The State of IIoT in 2026: What's Changed, What Hasn't, and What's Next
· 10 min read
Six years ago, every analyst report predicted that IIoT would transform manufacturing by 2025. Billions of connected devices. AI-driven factories. Industry 4.0 fully realized. The estimates ranged from $500 billion to over $1 trillion in market value by now.
We're in 2026. Some of those predictions came true. Most didn't — at least not at the scale or speed predicted. The IIoT market has matured, but in different ways than the hype cycle anticipated. This article provides an honest, data-grounded assessment of where we actually stand.