The study is devoted to the barriers to the implementation of IT systems in the timber industry (LPC): investment, personnel, infrastructure and organizational. The work used an analysis of literature and regulatory documents, a case study of Russian and international examples of the introduction of digital solutions, correlation analysis to assess the relationships, as well as the systematization and classification of the data obtained. As a result, key obstacles to the introduction of IT in Russia were identified. Special attention is paid to the role of domestic IT solutions, the effectiveness of government support and problems related to the operation of the Federal State Information System of the Forestry Complex (FGIS LC). The main IT solutions that are actively being implemented in the LPC have also been identified. To illustrate the need and the real possibility of overcoming the identified barriers, examples of successful implementation of modern IT projects in domestic and foreign companies are given. The correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between the level of development of local area networks (LAN), which are the foundation for the deployment and operation of IT systems, and the production capacity of pulp and paper production enterprises. This conclusion, together with the overall results of the study, confirms a direct link between the use of information technology and the growth of the production capacity of the entire LPC. In conclusion, based on a comprehensive analysis, a set of specific measures is proposed to eliminate the identified barriers: the development of public‑private partnerships, support for domestic IT developments, modernization of digital infrastructure, training of qualified personnel and improvement of the regulatory framework. The results of the study convincingly show that effective implementation and development of IT systems is a critical factor for increasing efficiency, transparency and sustainable development of the industry.