Industrial automation is changing how factories, utilities, and critical infrastructure operate—driven by robotics investment and accelerating market growth. Explore how industrial edge computing, AI-enabled planning, and digital twins improve performance and decision-making across the plant lifecycle. Then zoom in on operational technology security, from ransomware exposure to stolen credentials and the flood of ICS vulnerabilities—while also covering practical adoption tools like process mining and augmented reality.
Key Takeaways
- 2.6% CAGR forecast for the global industrial automation market from 2024 to 2029, reaching $182.1 billion by 2029
- 35% of total industrial automation spending is expected to be captured by industrial robotics through 2027
- 15.4% CAGR forecast for the industrial robotics market from 2024 to 2032, reaching $41.4 billion by 2032
- In 2024, 66% of organizations reported ransomware as a top concern (Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report ransomware focus findings)
- The 2023 CISA/ODNI report states that 50% of observed cyber intrusions against critical infrastructure used stolen credentials
- 1,300+ OT vulnerabilities were published in 2023 across ICS vendors as tracked by the Claroty research database
- By 2026, 30% of new industrial plants will use industrial edge computing to run latency-sensitive applications (Gartner prediction, 2023 edge computing forecast)
- By 2025, 50% of supply chains will be using AI-enabled digital platforms for risk and demand planning (Gartner supply chain AI prediction)
- By 2025, 75% of industrial data will be processed at the edge rather than in centralized data centers (Gartner forecast on edge computing)
- Cloud-based industrial data platforms can lower capex by 20% relative to on-prem architectures for medium-sized deployments (Gartner guidance excerpt)
- Implementing a condition-monitoring program can reduce unplanned maintenance costs by 10%–40% (IEEE industrial maintenance economics paper)
- 10% productivity improvement average reported by manufacturers using industrial robotics (IFR—World Robotics findings)
- In 2023, U.S. manufacturing downtime averaged 3.6% of production time (Industry report)
- 20% of utilities in North America report using IEC 61850-based substation automation systems (UCA International Survey/industry report)
- 41% of industrial firms have adopted digital twins at least in pilot form (Gartner survey/forecast report)
Industrial automation is set to grow steadily, with robotics, edge, and cybersecurity driving major spend and risk priorities.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size10 stats
01
2.6% CAGR forecast for the global industrial automation market from 2024 to 2029, reaching $182.1 billion by 2029https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-automation-market-100265
02
35% of total industrial automation spending is expected to be captured by industrial robotics through 2027https://www.automationsmart.com/industry/industrial-robotics-market-trends/
03
15.4% CAGR forecast for the industrial robotics market from 2024 to 2032, reaching $41.4 billion by 2032https://www.precedenceresearch.com/robotics-market
04
USD 7.3 billion global spend on industrial automation cybersecurity solutions expected by 2030 (2024–2030 CAGR: 13.8%)https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-automation-cybersecurity-market-103121
05
USD 8.2 billion global market size for industrial asset management software in 2023, forecast to reach USD 20.2 billion by 2032https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/industrial-asset-management-market-A14763
06
USD 4.5 billion global market size for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in 2023, forecast to reach USD 6.3 billion by 2030https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/plc-market-A05115
07
USD 4.8 billion global market size for distributed control systems (DCS) in 2023, forecast to reach USD 7.1 billion by 2030https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/distributed-control-systems-market-A09835
08
USD 3.8 billion global market size for industrial SCADA in 2023, forecast to reach USD 5.6 billion by 2030https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/scada-market-A12443
09
USD 9.6 billion global market size for industrial sensors in 2022, forecast to reach USD 28.4 billion by 2030https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/industrial-sensors-market
10
USD 12.8 billion global market size for industrial valves in 2023, forecast to reach USD 16.5 billion by 2030https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/industrial-valves-market
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the market size outlook, the industrial automation sector is set to grow steadily with a 2.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2029 reaching $182.1 billion, while submarkets like industrial robotics are poised to expand faster at a 15.4% CAGR to $41.4 billion by 2032 and capture 35% of industrial automation spending by 2027.
02 · Category
Cybersecurity & Risk3 stats
01
In 2024, 66% of organizations reported ransomware as a top concern (Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report ransomware focus findings)https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/
02
The 2023 CISA/ODNI report states that 50% of observed cyber intrusions against critical infrastructure used stolen credentialshttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/2023/07/25-cisa-releases-analytical-report-stolen-credentials-critical-infrastructure
03
1,300+ OT vulnerabilities were published in 2023 across ICS vendors as tracked by the Claroty research databasehttps://www.claroty.com/blog/cybersecurity-ics-vulnerabilities-2023/
Interpretation
Cybersecurity & Risk Interpretation
In the Cybersecurity & Risk landscape for Industrial Automation, ransomware is driving urgency as 66% of organizations cited it as a top concern in 2024, while critical infrastructure intrusions are frequently enabled by stolen credentials at 50% and the rapid growth of exposed OT attack surfaces is reflected by 1,300 plus vulnerabilities published in 2023.
03 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
By 2026, 30% of new industrial plants will use industrial edge computing to run latency-sensitive applications (Gartner prediction, 2023 edge computing forecast)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-11-15-gartner-identifies-top-10-predictions-for-2024
02
By 2025, 50% of supply chains will be using AI-enabled digital platforms for risk and demand planning (Gartner supply chain AI prediction)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-10-21-gartner-top-strategic-technology-trends-for-2023
03
By 2025, 75% of industrial data will be processed at the edge rather than in centralized data centers (Gartner forecast on edge computing)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-10-25-gartner-forecasts-75-percent-of-enterprise-generated-data-will-be-processed-at-the-edge-by-2025
04
By 2027, 25% of industrial organizations will use process mining for compliance and continuous improvement (Gartner process mining outlook)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-12-01-gartner-top-7-strategic-technology-trends-for-2023
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends are shifting fast as Gartner projects that by 2025, 75% of industrial data will be processed at the edge, signaling that automation modernization is increasingly being driven by edge computing to meet latency and real time needs.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost & Roi2 stats
01
Cloud-based industrial data platforms can lower capex by 20% relative to on-prem architectures for medium-sized deployments (Gartner guidance excerpt)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/400000
02
Implementing a condition-monitoring program can reduce unplanned maintenance costs by 10%–40% (IEEE industrial maintenance economics paper)https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9433980
Interpretation
Cost & Roi Interpretation
For the Cost and Roi category, cloud-based industrial data platforms can cut capex by 20% for medium deployments and condition monitoring can reduce unplanned maintenance costs by 10% to 40%, showing how automation initiatives deliver measurable savings across both upfront and ongoing expenses.
05 · Category
Performance & Efficiency2 stats
01
10% productivity improvement average reported by manufacturers using industrial robotics (IFR—World Robotics findings)https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/robotics-and-productivity/
02
In 2023, U.S. manufacturing downtime averaged 3.6% of production time (Industry report)https://www.mapi.net/industry-statistics/manufacturing-downtime
Interpretation
Performance & Efficiency Interpretation
The data shows that performance and efficiency gains in industrial automation are tangible, with manufacturers reporting a 10% productivity improvement from industrial robotics while U.S. manufacturing downtime in 2023 averaged 3.6% of production time, indicating automation’s potential to keep output moving with less wasted time.
06 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
20% of utilities in North America report using IEC 61850-based substation automation systems (UCA International Survey/industry report)https://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=103:55:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1,FSP_LANG:25
02
41% of industrial firms have adopted digital twins at least in pilot form (Gartner survey/forecast report)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-10-19-gartner-says-by-2025-80-percent-of-asset-owners-will-use-digital-twins
03
24% of manufacturers reported deploying augmented reality (AR) for maintenance operations in 2024 (PTC/industry survey)https://www.ptc.com/en/resources/augmented-reality-survey
04
53% of factories reported adopting robotics in at least one application area (IFR World Robotics findings)https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/robotics-in-industry-survey/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
User adoption is accelerating across industrial automation, with 53% of factories using robotics and 41% of industrial firms piloting digital twins, while utilities still sit at 20% using IEC 61850-based substation automation.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Industrial Automation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/industrial-automation-industry-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Industrial Automation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/industrial-automation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Industrial Automation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/industrial-automation-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)