Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy technologies, today released new findings from its global Industrial AI in CPG Survey 2026, which indicate that consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers expect a significant increase in production inefficiencies and cost pressures by 2030. Many are turning to industrial intelligence—the combination of AI, data, and automation—to strengthen their competitiveness in a decade of accelerated volatility.
Structural production costs are expected to rise through 2030
The survey shows that consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers expect the margin crisis to accelerate: inefficiencies—including production delays, downtime, and equipment breakdowns—already account for approximately 20.3% of the final cost of goods produced. Respondents report that 15.2% of average production revenue is lost due to delays, downtime, rework, quality deviations, or inefficient use of assets.
These avoidable losses are expected to rise significantly—to 21.37% as early as next year and approach 29.14% by 2030.
Many CPG manufacturers are turning to industrial AI to curb the projected growth of such production losses.
Expectations for AI are rising rapidly, while readiness lags behind
Today, only one in eight (13%) consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers report that AI is fully integrated into key operations and decision-making processes. By 2030, more than a third (37%) expect AI to become the backbone of their operations—a threefold increase in adoption in just four years.
Respondents also expect significant growth in the return on investment (ROI) delivered by AI:
• one-third (32.7%) expect a return of 50–74% on their AI projects by 2030
• nearly one-tenth (7.9%) forecast a return of over 100%, meaning that investments in AI will pay for themselves in less than a year
Such a level of efficiency is currently observed only in WEF Lighthouses[1] or autonomous factories.
In contrast, 70% of respondents note that the current return on investment in AI is less than 20%, with nearly a third (28.4%) reporting an ROI of 5% or lower, reflecting an industry that is currently deriving limited value from early implementations.
“Manufacturers predict a threefold increase in end-to-end AI adoption by 2030, along with a sharp rise in expected returns—to levels currently demonstrated only by the most advanced Lighthouses and autonomous factories,” said Neil Smith, president of Schneider Electric’s CPG division. “This gap between expectations and reality is the strongest signal of urgency we’ve seen in recent years. AI can only be transformative when it delivers true industrial intelligence: the ability to turn real-time operational data, modern automation, and AI into synchronized solutions that drive efficiency at scale. Many organizations still operate with outdated manufacturing sites, fragmented data, and legacy systems that limit the value and adoption of AI. Bridging this readiness gap is now a key competitiveness priority for the CPG sector.”
The barrier lies not in AI technology, but in the fundamental readiness to implement industrial intelligence.
Despite high confidence in the potential of AI, survey respondents consistently identify structural, rather than technological, barriers as the main obstacles to scaling:
• a shortage of skills in AI or data science (43.0%)
• Outdated automation systems and infrastructure (37.5%)
• Lack of contextualized operational data (36.3%)
• Resistance from staff (25.7%)
All these factors outweigh concerns about cybersecurity or regulatory compliance (21.7%).
“The results are clear: achieving the transformational return on investment expected from industrial AI in just four years requires a qualitative shift in collaboration, transparency, and shared standards,” said Cecile Versellino, Senior Vice President of Services for Schneider Electric’s Industrial Automation division. “Through SE Advisory Services, we are already applying our ‘Lighthouse’ expertise in manufacturing alongside customers worldwide, helping them turn digital ambitions into measurable results. We believe that the exchange and implementation of best practices and industry expertise will catalyze the next wave of industrial digital transformation.”
A new white paper: “Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Competitive Consumer Goods Manufacturing” published today by Schneider Electric in collaboration with AVEVA, provides recommendations for the successful implementation of AI in the food and beverage sectors.
It outlines the path to autonomous operations through industrial data, modular automation, electrification, and the stages of industrial AI implementation.
Notes to editors:
• A statistically representative survey was conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 1,453 respondents (25% C-suite executives, 75% manufacturing managers and decision-makers) in the life sciences, food, and beverage sectors across 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, and Egypt. The data was collected between February 26, 2026, and March 24, 2026. Censuswide adheres to and engages members of the Market Research Society and is guided by the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a global leader in energy technologies, driving efficiency and sustainability through the electrification, automation, and digitalization of industry, business, and residential spaces. The company’s technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and power grids to function as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing productivity, resilience, and sustainability.
The company’s portfolio includes smart devices, software-defined architectures, AI-based systems, digital services, and professional consulting services. With 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric consistently ranks among the world’s most sustainable companies.
Learn more at https://www.se.com/ua/uk/
[1] McKinsey, “How manufacturing’s Lighthouses are capturing the full value of AI”, 2024. Source: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/how-manufacturings-lighthouses-are-capturing-the-full-value-of-ai
