Key Takeaways from HANNOVER MESSE 2025

In true HANNOVER MESSE form, the energy at this year's premier industrial trade fair was electric. Nearly 130,000 attendees packed the exhibition halls to experience the latest in manufacturing technology. Upon entering, they were greeted with massive booths from companies like Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud and Dell. 

While these companies have a had a presence at HANNOVER MESSE for years, their expanded footprint and innovative demonstrations of real-world use cases underscored the degree to which IT and OT are converging.  

Right away, it was clear: the future of manufacturing is digital, intelligent and underway. 

AI finds its footing with practical applications 

There's a tendency for industry to paint a futuristic picture of AI in manufacturing — think robots on the plant floor optimizing production on the fly or autonomous vehicles zipping around a smart warehouse. But HANNOVER MESSE 2025 offered a refreshingly realistic version of how manufacturers can apply AI to operations. 

Industrial co-pilots powered by generative AI (GenAI) were the stars of the show. Exhibit after exhibit showcased how these AI assistants could address specific, immediate challenges for manufacturers. 

For example, imagine a plant floor worker confronting a complex machinery issue. Instead of spending hours consulting thick manuals or waiting for a senior technician, they could access an industrial co-pilot that:

• Instantly retrieves relevant maintenance documentation.
• Provides step-by-step troubleshooting guidance.
• Pulls historical maintenance records for similar equipment.
• Suggests potential root cause analysis based on previous incidents.

Expect to see more adoption of industrial co-pilots this year as they offer manufacturers a low-cost, high-value entry point into the world of AI. 

Multiple paths to AI success  

The strong presence of Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud and Dell brought to life just how many options manufacturers now have for developing AI solutions. 

AWS showcased a wide range of smaller partners in its booth, positioning itself as a platform for building bespoke AI solutions. By contrast, Microsoft highlighted more productized offerings. Google Cloud landed somewhere in between with solutions that were flexible and guided. Meanwhile, Dell demonstrated that its AI capabilities are every bit as compelling as those of its hyperscaler peers.

Cloud-based solutions offer immediate access to GPUs, scalable infrastructure, rapid deployment of use cases and lower upfront investment. On-premises solutions provide direct control over data, customized infrastructure, enhanced security and long-term cost predictability. 

This year, more manufacturers will be deciding how best to build and scale AI. HANNOVER MESSE 2025 demonstrated that there are multiple paths to success. 

Data emerges as the new critical infrastructure 

Historically, manufacturers have faced persistent data challenges—siloed information, disconnected systems and fragmented insights. But that's changing with the rise of Unified Namespace (UNS), a centralized, standardized architecture that enables seamless data exchange between IT and OT systems.

Unlike in previous years, UNS was prevalent across many vendor solutions at HANNOVER MESSE 2025, signaling a growing recognition that a solid data foundation is essential to realizing the value of AI and other emerging technologies.

UNS allows organizations to scale their data architecture in step with AI adoption. As a result, we expect to see it become even more ubiquitous in the coming year.

No time to waste

HANNOVER MESSE 2025 was a powerful reminder of just how quickly the industrial landscape is shifting. The potential of IT solutions to revolutionize manufacturing has never been more apparent.  

Organizations have more options for practical AI adoption, more options to pursue AI solution development, and more options to manage their data strategically. One of the biggest challenges manufacturers face now is choosing how they want to innovate. 

But if there's one piece of advice we can impart from this year's event, it's that the time to start innovating is now.