Among the respondents, quality control ranked as the top use case for AI and ML at 50%, followed by cybersecurity at 49%, process optimisation at 42%, robotics at 37% and logistics at 36%.
In regards to labour shortage and skills gap, AI and automation continue to prove the most useful to organisations, being cited as part of their strategies at 41% for both issues.
Meanwhile, 28% of organisations are actively evaluating critical suppliers as a response to external risks, forcing organizations to reevaluate sourcing, pricing, and overall costs.
A vast majority of manufacturers at 81% say the obstacles they face, both within their organisation and externally, are accelerating digital transformation.
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This figure rises above 90% in Brazil, India, Japan, and the Middle East. Mexico, Spain, and the UK have seen significant increases in obstacles.
Through increased use of smart manufacturing technology, 48% expect to repurpose workers to different roles or hire more workers.
On the other hand, sustainable success, the report notes, depends on a workforce that can evolve, making continuous training not just a support function but a driver of organisational resilience and growth.
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Overall in 2025, 47% of respondents worldwide indicated that applying AI was an “extremely” important skill in their organisations, a 10% increase from 2024.
At the same time, cybersecurity skills and standards are becoming a higher priority in hiring, with 47% identifying them as extremely important, up from 40% previously.
“We’re seeing strong momentum across APAC in adopting AI and smart manufacturing technologies, not just as buzzwords but as mission-critical capabilities to drive quality, agility and growth,” says Scott Wooldridge, regional president, APAC, Rockwell Automation.
He adds: “What stands out this year is the region’s tech-first mindset, with nearly half of the manufacturers already scaling AI to address workforce gaps, cybersecurity risks, and evolving sustainability targets. The focus has clearly shifted from experimentation to execution.”
Over half of global respondents state that improving efficiency is the top reason to pursue better sustainability, an increase of 14% from the last survey.
Lastly, product quality and safety at 43% as well as energy management at 42% are factors that matter the most to organisational sustainability programs, with both areas seeing a significant increase of 10% and 7%, respectively over last year’s iteration of the report.
