New Delhi: TCS has released a new study indicating that manufacturers expect AI to play a major role in boosting margins by 2026, even as most firms remain unprepared for large-scale adoption.
The Future-Ready Manufacturing Study 2025, conducted by TCS in collaboration with AWS, surveyed 216 senior leaders across North America and Europe. The findings show that while 75% of manufacturers expect AI to rank among their top three margin contributors by 2026, only 21% say their organisations are fully prepared for AI-driven operations. The report highlights persistent challenges related to data quality, system integration, and infrastructure modernisation that continue to slow implementation.
The study notes rising interest in agentic AI, with 74% of respondents expecting AI systems to handle 11–50% of routine production decisions by 2028. Companies are also expanding their real-time visibility across supply chains, with 67% reporting improvements as they invest in digital infrastructure. Early adopters of AI-led quality and planning tools, about 40% have already seen measurable performance gains, suggesting a gradual shift toward more intelligence-led operations.
Industry leaders point to tightening margins, supply-chain disruptions, and workforce constraints as key factors accelerating AI adoption. TCS executives say manufacturers are moving toward more adaptive and data-driven operating models, while AWS highlights a shift from reactive to autonomous systems that can predict and respond with minimal intervention. Both stress that the transition will require stronger data foundations and scalable cloud architectures.
The study positions the sector at an inflection point where AI readiness, not just AI investment will determine how manufacturers navigate the next phase of operational modernisation. As firms push for autonomy, the findings indicate that the next few years will test their ability to balance technological ambition with on-ground preparedness across plants and supply networks.
