A majority of global manufacturers are prioritising cybersecurity as their primary investment to drive productivity improvements. This is according to the latest edition of ABI Research’s semiannual Manufacturers’ Technology Adoption & Attitudes Survey, which outlines key technology trends shaping the industrial sector. The report is based on responses from 458 manufacturing decision-makers across the US, Germany and Malaysia.
The survey found that 63.5% of respondents ranked improving their cybersecurity posture as the most important area of investment. This comes amid heightened concerns over cyber threats and data loss, particularly as the industry increasingly integrates cloud platforms, AI and networked systems. Software supply chain attacks and insider threats continue to rank among the most cited cybersecurity risks.
“An interesting find from the survey is that 63.5% of manufacturers surveyed now say that improving their cybersecurity posture is the top investment necessary for improving productivity,” said ABI Research distinguished analyst Michael Larner. “When asked in the first wave of the survey in 2024, that number was only 21.9%. The recent CrowdStrike update, which caused a massive IT outage that crashed millions of Windows systems, brought security vulnerabilities to the fore. Increasing geopolitical tensions certainly play a part as well.”
Digital maturity varies across regions
The report found that significant gaps persist in digital maturity across geographies. Germany leads in Greenfield site advancement, with 84% of such facilities achieving modern factory maturity. The US follows at 72%, while Malaysia stands at 70%. In contrast, only 31% of Malaysian Brownfield facilities meet modern maturity standards, underscoring a lag in upgrading traditional operations despite national investment in advanced sites.
Adoption of private 5G networks is gaining momentum, with 44% of manufacturers either piloting or rolling out the technology. German respondents reported the highest level of implementation, with 34% having at least begun deployment, compared to 27% in both the US and Malaysia. The technology is viewed as a driver of secure connectivity and scalable infrastructure for industrial operations.
Cloud computing continues to see broad uptake. As per the report, 79% of participants agreed that cloud platforms offer tangible benefits, particularly in remote monitoring, decision-making, and supply chain coordination. A single cloud environment remains the preferred model across all surveyed regions.
The integration of Generative AI into production workflows is also advancing. The report found that 66% of manufacturers believe it can optimise production lines, while 74% said it could enhance the creation of worker instructions. Adoption rates were slightly lower in the US compared to Germany and Malaysia.
In terms of quality improvement, 53.9% of manufacturers identified quality management systems (QMS) as a priority investment. The US and Malaysia reported higher emphasis on QMS than Germany, where more facilities have existing systems in place.
Workforce and organisational barriers remain significant. 48% of respondents said a lack of expertise is limiting their ability to fully adopt emerging technologies, while 58% cited difficulty in aligning technology investments with commercial objectives.
Read more: 55% of organisations lack strategies for AI-driven cyber threats, report finds
