January 28, 2026 Tech Survey Reveals 94% AI Adoption Among Manufacturers

Rootstock’s survey shows manufacturers consolidating application platforms, improving agility, and scaling for growth amid volatility.

San Ramon, Calif. – Rootstock Software, a recognized leader in cloud ERP for product-based companies, today announced the results of its 2026 State of Manufacturing Technology Survey. Responses reveal an industry making measurable progress in both AI adoption and digital transformation—even as manufacturers contend with economic uncertainty, global trade pressures, and persistent workforce constraints.

The survey found that AI has moved decisively into the mainstream, with 94% of manufacturers now utilizing some form of AI. But the data also reveals that the execution of digital transformation initiatives is becoming more complicated as manufacturers attempt to balance progress with uncertainty around demand, supply chains, and tariff-driven costs.

“Manufacturers aren’t slowing down on digital transformation, but they’re being more selective about the initiatives they move forward with, ensuring projects will help improve performance and results,” said Rick Berger, CEO of Rootstock Software. “With this strategy in mind, many manufacturers are actually increasing investments in enterprise software, as they see these solutions as being able to help them respond faster to market conditions, plan with greater confidence, and operate more effectively in today’s volatile market.”

The survey also points to a growing emphasis on platform and process consolidation, particularly using ERP to help reduce complexity, connect business domains, and better support workforce challenges.

“Manufacturers are increasingly looking to ERP as a way to consolidate platforms and bring fragmented parts of the business together,” said Ohad Idan, VP of Product at Rootstock. “And as AI adoption continues to expand, having a unified foundation becomes essential for improving forecasting, decision-making, and employee productivity.”

Key findings from the 2026 State of Manufacturing Technology Survey include:

• AI maturity is rising as adoption expands into higher-impact applications. 73% of manufacturers now believe they are “on par” with or “ahead” of peers in AI adoption.
• Manufacturers are backing digital transformation with increased enterprise software investment. 61% of manufacturers plan to increase spending on enterprise software over the next 12 months, with the largest share planning on increases of 11 to 25%.
• Manufacturers face economic uncertainty and trade volatility. Manufacturers enter 2026 with a mixed outlook: 31% expect customer demand to decrease, while 19% anticipate growth. Tariffs represent another cost pressure: 39% of manufacturers expect higher raw material or component costs due to tariffs.

Methodology

The 2026 State of Manufacturing Technology Survey was conducted by Researchscape and commissioned by Rootstock Software. The study surveyed 520 professionals leading digital transformation initiatives at mid- to large-sized manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Rootstock
Rootstock Software provides the leading ERP for product companies, empowering manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors to turbocharge their operations. Natively built on the Salesforce Platform, Rootstock is a modern, future-proof ERP with a fresh user experience. Users appreciate Rootstock’s focus on customer success and its AI capabilities that offer a human-first approach. IT teams value Rootstock’s platform as it minimizes the need to coordinate complex customizations and third-party integrations. All of these factors have contributed to delighted customers. As Rootstock continues to grow, stay tuned to hear about its new customers, career opportunities, and LinkedIn posts.

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