A majority of international manufacturers place cybersecurity as their top priority over efficiency improvements. This is in line with the most recent version of ABI Research’s semiannual Manufacturers ‘ Technology Adoption & Attitudes Survey, which lists vital technology trends influencing the business industry. Based on responses from 458 decision-makers in the US, Germany, and Malaysia, the document is compiled.
According to the survey, 63.5 % of respondents thought improving their cybersecurity position was the most crucial area of investment. This comes as virtual threats and data loss are more prevalent, especially as the sector increasingly combines cloud platforms, AI, and interconnected systems. Among the most frequently mentioned security risks are inside threats and program .
According to ABI Research distinguished scientist Michael Larner,” An interesting finding from the study is that 63.5 % of manufacturers surveyed now believe that improving their security posture is the top investment required for increasing productivity.” That figure was only 21.9 % when questioned in the survey’s first wave in 2024. Security flaws came to the forefront with the latest CrowdStrike up-date, which resulted in a huge IT outage that caused millions of Windows systems to crash. Growing political conflicts undoubtedly play a role, too.
Digital sophistication varies based on the region.
According to the report, there are still significant gaps between modern maturity and geographical boundaries. Germany is in the forefront of Greenfield site development, with 84 % of these features achieving modern factory age. Malaysia is in second place at 70 %, followed by the US at 72 %. Only 31 % of Malaysian renovation services, in contrast, have modern age standards, which highlights the slow progress made in upgrading traditional procedures despite national investment in advanced sites.
44 % of manufacturers are testing or deploying the technology, making the adoption of private 5G networks gaining popularity. German responders had the highest rate of implementation, with 34 % of those polled having at least begun deployment, compared to 27 % in both the US and Malaysia. The use of the technology as a catalyst for robust infrastructure and protected connectivity for industrial operations is understood.
Wide adoption of cloud computing is still ongoing. According to the report, 79 % of respondents agreed that cloud services provide substantial advantages, particularly for remote monitoring, decision-making, and supply chain cooperation. The preferred type for all surveyed areas is still a solitary sky environment.
Generative AI is even becoming more and more popular. According to the report, 74 % of manufacturers believe it can improve the creation of worker instructions, while 76 % of manufacturers think it can improve production lines. Adoption costs in the US were a little lower than those in Germany and Malaysia.
53.9 % of manufacturers cited quality management systems ( QMS ) as a major investment in terms of quality improvement. More features have existing systems in place than Germany, with more focus on QMS in the US and Malaysia.
Organizational and labor restrictions still have a lot to say. A lack of knowledge is limiting their ability to fully embrace emerging technologies, according to 58 % of respondents, and trouble integrating technology investments with business objectives is another factor.
