Archive · 29 Jul 2026
Indian Manufacturers Embrace AI for Strategic Growth
Indian manufacturers are increasingly adopting AI and automation to help them achieve their strategic goals over the next five years.
They are focusing on areas like data capture, quality assurance, and customer interactions.
This shift is expected to significantly increase automation across the entire value chain by 2030.
Indian manufacturers are also prioritizing product design and development, although they are less focused on R&D compared to their Chinese counterparts.
The goal is to build intelligent enterprises that use technology and data-driven decision-making to stay competitive.
59% of Indian manufacturers believe AI will play a significant role in achieving strategic goals in the next five years.
Automation priorities include data capture and analytics (82%), quality assurance (69%), planning and forecasting (65%), and customer interactions (63%).
By 2030, the proportion of manufacturers with highly automated physical production processes is expected to more than double compared to 2025.
Indian manufacturers are focusing on customer-facing interactions and reducing friction, while Chinese manufacturers prioritize efficiency gains in procurement and shop-floor operations.
57% of Indian manufacturers identify product design and development as a top investment area, but only 45% see R&D as a strategic growth action.
- Who
- Indian manufacturers
- What
- Embracing AI and automation for strategic growth
- When
- Next five years
- Where
- India
- Why
- To achieve strategic goals and build intelligent enterprises
Indian Manufacturers
Chinese Manufacturers
Automation Priorities
Indian Manufacturers
Focus on customer-facing interactions and reducing friction.
Chinese Manufacturers
Focus on efficiency gains across procurement and shop-floor operations.
Investment in R&D
Indian Manufacturers
45% identify R&D as a strategic growth action.
Chinese Manufacturers
63% identify R&D as a strategic growth action.
Capabilities Amplifying Financial Performance
Indian Manufacturers
39% identify R&D, product development, and product management as top capabilities.
Chinese Manufacturers
76% identify R&D, product development, and product management as top capabilities.
- Percentage of Indian manufacturers believing AI will play a significant role
- 59%
- Percentage of global manufacturers believing AI will play a significant role
- 52%
- Top automation areas for Indian manufacturers
- Data capture and analytics (82%), quality assurance (69%), planning and forecasting (65%), customer interactions (63%)
- Expected increase in highly automated physical production processes by 2030
- More than double compared to 2025
- Percentage of Indian manufacturers identifying product design and development as a top investment area
- 57%