Global Industrials: 7th Proprietary Automation Survey Signals Encouraging Demand Outlook

Research evidence excerpt

Global Industrials: 7th Proprietary Automation Survey Signals Encouraging Demand Outlook

Viewpoint |

18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 ET │ 24 pages

Global Industrials

7th Proprietary Automation Survey Signals Encouraging Demand

Outlook

Andrew Kaplowitz AC

CITI'S TAKE +1-212-816-0642

Our 7th annual automation survey of 200 manufacturing decision-makers andrew.kaplowitz@citi.com

(conducted in coordination with Citi Research Innovation Lab) points to Martin Wilkieencouraging demand momentum across automation spending despite

modest macro-related concerns (including geopolitical conflict/tariff +44-207-986-4077

uncertainty). Decision-makers on average expect accelerating spending martin.wilkie@citi.com

growth on automation-related hardware, software, and AI/GenAI, Piyush Avasthy

indicating an expected +LDD increase in spending over the next 12 months +1-212-816-9159(vs. ~HSD% spending growth in the LTM period) and across the next 1-3

years, above last year’s +HSD-LDD outlook, and indicative of an piyush.avasthy@citi.com

encouraging/inflecting demand backdrop. Buy-rated ROK, EMR, HON and Vladimir Bystricky

Siemens are our preferred automation-exposed names and remain well +1-212-816-6595

positioned to benefit from what appears to be a sustainable automation vladimir.bystricky@citi.cominvestment cycle. Productivity gains, operating efficiency, and improved

product quality are primary drivers underpinning automation investments Jose Sulca Flores

according to the survey, with a broader agreement that labor +1-212-816-1717

inflation/shortage along with global supply chain constraints/delays/tariff jose.alonso.sulcaflores@citi.com

uncertainty have further strengthened the case for automation.

ROK Well Positioned; Broader Automation Names Also Benefiting — We expect