Gartner® Market Guide for Manufacturing Execution Systems
Introduction
The Gartner® 2026 Market Guide for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) offers a comprehensive view of the rapidly evolving MES landscape. As the market continues to embrace cloud adoption, low-code extensibility, and Generative AI, manufacturing strategy leaders can leverage this report to make informed decisions.
Key Insights
- Buyers are eager to enhance or augment their current MES functionality with AI but remain cautious about data privacy, driving demand for MES AI solutions with tighter security controls. They should request that vendors prioritize robust privacy controls and flexible deployment models to mitigate adoption barriers.
- AI deployment within MES is in its nascent stage, with only one-third of vendors able to reference live production use cases. Early adopters face limited proof points, underscoring the need for vendors to accelerate real-world implementations and showcase tangible value, such as automating system configuration.
- Interoperability and composability are top priorities for buyers, catalyzing a shift toward platform-based MES offerings. This has also led to some vendors prioritizing model context protocol (MCP) in their roadmaps to support long-term AI initiatives.
Why Download the Report
- Understand the key trends driving MES innovation, from cloud and edge computing to AI-powered automation.
- Explore the competitive landscape of MES vendors, including detailed profiles of key players.
- Gain insights to support your MES strategy, whether you're upgrading existing systems or exploring new options.
Gartner® Market Guide for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), By Jake Cunningham, Christian Hestermann, Published 22 March 2026.
About Parsec and TrakSYS
Parsec is a leading provider of MES solutions, empowering manufacturers worldwide with TrakSYS, a scalable, cloud-enabled MES platform designed for flexibility, integration, and advanced analytics.
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