In an era where volatility is the new norm, manufacturers worldwide are rethinking their approach to digital transformation. Geopolitical tension, climate imperatives, and technological disruptions are no longer foreign concepts but rather central to daily business. Amid this turbulence, the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) has emerged as a data-driven guide for transformation, rapidly gaining traction across over 60 countries and thousands of factories. SIRI is more than a benchmarking tool, however; it is shaping a new global standard for industrial readiness in the age of Industry 4.0.
By Madeline McNabb
Why SIRI matters now
Developed by the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT) in partnership with the World Economic Forum, SIRI offers manufacturers a structured and impartial way to assess digital maturity across 16 dimensions spanning process, technology, and organization. With certified assessors conducting evaluations worldwide, the framework is enabling enterprises of all sizes to identify gaps, set priorities, and take decisive action.
One key takeaway from the 2025 SIRI report: digital maturity no longer correlates with GDP per capita. Wealthier nations are not automatically ready for smart manufacturing. Instead, policy changes, education systems, and cultural alignment with innovation are proving to be more predictive of success than sheer economic power.
Fast facts
• 60+ countries and thousands of factories have adopted SIRI.
• SIRI assesses maturity across 16 dimensions, from vertical integration to workforce learning.
• Certified SIRI Assessors (CSAs) have grown over 800% since 2020.
• No sector reached uniform digital maturity, highlighting the need for tailored, scalable strategies.
Read the full report: https://incit.org/case-studies/the-global-smart-industryreadiness-index-siri-initiative-manufacturingtransformation-insight-report-2025/.
Beyond GDP: What really drives readiness
Contrary to conventional wisdom, economic wealth alone does not equate to digital sophistication. In fact, some lower-income nations are outpacing wealthier peers in key SIRI dimensions such as workforce learning, facility connectivity, and vertical integration.
What makes the difference? According to the data, government policy, strategic investment in education, and a culture of innovation are more predictive of readiness than national income. Countries that prioritize workforce upskilling, offer targeted incentives for digital adoption, and invest in infrastructure are seeing outsized gains, regardless of GDP.
This disconnect has real implications. It means that any country has the potential to lead in Industry 4.0. The report urges policymakers and industry leaders to move beyond macroeconomic assumptions and focus instead on strategic enablers. These include agile governance, cross-sector collaboration, and ensuring digital tools are accessible to all tiers of industry.
As INCIT’s analysis shows, readiness is not about how much you can spend, but rather about how wisely you align your people, processes, and policies to support transformation. With the right conditions, even small and mid-sized firms in emerging markets can come out ahead, redefining the future of manufacturing.
Transformation by archetype
SIRI’s insights are built on two core metrics: SIRI Maturity, which ranks industries by their digital progress, and SIRI Variance, which captures disparities within a sector. Based on these, the report categorizes industries into four transformation archetypes:
- Rainforest: High maturity and high variance. Some firms thrive while others lag.
- Savanna: Low maturity, high variance. A few leaders forge ahead amid a mostly immature base — common in SME-heavy sectors.
- Tundra: Low maturity and low variance. Entire sectors struggle with foundational digital capabilities.
- Coniferous forest: High maturity, low variance. This is ideal, but currently no sector fits this profile.
This year, no industry reached the coniferous forest archetype, underscoring how fragmented global industrial transformation remains. Notably, the electronics sector, once a digital vanguard, has slipped, with both its maturity and variance declining. In contrast, energy and fast-moving consumer goods have surged, driven by innovation in smart grids, renewables, and consumer data analytics.
Maturity is more than machines
While technology is foundational, SIRI reveals that organizational maturity is often the real bottleneck. Best-in-class companies distinguish themselves not only by connectivity and automation, but also by fostering agile leadership, continuous workforce development, and strategic governance.
By contrast, bottom-tier performers, especially in the textiles, leather, and apparels sector, struggle with fragmented processes, informal training, and minimal digital integration. For them, basic interventions like low-cost IoT and government-funded training could catalyze progress.
Benchmarking that builds bridges
SIRI’s Official SIRI Assessment (OSA) is a two-day, on-site look at a factory’s digital maturity. Each facility is scored across 16 dimensions, then plotted into a maturity band of zero to five. Companies received a tailored roadmap based on their cost profile, strategic KPIs, and sector-specific benchmarks. These insights highlight gaps and help manufacturers map scalable, resource-aligned paths forward.
Additionally, individual firms are not the only ones benefiting. Governments, trade bodies, and development banks are tapping into SIRI’s dataset to shape national policies, direct funding, and close capability gaps across industries and regions.
Insights for the broad middle
The report identifies the broad middle — the 80% of firms between the top 10% and the bottom 10% — as a critical cohort. These companies have made measurable progress, particularly in defining processes and building basic connectivity. However, they still fall short of full integration and AI-enabled decision-making. Without strategic acceleration, they risk being outpaced by both agile upstarts and digitally mature incumbents.
A roadmap for inclusive growth
To prevent widening inequality in industrial capability, the report recommends a tiered strategy:
- Top 10%: Focus on integrating AI-driven intelligence, predictive analytics, and enterprise-wide automation.
- Middle 80%: Invest in analytics, cross-functional governance, and skills development to reach scalable transformation.
- Bottom 10%: Begin with foundational connectivity, workforce training, and accessible digital tools, often with external support.
As digital divides expand, transformation is no longer optional. SIRI’s structured, non-prescriptive approach offers companies a mirror and a map: a clear view of where they stand, and a strategic route to where they need to go.