Grassi Releases Results From 2026 Manufacturing & Distribution Technology Survey Report
New York, NY — Grassi, a leading provider of advisory, tax and accounting services to the manufacturing and distribution (M&D) industry, has released the findings of its 2026 Manufacturing & Distribution Technology Survey Report. Over 80 business owners, executives and senior leaders across New York and New Jersey evaluated how their technology investments are delivering value and supporting long-term strategic goals.
The results point to a common theme: while most organizations report tangible returns from technology, those with more mature capabilities are more likely to achieve stronger business outcomes.
Key Findings:
- Technology investments deliver measurable business value: 71% of respondents report measurable or significant value from their technology investments, reinforcing its increasing role in driving operational performance, decision-making and growth.
- Technology maturity continues to evolve: While 43% of organizations are scaling technology across business functions, just 7% report having it embedded enterprise-wide as a strategic advantage, highlighting opportunities for advancement.
- Artificial intelligence is the leading investment priority: 61% of respondents plan to prioritize AI investments over the next 18 months as businesses continue to seek technologies that improve efficiency.
- Data integration remains a key focus: Only 23% of organizations have fully integrated enterprise data with real-time visibility, suggesting many are still working to eliminate data silos.
- Execution is a greater challenge than ROI: Budget constraints and legacy systems are the most-cited obstacles to success, while just 4% of respondents identify unclear ROI as their biggest challenge, suggesting most organizations already recognize the value of their technology investments.
“The results reinforce what we’re hearing throughout the industry: manufacturers and distributors are seeing the strongest results when technology investments are aligned with broader business and operational goals,” says Robert E. Grote, CPA, Partner and Manufacturing & Distribution Practice Leader at Grassi.
As M&D leaders evaluate their next wave of technology investments, the findings suggest that long-term success depends not only on adopting new technologies, but also on integrating data, supporting organization-wide adoption and aligning technology initiatives with broader strategic objectives.
Access the full report to benchmark your business’s technology priorities against industry peers.
