Most manufacturers view automation as critical to their long-term competitiveness, yet far fewer have fully translated that belief into practice, according to a new State of the Market report by Vention and IndustryWeek.
The survey found that while 92% of manufacturers consider automation essential for future success, only 37% say they currently operate with significant or fully implemented automation systems. Even so, momentum remains strong, with nearly three-quarters of respondents planning to increase automation spending over the next three years. Almost half of those investments are expected to focus specifically on robotics and automation technologies.
The report suggests that the gap between intent and execution is not driven by a lack of interest, but by shortcomings in conventional automation models that struggle to keep pace with today’s market demands. Many projects fail to deliver expected results due to challenges in selecting appropriate technologies, shortages of in-house expertise, and costs that exceed initial budgets.
Industry leaders argue these issues point to deeper structural problems rather than resistance to change. Traditional automation approaches, they say, often create barriers related to system integration, complexity, and predictability, limiting what manufacturers can realistically achieve.
Alongside identifying these obstacles, the report calls for a shift toward new automation strategies designed to simplify integration, shorten deployment timelines, and lower overall project risk. Such approaches, it concludes, will be key to helping manufacturers close the gap between their automation ambitions and on-the-ground implementation.
