GITNUXREPORT 2025

Digital Transformation In The Secondary Industry Statistics

Most secondary industry firms adopt digital tools, boosting efficiency, but full integration lags.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

45% of employees in the secondary industry feel their company is behind in digital skills

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45% of small to medium manufacturing enterprises experience difficulties in digital adoption

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38% of companies report difficulty in implementing digital transformation due to legacy systems

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53% of manufacturing firms report difficulties in scaling digital solutions across all operations

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65% of manufacturing executives view data security as a significant concern in digital transformation

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36% of manufacturing companies cite talent shortage as a barrier to digital transformation

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65% of secondary industry firms have adopted at least one form of digital transformation technology

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75% of manufacturing executives see digital transformation as a key driver of competitiveness

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only 20% of secondary industry companies report fully digitalized production processes

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62% of secondary industry firms see digital supply chain management as a top priority

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58% of manufacturing companies use digital twin technology for product development

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55% of manufacturing firms use blockchain technology for supply chain transparency

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60% of secondary industry companies have adopted mobile technologies for plant floor management

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54% of manufacturing firms use digital KPIs to monitor production efficiency

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35% of secondary industry companies have partnered with tech providers for digital transformation solutions

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72% of secondary industry companies see digital transformation as essential for future growth

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40% of secondary industry firms plan to implement cybersecurity measures aligned with digital initiatives

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58% of manufacturers are exploring digital solutions for energy management to reduce costs

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28% of manufacturing hardware manufacturers have adopted industrial automation solutions

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47% of manufacturing organizations plan to implement 5G to support industrial IoT by 2025

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40% of secondary industry firms plan to increase investments in digital skills training by 2024

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45% of manufacturing companies report increased operational efficiency due to digital tools

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70% of factory managers believe that IoT significantly improves production processes

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85% of manufacturing firms report improved supply chain visibility due to digital solutions

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60% of manufacturers believe data analytics is crucial for predictive maintenance

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40% of secondary industry firms experienced cybersecurity threats linked to digital transformation

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70% of secondary industry companies are using big data analytics to optimize production

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79% of secondary industry companies anticipate a positive ROI from digital transformation within three years

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52% of secondary industry companies report improved product quality through digital innovations

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65% of secondary industry firms expect digital transformation to reduce operational costs by at least 10%

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48% of secondary industry companies have seen an increase in workforce productivity after digital initiatives

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67% of industry leaders believe digital transformation enhances customer satisfaction

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60% of secondary industry companies report that digital innovation accelerates product development cycles

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63% of manufacturers report that digital transformation improves compliance with regulatory standards

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only 30% of secondary industry companies have fully integrated AI into their workflows

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55% of manufacturing firms invested over $1 million in digital transformation initiatives in 2023

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68% of secondary industry companies use cloud computing for data storage and analytics

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50% of secondary industry companies have implemented robotics in production lines

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80% of manufacturing companies plan to increase their digital transformation budgets by 25% in 2024

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21% of manufacturing firms have achieved full integration of Industry 4.0 technologies

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38% of factories utilize machine learning algorithms to improve defect detection

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25% of secondary industry companies have used augmented reality for employee training

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44% of manufacturing companies are investing in digital supply chain resilience

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30% of secondary industry firms have implemented autonomous vehicles for logistics

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53% of manufacturing companies utilize AI for demand forecasting

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37% of secondary industry firms have integrated digital tools for customer engagement

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52% of secondary industry companies use digital simulation for training and process optimization

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44% of secondary industry companies have implemented digital inventory management systems

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Key Highlights

65% of secondary industry firms have adopted at least one form of digital transformation technology
45% of manufacturing companies report increased operational efficiency due to digital tools
70% of factory managers believe that IoT significantly improves production processes
only 30% of secondary industry companies have fully integrated AI into their workflows
55% of manufacturing firms invested over $1 million in digital transformation initiatives in 2023
68% of secondary industry companies use cloud computing for data storage and analytics
85% of manufacturing firms report improved supply chain visibility due to digital solutions
50% of secondary industry companies have implemented robotics in production lines
75% of manufacturing executives see digital transformation as a key driver of competitiveness
only 20% of secondary industry companies report fully digitalized production processes
60% of manufacturers believe data analytics is crucial for predictive maintenance
40% of secondary industry firms experienced cybersecurity threats linked to digital transformation
80% of manufacturing companies plan to increase their digital transformation budgets by 25% in 2024

As the secondary industry accelerates into the digital age, over 65% of firms have already embraced new technologies, revealing a landscape where IoT, AI, and data analytics are reshaping manufacturing and supply chains—yet full digital integration remains a distant goal for many.

Challenges and Barriers to Implementation

45% of employees in the secondary industry feel their company is behind in digital skills
45% of small to medium manufacturing enterprises experience difficulties in digital adoption
38% of companies report difficulty in implementing digital transformation due to legacy systems
53% of manufacturing firms report difficulties in scaling digital solutions across all operations
65% of manufacturing executives view data security as a significant concern in digital transformation
36% of manufacturing companies cite talent shortage as a barrier to digital transformation

Challenges and Barriers to Implementation Interpretation

With nearly half of secondary industry employees feeling their companies lag in digital skills and over a third struggling with legacy systems and scaling, it's clear that while digital transformation promises a future of innovation, many manufacturing firms are still fumbling with the basics—often haunted by talent shortages and security fears that threaten to stall progress before it even begins.

Digital Transformation and Adoption Rates

65% of secondary industry firms have adopted at least one form of digital transformation technology
75% of manufacturing executives see digital transformation as a key driver of competitiveness
only 20% of secondary industry companies report fully digitalized production processes
62% of secondary industry firms see digital supply chain management as a top priority
58% of manufacturing companies use digital twin technology for product development
55% of manufacturing firms use blockchain technology for supply chain transparency
60% of secondary industry companies have adopted mobile technologies for plant floor management
54% of manufacturing firms use digital KPIs to monitor production efficiency
35% of secondary industry companies have partnered with tech providers for digital transformation solutions
72% of secondary industry companies see digital transformation as essential for future growth
40% of secondary industry firms plan to implement cybersecurity measures aligned with digital initiatives
58% of manufacturers are exploring digital solutions for energy management to reduce costs
28% of manufacturing hardware manufacturers have adopted industrial automation solutions

Digital Transformation and Adoption Rates Interpretation

While a growing majority of secondary industry firms recognize digital transformation as vital for future competitiveness—highlighted by 75% viewing it as a key driver—only one-fifth have fully digitalized production processes, revealing a landscape where digital aspirations outpace complete implementation, yet companies increasingly leverage advanced tools like digital twins, blockchain, and mobile tech to future-proof their operations amidst a patchwork of partnerships and partial integrations.

Future Trends and Strategic Outlook

47% of manufacturing organizations plan to implement 5G to support industrial IoT by 2025
40% of secondary industry firms plan to increase investments in digital skills training by 2024

Future Trends and Strategic Outlook Interpretation

With nearly half of manufacturing firms eyeing 5G deployment and 40% boosting digital skills by 2024, the secondary industry is evidently preparing to transform "factory floors" into smart, connected battlegrounds of innovation.

Impact on Operations and Performance

45% of manufacturing companies report increased operational efficiency due to digital tools
70% of factory managers believe that IoT significantly improves production processes
85% of manufacturing firms report improved supply chain visibility due to digital solutions
60% of manufacturers believe data analytics is crucial for predictive maintenance
40% of secondary industry firms experienced cybersecurity threats linked to digital transformation
70% of secondary industry companies are using big data analytics to optimize production
79% of secondary industry companies anticipate a positive ROI from digital transformation within three years
52% of secondary industry companies report improved product quality through digital innovations
65% of secondary industry firms expect digital transformation to reduce operational costs by at least 10%
48% of secondary industry companies have seen an increase in workforce productivity after digital initiatives
67% of industry leaders believe digital transformation enhances customer satisfaction
60% of secondary industry companies report that digital innovation accelerates product development cycles
63% of manufacturers report that digital transformation improves compliance with regulatory standards

Impact on Operations and Performance Interpretation

While digital transformation in the secondary industry promises substantial gains—boosting efficiency, product quality, and ROI—the rising tide of cybersecurity threats and the need for strategic investment underscore that embracing digital isn’t just about progress, but also about prudent resilience.

Technology Utilization and Investment

only 30% of secondary industry companies have fully integrated AI into their workflows
55% of manufacturing firms invested over $1 million in digital transformation initiatives in 2023
68% of secondary industry companies use cloud computing for data storage and analytics
50% of secondary industry companies have implemented robotics in production lines
80% of manufacturing companies plan to increase their digital transformation budgets by 25% in 2024
21% of manufacturing firms have achieved full integration of Industry 4.0 technologies
38% of factories utilize machine learning algorithms to improve defect detection
25% of secondary industry companies have used augmented reality for employee training
44% of manufacturing companies are investing in digital supply chain resilience
30% of secondary industry firms have implemented autonomous vehicles for logistics
53% of manufacturing companies utilize AI for demand forecasting
37% of secondary industry firms have integrated digital tools for customer engagement
52% of secondary industry companies use digital simulation for training and process optimization
44% of secondary industry companies have implemented digital inventory management systems

Technology Utilization and Investment Interpretation

Despite substantial investments and growing adoption of technologies like cloud computing and robotics, only a third of secondary industry firms have fully integrated AI—and with most planning to boost digital budgets by a quarter in 2024, it's clear that digital transformation remains an ongoing race where many are still trying to cross the finish line.