El III Barometer of digitization and industrial automation in Spain, presented by Advanced Factories 2026The study reveals the state of the Spanish manufacturing industry, which is making progress in automation but has only reached 3,3% fully digitized smart factories. Based on the opinions of more than 500 executives, the study highlights systems integration as the main challenge to competitiveness.
The research, which gathers the perspectives of professionals from key sectors such as automotive, metallurgy, food, and logistics, reveals an industry in the midst of transition. 32% of respondents rate the level of automation and digitalization in their plants as moderate, demonstrating that the autonomous, real-time connected factory remains a goal for most of the national production sector.
Systems integration, the great challenge that remains
One of the paradoxes revealed by the barometer is the gap between technology acquisition and its effective integration. 55,6% of professionals acknowledge that their company has a partial integration among key platforms such as ERP, MES, SCADA o PLMOnly 22,4% claim to have a complete connection, while a worrying 16,6% admit to having no integration whatsoever between their systems.
This scenario of fragmented data and isolated processes limits the potential of the implemented technologies, hindering operational visibility and data-driven strategic decision-making.
Artificial intelligence: between the pilot and the real application
La artificial intelligence (AI) It is confirmed as one of the technologies with the greatest transformative potential, although its adoption is in its early stages. 49,4% of the managers surveyed stated they are conducting pilot tests, compared to 22,8% who already use it in specific processes and 21,2% who have not yet implemented it.
The main barriers to its large-scale deployment are:
- La lack of specialized talent, indicated by 42,7% of professionals.
- La resistance to organizational changementioned by 32%.
- The lack of clarity regarding the return on investment (ROI), indicated by 30,2%.
Despite these challenges, pioneering companies are already achieving tangible results. 56,3% of companies using AI apply it in computer-aided design and simulation, 50% in Quality Control and another 50% in the optimization of production processesimproving efficiency and accuracy.
| Indicator | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Fully digitalized smart factories | 3,3 % |
| Partial integration between production systems (ERP, MESetc.). | 55,6 % |
| Companies conducting AI pilot tests | 49,4 % |
| Main barrier to AI: Lack of talent | 42,7 % |
| Main future trend: Physical and industrial AI | Majority of respondents |
Trends that will shape industrial competitiveness
Looking ahead to the next three years, the Physical and industrial AI It is positioned as the key technological trend for competitiveness in EuropaThey are followed by smart automation (indicated by 48,1%) and the advanced robotics (41,1%), which will continue to be a pillar in flexible manufacturing, in-house logistics and quality inspection.
These challenges and trends will be the central focus of the next edition of Advanced Factories Expo & Congress, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the Fira de Barcelona from May 5 to 7, 2026 under the slogan 'NEXT-GEN OF AUTOMATION'. In their forum Industry 4.0 CongressThe discussion focused on "Industry 4.1A: Where Advanced Simulation and Synthetic Data Meet AI," a session moderated by Manuel Achúcarro from the Industrial Digital Twin AssociationExperts such as Mario Morales (Pepsico), Mikel Fernández (Gestamp), Juanjo Galera (Cosentino), Xabier Eroa (Ayesa Digital) and David Ochoa (BSH Electrodomésticos España), who analyzed the transformative role of these technologies in their respective sectors.
Key points and frequently asked questions about industrial digitization in Spain
What is the main obstacle to the complete digitization of Spanish industry?
According to the III Barometer of Advanced FactoriesThe main obstacle is not the lack of technology, but the lack of integration between the different production systems (ERP, MES, SCADAThis fragmentation prevents a unified view of the data and limits operational efficiency.
How is Artificial Intelligence impacting factories in Spain?
AI is mostly in the phase of experimentation and pilot projects (49,4%). Its most common applications are computer-aided design, quality control, and process optimization. The shortage of specialized talent (42,7%) is the main barrier to its widespread implementation.
What should Spanish exporters know about this trend?
The international competitiveness of exporting companies will depend on their ability to adopt the intelligent automation, industrial AI and roboticsThese technologies not only optimize production, but also improve flexibility to adapt to global market demand, product quality, and supply chain efficiency.
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