Manufacturers are increasingly relying on modern technology to run multiple aspects of their organisation, from back-end processes like HR and quality control to front-end functions like marketing automation and e-commerce.
As a result, these solutions continue to evolve year on year to support a wider range of business activities. So, it’s vital you keep up to date with the strategic trends in the manufacturing industry to remain competitive and agile.
In this blog, we cover five manufacturing industry trends to look out for in 2025 and beyond.
A hot topic for manufacturers that will undoubtedly continue throughout 2025 is AI and machine learning technologies. According to a report from Rockwell Automation, 88% of UK manufacturers have either already invested or plan to invest in AI and ML within the next 12 months.
This trend is expected to continue into 2025, with a strong focus on leveraging these technologies to enhance productivity and competitiveness. As these technologies become more integrated into manufacturing processes, their impact on productivity and sustainability will continue to grow, making them indispensable tools for the industry.
Here are a few ways you can integrate AI and machine learning into your manufacturing processes:
Learn more about using AI and machine learning in the manufacturing sector in our Columbus video podcast! Watch it now using the button below.
With frequent disruptions across global supply chains over the past few years, a key trend for manufacturers in 2025 is increasing their supply chain resilience. Rising costs in raw materials, transportation, and labour are ongoing challenges for manufacturers, from the impact of the energy crisis across the UK and Europe to fragmented supply chains.
To mitigate these cost increases, companies are adopting advanced supply chain management solutions. These include real-time tracking, automated inventory management, and strategic sourcing practices.
By introducing IoT technology, you can better track items and carry out maintenance in your supply chain. This helps you reduce your expenses whilst also improve your supply and demand capabilities as you can do the following:
Sustainability is becoming a critical business imperative in the manufacturing industry. Companies are increasingly focusing on reducing their ESG initiatives through energy-efficient processes, waste reduction, and the adoption of renewable energy sources. According to a recent report from Make UK, the number of firms setting ESG targets for their business has increased by 48%.
This shift is driven by both regulatory pressures and growing expectations from customers, suppliers, investors, and employees. If you haven’t already, 2025 is the time to be looking at how you can reduce your environmental impact.
Here’s how you can improve efficiencies to make sustainability more integrated into your operations:
Lack of a skilled manufacturing workforce, for both operational and technical skills, remains a threat to the industry going into 2025. According to a recent report from The Manufacturer, 97% of manufacturers say that hiring and retaining skilled labour presents a challenge to the growth of their business, with 75% saying this is their largest barrier to growth.
It’s clear more work needs to be done to retain existing talent and prevent further shortages in 2025.
Here are a few ways you can do this:
A continuing trend for manufacturing organisations is investment in integrated analytics tools to make critical business situations around finance, future investments, sales, marketing, and more. This allows manufacturers to make data-driven decisions quickly and at any level – from manufacturing division up to the executives.
While legacy systems can collect and organise data, they haven’t got the powerful reporting and data analytics features of today’s systems. For example, software with machine learning capabilities can go through your maintenance data and predict when breakdowns are likely to happen. This helps you optimise maintenance schedules so you can service or replace parts before they cause problems.
Our Product Strategy Director at Columbus, Kevin Bull, was a judge for the 'Smart Factory' award category at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2024 and has shared his exclusive insights into how manufacturing companies are implementing these technologies.
You can read his article here.
Today’s manufacturing solutions are rapidly progressing and changing the way we do business, with more advanced technologies being added to the roster every year to drive efficiencies. That’s why you need focus on your implementation efforts now to stay ahead of your competitors.
Our brand-new manufacturing industry guide goes into further detail about the strategic challenges manufacturers will face in 2025 and the solutions available to become a master in manufacturing. Featuring exclusive insights from across the industry, we cover the key elements to help you get ahead in the sector.
Be among the first manufacturers to receive the brand-new guide when its released using the button below.