Article

The Industry 4.0 Barometer 2026 indicates that the UK is lagging in AI-driven manufacturing, with its digitalization level declining to 62%. China leads with 72%, followed by the US at 69% and India at 68%.

Key barriers in the UK include legacy IT systems and data silos, with only 6% familiar with Software-Defined Manufacturing. The study surveyed over 1,200 individuals from various regions, revealing that while global digitalization rises, Europe, particularly the UK and DACH region, faces significant modernization challenges. Companies must invest in software-based, scalable architectures to maintain competitiveness.