Rockwell Automation: Middle East Leads with 98% Digital Adoption and 30% Budgets

The report finds 90% of manufacturers worldwide now consider digital transformation essential, with 59% moving beyond pilot programs into active deployment of smart technologies. One-third of operating budgets remain dedicated to industrial tech, and only 43% of generated data is currently used effectively, highlighting execution over availability.

Middle Eastern manufacturers lead all regions with 98% recognizing digital initiatives as critical and allocating nearly 30% of their operating budgets to advanced technologies. AI adoption is near-universal, generative AI is fully embedded, and digital twins investments are planned within the next year.

UK firms report 87% deeming digital transformation essential and allocate an average of 27% of budgets to industrial technology. With widespread generative AI use, cybersecurity now tops AI applications, and half of manufacturers experienced a cyberattack in the past year.

While AI and automation drive efficiency gains, workforce capability is the primary constraint as companies scale technologies at pace. Organizations are ramping up reskilling programs and cybersecurity investments to support connected operations and bridge the gap between data collection and data-driven decision-making.