The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) sees medium-sized mechanical engineering companies in Germany as being on the right path . As many of them have a favorable view of the technologies used to network production, they could offset the deteriorating economic situation with innovations and increased efficiency and thus continue to play a leading role on the international market in the future. The VDMA cites the high willingness of medium-sized companies to make extensive use of the open communication architecture OPC Unified Architecture as proof of this.

According to the report, the use of AI technologies and the expansion of the 5G network for industrial purposes will also play a decisive role in the future: both form the starting point for the development of data-based business models and machine learning approaches, which the VDMA identifies as basic prerequisites for ever shorter innovation cycles. The German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) holds a similar view and mentions KI and 5G as key industrial transformation technologies .