Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) redefine manufacturing, or is it just another tech buzzword? At Hannover Messe 2025, ABI Research analysts saw AI and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) on full display. Practical applications are demonstrating efficiency gains, robust autonomous capabilities, and operational resilience. Their new cousin, Agentic AI, has also emerged as a key facilitator for digitally transforming the factory floor. Agentic AI is the brains behind fine-tuned copilots that enhance anything from inventory management to industry-specific Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). However, manufacturers remain skeptical about Agentic AI, and vital infrastructure considerations are still in discussion.
Digitalization in manufacturing is redefining operational efficiency and resilience, yet it’s not always so clear how digitally transformed manufacturers are. To get a better understanding of how technologically advanced manufacturers are, to date, ABI Research conducted the second edition of its Manufacturers’ Technology Adoption & Attitudes Survey, published in March 2025. It draws insights from 458 decision-makers across the United States, Germany, and Malaysia. The six revelations shared in this blog highlight key trends and challenges shaping manufacturing digitalization, offering strategic guidance for industry leaders and technology vendors.
Robotics has become a staple of the manufacturing sector, essential for maximizing productivity, ensuring quality, and reducing labor costs. As valuable as robotics are, many solutions fall short of the time-to-impact metric that manufacturers seek. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based, closed-loop automation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in a variety of ways across oil & gas operations, from asset tracking and predictive analytics to data management. Oil & gas operations generate massive amounts of data—up to 2 terabytes daily in some cases. Human analysis can only uncover so much, leaving numerous opportunities in the shadows. By deploying AI software tools, this disparate data can be used to bring new insights to light. These tools identify drilling opportunities, streamline processes, and optimize performance.
What Is Overall Equipment Effectiveness?
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a critical metric manufacturers use to measure and optimize production efficiency. It evaluates three key factors: availability, performance, and quality, helping to pinpoint bottlenecks, downtime, and inefficiencies in the production process.
The manufacturing industry is in the midst of a transformative period. Technological advancements are enabling unprecedented operational efficiencies and revealing previously hidden revenue opportunities. At the same time, manufacturers must contend with the baby boomer exodus, curb rising cyberthreats, and meet climate regulations.
Industrial machinery suppliers are faced with the tall task of pushing the innovation envelope, while keeping production costs at bay. Customers require machines that unlock new use cases, but at the same time don’t necessitate significant training time for employees. To strike this balance, suppliers should strongly consider the adoption of immersive engineering solutions powered by Extended Reality (XR) hardware. As ABI Research already pointed in a recent blog post, cloud-based XR platforms foster greater collaboration between engineering and design teams, reduce error rates, and accelerate the design review process.
Immersive engineering is a game-changer for industrial machinery suppliers as they aim to enhance quality and productivity, while reducing costs and their carbon footprint. Their customers, who cite machine performance improvements as a top priority, have increasingly required new tools and products as they tackle recent headwinds such as COVID-19, worker strikes, and safety recalls.
The year 2024 provided numerous technology trends shaping the future of nearly every industry. ABI Research analysts have been covering these developments for some time, and now it’s time to reflect upon our studies in our annual trends whitepaper. Before we dive into the list, here’s a statement from Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer:
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024 marked another milestone in innovation, with exhibitors showcasing advancements across robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), data integration, cloud computing, and more. The usual big names were there to show the world what they’ve been up to, but they were accompanied by smaller startups hoping to make a big splash. The technological breakthroughs on display in Chicago this year embody the innovative spirit the manufacturing industry requires to address an aging workforce, increased demand, and supply chain complexities.
