Autodesk’s 2026 State of Design & Make survey shows 64% of Indian organisations nearing or meeting their AI goals, with digital transformation delivering measurable gains and sustainability increasingly linked to long-term business value.
Autodesk has released the fourth edition of its annual State of Design & Make report, which finds Indian organisations moving beyond basic digital adoption towards deeper integration of artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies and sustainability into how they operate and grow.
The report identifies three trends: AI is moving from ambition to integration, digital transformation is delivering measurable business outcomes, and sustainability and digital capabilities are shaping future resilience.
According to the findings, 64% of Indian organisations are approaching or have already achieved their current AI goals. Some 88% believe AI will enhance their industry, up from 78% in 2025, and 90% expect it to make their industry more creative, up from 80%. Meanwhile, 85% say future company growth will depend on digital tools, compared with 82% last year.
AI becomes part of everyday workflows
AI is increasingly embedded in how Indian organisations work. About 57% are integrating it into design workflows, including generative design, simulation and content creation, while 44% are implementing AI-driven automation. To scale it, 58% are investing in AI training and development and 37% are hiring for AI skills.
Confidence is high: 84% trust AI technologies for their industry (79% in 2025), and 86% are confident their companies will make the right AI decisions (82% in 2025). Further, 82% say their leaders are well informed on AI and 83% have dedicated people responsible for AI integration.
Haresh Khoobchandani, APAC & Japan VP, Autodesk, said: “India’s AI journey is entering a more practical phase. Businesses are moving beyond asking what AI can do to focusing on where it can create real value, from improving productivity and accelerating innovation to helping teams make better decisions. The next step is to embed AI into the workflows where people design, build and make, rather than treating it as a standalone technology. This will require more than investment in AI itself. Connected data, the right skills and the ability to integrate AI into existing ways of working will determine how effectively businesses turn adoption into lasting impact.”
Digital transformation delivers, but skills gaps remain
Thirty per cent of Indian organisations now prioritise and aggressively invest in digital transformation, up from 28% in 2025, while 45% have implemented initiatives and made substantial progress.
Benefits are mixed across measures. About 48% report improved productivity (51% in 2025) and 48% report more innovation, better ideas or better designs (39% in 2025). Some 43% say it has made planning and decision-making easier (32% in 2025), while 42% report improved profitability (47% in 2025).
Skills remain a constraint. Some 40% cite a lack of knowledge or technical skills to implement digital solutions, and 36% point to a shortage of trained workers. Hiring reflects this: 57% prioritise the ability to work with AI, followed by data safety and security skills (49%) and data science and management skills (47%). On foundations, 82% have dedicated people managing or centralising internal data, and 76% increasingly use APIs to connect systems.
Sustainability seen as business value
Sustainability is increasingly viewed as a source of value as well as a responsibility. Around 86% of organisations expect sustainability measures to generate more than 5% of annual revenue in long-term value, including 33% expecting an impact of 10% or more.
Action is under way: 50% have used AI to become more sustainable, 47% have invested in energy-efficient processes or machinery, and 40% have adopted more circular principles through recycled materials. In addition, 83% say sustainability initiatives make their companies more competitive, and 80% say their company leads on sustainability in its industry, up from 76% in 2025.
Together, the findings suggest AI, digital maturity, skills and sustainability are becoming increasingly interlinked in how Indian businesses innovate, compete and prepare for growth.
