Food and beverage manufacturers are rushing into AI, but most are stuck turning isolated pilots into results they can measure, according to new analysis from Rockwell Automation.

A data problem, not an appetite problem

Drawing on its 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, Rockwell Automation said nearly 90 percent of food and beverage manufacturers are already using artificial intelligence and machine learning, or plan to adopt them soon. Yet manufacturers report effectively using only about 45 percent of the data they collect, which the company said is holding back efforts to scale AI beyond individual pilot projects.

“Many manufacturers have moved beyond asking whether AI can deliver value,” said Greg Schmidt, vice president of CPG global industry at Rockwell Automation. “The focus now is on how to scale successful pilots across the enterprise. That requires more than new technology. It requires connected data, integrated operations, and a clear link between AI initiatives and business outcomes.”

IT and OT systems need to talk to each other

The report found that manufacturers with the most success treat AI as part of a wider digital transformation rather than a series of standalone projects, investing instead in stronger links between operational and business systems. Respondents expect AI-supported manufacturing processes to rise from about 37 percent today to more than 60 percent by 2030, which Rockwell Automation said will make connected and contextualised data increasingly important.

Workforce readiness matters as much as technology

The analysis also pointed to workforce preparation as a factor in whether AI programmes stick. Ninety-three percent of manufacturers expect smart manufacturing initiatives to reshape their workforce, and 40 percent said they reskilled employees over the past year. Rockwell Automation said organisations that align their people, processes and technology are generally better placed to scale AI and sustain the results.