90% of Manufacturers Declare Digital Transformation Essential as Industry Shifts from Pilots to Scale
Event summary
- 90% of manufacturers now consider digital transformation essential for competitiveness, per Rockwell Automation's 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report.
- 59% of manufacturers actively use smart manufacturing technologies, down from 18% in pilot mode.
- 34% of operations are AI-augmented today, with expectations to reach over 50% by 2030.
- 46% of manufacturers experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year.
The big picture
Rockwell Automation's report signals a pivotal shift in manufacturing, where digital transformation has moved from experimental to essential. The industry is now focused on scaling technologies that deliver measurable outcomes, reflecting broader trends in industrial automation and AI adoption. With one-third of operating budgets dedicated to industrial technology, sustained investment indicates a long-term strategic priority rather than short-term experimentation.
What we're watching
- AI Integration
- The pace at which AI becomes a core operational capability will determine competitive positioning by 2030.
- Cybersecurity Risks
- How manufacturers address rising cyber incidents will impact the scalability of connected operations.
- Operational Intelligence
- Whether manufacturers can effectively utilize the 43% of unused data will be critical for performance gains.