Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) released the India findings from its 11th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, revealing that 97% of Indian manufacturers consider digital transformation essential to staying competitive. The global study, conducted in 2026, surveyed over 1,500 manufacturers across 17 leading manufacturing countries, including India.
India Leads in Digital Transformation Investment
Indian manufacturers are moving beyond experimentation into large-scale execution. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation are now central to addressing uncertainty, improving competitiveness, and building operational resilience. India has nearly 1.6 times more high-budget spenders allocating 51-99% of their operating budget to industrial technology compared to global peers.
Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director of Rockwell Automation India, stated: "The 2026 findings confirm that India is not only keeping pace with global smart manufacturing – it is often leading it. Indian manufacturers are rapidly deploying AI, automation, and digital technologies to address quality, supply chain resilience, workforce shortages, and data utilization at scale."
AI Adoption Already Deep and Growing
AI adoption among Indian manufacturers is widespread. 88% of respondents are already using AI or machine learning (ML) in operations. Currently, 41% of operations are AI-augmented, a figure expected to grow to 47% by 2027 and 61% by 2030. This positions India as a future-ready manufacturing powerhouse.
Data Utilization Remains Key Challenge
Despite high investment, capturing and using data remains the biggest internal obstacle. 60% of Indian respondents cited capturing, interpreting, and using data to improve business as their top internal challenge, compared to 37% globally. Workforce transformation is also a priority: 52% use technology to create more engaging jobs, 48% use AI/ML learning technologies to address labor gaps, and 81% say applying AI is a very or extremely important hiring skill.
Report Methodology and Scope
The 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report analyzed feedback from 1,560 respondents across 17 top manufacturing countries, representing roles from management to C-suite. The survey was conducted by Sapio Research in association with Rockwell Automation, covering industries such as Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Semiconductor, Energy, and Life Sciences, with company revenues ranging from $100 million to over $30 billion.
The complete report is available from Rockwell Automation. This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received.
