Very rarely does a technology come along that makes engineers completely rethink product development. Generative design is one such innovation and it is propelling the manufacturing industry into an entirely new realm. Combined with Augmented Reality (AR), the possibilities are limitless.

The modern manufacturer has a plethora of advanced technology options to choose from. Industrial and manufacturing firms are investing in digital technologies both due to and despite headwinds in their respective operating environments, such as tariffs, shortages of raw materials or components, regulatory compliance, skills shortages, and competitive pressures. Digital transformation spend across the 10 markets we studied is forecast to grow by a 14.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate  (CAGR) and reach US$382 billion in 2030.

Update: All ABI Research forecasts in this article have been revised to reflect 3Q 2025 estimates. 

When it comes to the robotics market, automation-enabling devices like cobots and 5G robots tend to garner a lion’s share of the attention. However, there is one technology that has flown under the radar yet is poised to make just as big of an impact – exoskeletons. By 2030, global revenues will reach more than US$2 billion in this emerging market, with industrial use cases being a major catalyst.

The term “digital twin” gets thrown around casually, but it’s important to recognize the distinction between the different types of digital twins and understand the role of a digital thread.

Industrial digital twins, once rarely discussed among C-level executives, are firmly in the mainstream. This transformative technology is being used to test the waters with new operational approaches and collect real-time data on asset performance. The opportunities of digital twins for manufacturers are exciting.