The 2025 edition has once again cemented Hannover Messe’s status as the world’s most important industrial trade fair, serving as a vital convergence point for technology, business, and international cooperation. The March 31–April 4 event drew an impressive crowd, with around 127,000 visitors making their way from 150 different countries to engage with the 4,000 exhibiting companies.
During the 40+ meetings I attended, a palpable sense emerged that today’s driving industrial productivity force is the full integration of the physical world of machines with digital intelligence (including AI, obviously).
A fellow delegate and I joked that if an AI bot had been eavesdropping at Hannover Messe 2025, recording and analyzing all that was discussed, so much knowledge could’ve been extracted as to move industry 10 years forward overnight.
While I do not have such a brain or computing power, I still managed to get down in Hannover some of the most compelling trends that I believe are shaping industry today.
1. The BANI World is Here — and Agility Wins
We have entered the era of the BANI world — brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible. It’s clear that the old certainties are gone and the name of the game now is agile and operationally excellent. Having digital tools and the ability to make smart, data-driven decisions is no longer optional; these are essential to navigate the new reality.
2. Think “Information Superhighway” — Not Just “Data Integration”
Everyone’s talking about data integration, but it’s more than just connecting systems. It’s about building a reliable, high-speed “information superhighway” from the edge to the cloud. Just like adding lanes to a real highway, the more data we can access, the more we’ll want. CIOs will need to think continually about their data infrastructure.
3. Industrial AI is Blossoming
Industrial AI isn’t a futuristic concept anymore — it’s taking root in practical ways. The companies that will succeed are those that take a focused approach, figuring out exactly how AI can solve specific problems in their operations. It’s about moving beyond the theoretical and getting real, reliable results on the shop floor.
4. AI Agents — Exciting, But Let’s Be Strategic
AI agents and orchestrators are definitely generating excitement, and they could be game changers. But we need to think carefully about whether we’re seeing them as a quick fix for underlying issues or as a way to really amplify the power of our data. The latter is where the real potential lies.
5. Sensing the Shop Floor Like Never Before
The ability to get a complete, real-time pulse of the shop floor is becoming a reality thanks to connected tools, robots, and cameras. And with AI, both workers and supervisors can analyze this wealth of data to boost productivity and optimize processes in ways we couldn’t before. It’s about unlocking the hidden secrets of our operations.
6. Empowering the Frontline Worker
The explosion of connected worker apps is really interesting. It’s about connecting people, processes, and machines in a more seamless way. This can help bridge skill gaps, accelerate learning, and create a more engaging work environment, especially for the next generation of workers.
7. The Metaverse is More Than Just a Visual Stunt
Forget just seeing a digital twin — with platforms like Omniverse, we’re moving toward a fully immersive “vision experience.” Imagine being able to zoom from a high-level overview down to the tiniest detail on the shop floor, all synced with real-time production data. Furthermore, the power to “rewind” and “fast-forward” production steps for meticulous traceability is there. That’s a game changer for understanding and managing operations.
8. Production Scheduling — Finally Getting the Spotlight
Production scheduling might not be the flashiest topic, but it’s becoming increasingly critical. With better data integration and AI, and the need to connect production with the wider supply chain, these tools are finally getting the attention they deserve for optimizing efficiency.
9. The Power of Working Together
The idea of ecosystems built on shared data structures, like those promoted by IDSA, is gaining real traction. Initiatives like Manufacturing-X, Factory-X, and Catena-X show a renewed focus on companies collaborating to solve big business challenges in a more connected way.
10. MES is Evolving — Has Evolved — Fast
The traditional manufacturing execution system (MES) is changing rapidly to meet new market demands. We’re seeing a big push toward cloud deployment, more flexible architectures, user-friendly designs, integrated data platforms, better connections with other enterprise systems, and the incorporation of AI and analytics. It’s a whole new era for MES.
