AI is becoming the cornerstone of the next industrial revolution;, says Sharada Prahladrao
ARC Advisory Group’s 24th India Forum, titled How AI Is Driving the Future of Industrial Operations and Supply Chain, brought together more than 300 industry leaders, innovators, and technology providers in Bangalore on July 9-10, 2026. Across two engaging days, the forum highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping smart manufacturing, digital transformation in manufacturing, supply chain operations, and Industry 4.0.
The inaugural was done by “eco-friendly watering of plants” by the sponsors. The welcome address and introduction to the agenda by G Ganapathiraman, Vice President and General Manager, ARC Advisory Group, India and the keynote addresses set the tone for a forum focused on practical strategies, responsible innovation, and measurable business outcomes in the Industrial AI era.
Throughout the forum, nearly 40 executive speakers and panelists from diverse industries shared how organisations are moving AI beyond experimentation and into scalable industrial applications. Sessions covered Industrial AI, data fabric, digitalisation, smart manufacturing, sustainability, supply chain logistics, manufacturing execution systems, refinery operations, asset reliability, discrete manufacturing, software-defined applications, and open process automation.
Day 1 explored AI in regulated environments, AI-driven leadership, and autonomous industrial operations. After the keynotes, a Track session was conducted parallelly for end user presentations. Day 2 expanded the conversation to Industrial DataOps, Agentic AI, software-defined applications, O-PAS architectures, aerospace AI, and open process automation.
AI Drives Industrial Transformation
While previous forums emphasized digital transformation and sustainability, this year’s event made one message clear: AI is no longer a future concept; it is a present-day driver of industrial transformation. Across sessions, speakers demonstrated how AI is becoming embedded in the DNA of operations, from predictive analytics and intelligent automation to better planning, faster response, and more resilient supply chains.
Speakers and panelists emphasized that AI is helping industrial enterprises accelerate decision-making through real-time data analysis, improve asset reliability through predictive maintenance, optimise supply chains, automate routine tasks, and uncover new business models through AI-powered insights.
Open Process Automation: Breaking Traditional Barriers
One of the standout themes was Open Process Automation, which challenges the traditional automation pyramid and supports a more open, interoperable approach to industrial systems. The Open Process Automation Forum is advancing the O-PAS standard, an open framework designed to improve interoperability while prioritising safety, reliability, and security. For industries modernising large-scale systems, this approach offers a path toward vendor flexibility, long-term scalability, and faster innovation.
Real-World Insights from Industry Leaders
Executives from across sectors shared their AI adoption journeys, highlighting both successes and challenges. Their firsthand accounts offered practical lessons for companies at different stages of digital transformation, including how early adopters are scaling AI initiatives, where organisations are investing, and how responsible and sustainable AI deployment can be aligned with business goals.
The panel discussions and Q&A sessions added depth to the conversation, encouraging participants to explore how AI can deliver measurable outcomes in resilience, sustainability, safety, productivity, and operational excellence. The strong engagement throughout the event reinforced the value of collaboration among technology providers, end users, and industry experts.
Forum Sponsors
The success of the forum was strengthened by the support of its sponsors, who also had the opportunity to meet and interact with a global audience of industrial leaders and technology decision-makers.
Global Gold Sponsor: Siemens
Global Silver Sponsors: COPADATA, SMAR
Platinum Sponsor: OPC Foundation
Gold Sponsors: ABB, Cognite, Yokogawa
Media Sponsors: Automated Buildings.com, Chemical Industry Digest, CTS, electronicspecifier.com, Engineering Review, Highways Today, IED Communications, Indian Pharma Post, Industrial Automation, PHiR, SME, Technology Record, Chemical Today and World of Chemicals.
Industry Association Sponsors: CSia, Open Process Automation, PLCopen
AI is the Present and the Future
ARC Advisory Group’s 24th India Forum made one point abundantly clear: AI is becoming the cornerstone of the next industrial revolution; it is the present and the future. For manufacturing executives, operations leaders, and IT decision-makers, embracing AI is no longer optional. It is essential for building competitive, resilient, sustainable, and future-ready industrial enterprises.
Article courtesy: ARC Advisory Group
Sharada Prahladrao is the Editor & Public Relations Manager at ARC Advisory Group. Besides editing global research reports she writes Insights, ARCViews and blogs. She has the innate ability to understand complex concepts and express them lucidly. She liaises with the media and contributes articles written by her and ARC colleagues regularly to industrial publications.
Prior to joining ARC, Sharada worked as a copywriter for F D Stewart and Clarion Advertising; provided media-related work for CorvoShandwick, a PR firm; and freelanced for local newspapers. She has been involved with two NGOs: integrating children with disabilities into mainstream education and rural education programs. She’s an alumna of Rishi Valley School, Andhra Pradesh and Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.
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