Indian Companies Outspend Global Peers by 60% on Smart Manufacturing Investments in High-Value Segment: Industry Analysis

Indian Manufacturers Emphasize Digital Transformation to Remain Competitive

A recent report by Rockwell Automation has highlighted the significant investments being made by Indian firms in smart manufacturing technology. According to the State of Smart Manufacturing Report, Indian manufacturers are focusing on scaling digital tools effectively, rather than just adopting them, to stay competitive in the market.

The report's findings indicate that Indian companies in the high-spending category are allocating 1.6 times more resources to smart manufacturing technology compared to their global peers. This emphasis on digital transformation is reflected in the survey's results, which sought the input of 1,560 decision-makers from 17 top manufacturing countries. The survey found that over half (52%) of the respondents represented companies with revenues exceeding USD 1 billion.

The report highlights the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies by Indian manufacturers. A significant 88% of Indian manufacturers are already leveraging AI and ML in their operations, with 41% of operations being AI-augmented. This trend is expected to continue, with AI-augmented operations projected to increase to 47% by 2027 and 61% by 2030.

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Comparison of AI Adoption by Indian and Global Manufacturers

The study also found that Indian firms are using technology to create more engaging jobs, with 48% of companies employing AI/ML learning technologies to address labor gaps. Furthermore, 81% of respondents believe that applying AI is a very/extremely important hiring skill, highlighting the growing importance of digital literacy in the Indian manufacturing sector.