executing inside the world’s most complex operational environments. Through Nexus Black and leaders like Andrija Andrijevic, IFS is helping customers tackle high‑value challenges and scale AI where it matters most: in the real world.
SOURCE: Jessica Leion (2026 April 14) Shaping Industrial AI Transformation: Delivering Real Impact for Customers and Building a Career That Defines What Comes Next. IFS Blog. https://blog.ifs.com/shaping-industrial-ai-transformation-delivering-real-impact-for-customers-and-building-a-career-that-defines-what-comes-next
