Industry 4.0: a vision of the (near) future with agentic orchestration

Editor's note: joining us at UiPath FUSION in Las Vegas next week? Be sure to attend the Manufacturing Industry Summit on October 1.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of manufacturing, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. The transition from Industry 3.9 to Industry 4.0 is not just a numerical progression; it's a fundamental shift in how we approach manufacturing challenges. The data tells us that despite the massive investment, the results have not emerged.

What if we’ve been attacking the symptoms and not the problem? What if Industry 4.0 is really about redirecting the valuable talent we have vs distracting it? What if we don’t need to rip and replace any more apps?

The challenge: beyond the Industry 3.9 rut

For years, manufacturing has grappled with what I call the "Industry 3.9 rut"—a cycle of incremental gains, pilot projects that never scale, and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations that promise more than they deliver. This rut has been characterized by:

• A devastating loss of adaptive capacity as experienced workers retire

• Technology solutions that address symptoms rather than root causes

• Large enterprises focused on academic exercises with unclear ROI

• Small and mid-sized manufacturers left behind by complex, expensive solutions

• AI solutions that fail to scale for 99% of manufacturing companies

The result?

United States (U.S.) manufacturing productivity has flatlined over the last decade, with only 8% of companies improving both profitability and productivity, according to LNS Research.

The UiPath solution: agentic orchestration

I’m in my fifth decade in manufacturing, and I clearly have a stake in this with UiPath. We've recognized that the key to breaking out of this rut lies in what we call agentic orchestration. This approach goes beyond simple automation or AI implementation. It's about creating an intelligent, adaptive system that can:

• Modernize processes by integrating cutting-edge technologies

• Optimize operations through real-time, data-driven decision making

• Transform the entire manufacturing ecosystem by maintaining an evergreen, continuously evolving approach

• Most importantly, it redirects manufacturing talent from the mundane to value-added activities like expanding revenue and margin

Agentic orchestration exemplifies this strategy. It doesn't just predict demand or optimize stock levels; it creates a dynamic system that adapts to changes in real-time, bridging the gap between disparate systems and human expertise in the supply chain.

Watch the video:

The path to true manufacturing transformation

Transformation in manufacturing isn't about installing a new piece of software or upgrading a single process. It's about a holistic approach that follows a clear progression:

• Vision: defining what the transformed state looks like

• Value: identifying and prioritizing the areas of greatest impact

• Tactics: implementing the right tools and processes to achieve that vision

This is where many initiatives falter. Modernization and optimization, when pursued in isolation, rarely lead to true transformation. They must be part of a broader, orchestrated strategy.

The evergreen imperative

One of the most critical aspects of our approach is the concept of "evergreen" transformation. Traditional value stream mapping exercises, conducted every few years (or even months), are no longer sufficient in today's fast-paced environment. With UiPath agentic orchestration, we're creating processes that:

• Continuously update and adapt to changing conditions

• Use process intelligence to identify bottlenecks and opportunities in real time

• Allow people to focus on high-value tasks that require creativity and ingenuity

This evergreen approach ensures that transformation isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process of adaptation and improvement. The process of continuous improvement.

Addressing the manufacturing complexity challenge

Modern manufacturing is wildly complex, with fewer people managing more intricate systems spread across greater distances. Our agentic orchestration approach tackles this complexity head-on by:

• Breaking down silos between different systems and departments and teams

• Providing a unified view of end-to-end manufacturing processes

• Automating routine tasks while enhancing people’s decision-making capabilities

Just as real-time language translation tools have simplified global communication, our AI agents and robots remove complications and distractions from manufacturing processes, allowing creativity and ingenuity to flow.

The tariff challenge: a call for agile manufacturing

In the current global economic landscape, manufacturers face an additional layer of complexity: the volatile world of tariffs and trade wars. Recent developments, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, highlight the potential for significant disruptions in global supply chains and manufacturing processes.

The unpredictable nature of tariff policies can have far-reaching consequences for manufacturers, including:

• Sudden increases in raw material costs

• Disruptions to established supply chains

• The need for rapid shifts in production locations

• Challenges in maintaining competitive pricing

In this environment, manufacturers who rely on traditional, rigid systems find themselves at a severe disadvantage. The ability to quickly adapt to changing economic conditions is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity for survival.

This is where the UiPath Agent Builder Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification process is not just an advantage, but a critical lifeline. Our approach allows manufacturers to:

• Rapidly assess the impact of tariff changes on their supply chain and costs

• Quickly model alternative scenarios and sourcing strategies

• Automatically adjust production and inventory levels to mitigate risks

• Seamlessly shift operations across different geographies when necessary

Dive deeper: read the HTS blog post

For manufacturers who haven't adopted agentic orchestration, these tariff challenges could prove catastrophic. The speed and complexity of global trade dynamics require a level of agility and intelligence that traditional systems simply can't provide.

By embracing UiPath agentic orchestration, manufacturers can turn these challenges into opportunities. They can become more resilient, more adaptive, and ultimately more competitive in an increasingly unpredictable global marketplace.

The future of manufacturing

As we look to the future, it's clear that the path forward isn't about replacing humans with machines or implementing AI for its own sake. It's about creating an intelligent orchestration layer that optimizes the entire network of manufacturing operations. We're committed to leading this charge.

Our vision of Industry 4.0 isn't a distant dream, it's a near-future reality we're actively creating. By combining the power of AI agents, robots, and people within agentic orchestration, we're not just modernizing manufacturing; we're transforming it.

UiPath and Peak AI: a powerful combo for agentic orchestration

In our commitment to providing the most comprehensive and effective agentic orchestration solutions, UiPath acquired Peak AI, a leader in specialized agentic solutions. This strategic collaboration brings together UiPath expertise in automation and AI with Peak's best-in-class solutions for optimizing product inventory and pricing decisions.

Peak AI and UiPath helped Heidelberg Material's UK operations with quote optimization automation reduce the average time from request to quote by 90+%, from eight hours to a half-hour, and improved conversions by 2%.

Enhancing agentic AI inventory management

The acquisition of Peak AI has significantly enhanced our inventory management capabilities, bringing several key benefits:

• Advanced demand forecasting

• Optimized reorder points

• Intelligent production planning

• Dynamic pricing optimization

The next revolution in manufacturing

We are driving innovation in manufacturing through our agentic orchestration strategy. UiPath addresses the critical challenges faced by manufacturers still stuck in the Industry 3.9 rut by proving end-to-end supply chain management that:

• Adapts to changing conditions, like tariffs, without reprogramming

• Handles complex, multi-variant decision making

• Continuously learns to improve future performance

• Keeps a human in-the-loop

Conclusion: leading the way into Industry 4.0

The UiPath acquisition of Peak AI represents a significant leap forward in our mission to lead manufacturers into the era of Industry 4.0. By combining our strengths, we're not just offering incremental improvements—we're providing a solution that addresses the root causes of manufacturing inefficiencies.

As we navigate the complexities of global trade, supply chain disruptions, and the ongoing loss of experienced workers, this enhanced agentic orchestration platform clears critical bottlenecks. It offers manufacturers the tools they need not just to survive in these challenging times, but to thrive and lead in the new era of smart, adaptive, and human-centric manufacturing.

The Industry 3.9 rut is firmly in our rearview mirror. With Peak AI as a UiPath company, we're not just envisioning the future of manufacturing—we're actively creating it. Welcome to the dawn of true Industry 4.0, where intelligent orchestration meets human ingenuity, powered by UiPath and enhanced by Peak AI.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of agentic automations in manufacturing?

Read case studies, use cases, e-books, and more about agentic automation built for manufacturing.

Sources cited:

• Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Manufacturing Sector: Labor Productivity (Output per Hour) for All Workers (OPHMFG). FRED: Federal Reserve Economic Data.

• LNS Research. The Industrial Transformation (IX) Event 2023 Keynote Featuring Matthew Littlefield. YouTube, uploaded by LNS Research, 2023.

• Cohen, Ben. “This CEO Wrote a Children’s Book on Global Trade. Now He’s Got a Stark Warning on Tariffs.” Wall Street Journal. May 5, 2025.