Study New E-CAD Study Shows Where AI Has an Immediate Impact

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54 percent of electrical designers no longer have time for innovation. At the same time, a significant portion of working hours is spent on low-value-added activities. This is the result of a survey conducted by WSCAD GmbH.

More than half of all E-CAD users no longer have time for innovation. This is the key finding of a survey of 1,267 professionals from 40 countries in mechanical engineering, plant engineering, building automation, and electrical installation, published by WSCAD GmbH on May 21, 2026. The study "The Future of Electrical Design—AI as a Catalyst for Productivity and Transformation" analyzes the current state of a constantly pressured industry and specifically highlights what artificial intelligence can already achieve in everyday engineering and the impact AI will have on jobs and the industry.

Industry in Full-Throttle Mode—Without Structural Relief

54 percent of respondents state that they have no time for innovation or improving their workflows. At the same time, a significant portion of work hours is spent on low-value-added activities: around 40 percent of the time is dedicated to searching for components, creating and maintaining documentation, and correcting recurring errors. The core competence—creating plans—is consequently neglected. Additionally, there is an aging user base with a high level of expertise and little new talent: knowledge contained in individuals' minds risks being lost during staff turnover.

AI Retrieves What Routine Devours

Initial practical experiences with the AI-integrated WSCAD platform Electrix AI show how much time can actually be saved. Measurements indicate that material lists and terminal plans can be created over 92 percent faster, error checks performed up to 98 percent faster, and macros placed over 95 percent faster than before. If a routine task that previously took six minutes is reduced to seconds and executed twenty times a day, this results in ten free hours per employee per week—for a team of five designers, this equates to more than a full workweek.

The Paradigm Shift Begins Now

The study clearly distinguishes between two development stages: CAD systems with complementary "non-disruptive" AI functions on the one hand and "disruptive" AI-native engineering platforms on the other. The former accelerate and improve existing processes, while the latter fundamentally change work logic, job profiles, and markets. Instead of manually drawing and iteratively adjusting circuit diagrams, engineers define target states and constraints—the system generates solution proposals, checks for compliance with standards, and structurally secures company knowledge. The transition to AI-native engineering is expected to be completed within five to ten years.

We don't follow trends, we set them by redefining electrical planning with AI and giving customers the most valuable asset back: their time.

Dr. Axel Zein, CEO of WSCAD GmbH

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