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The Accelerated Adoption of AI in Maintenance Operations

In a revealing report, UpKeep, a leader in mobile-first Asset Operations Management platforms, unveiled key findings from its study titled "AI In Operations: Teams Are Leading The Way." The research, conducted among 518 maintenance and operations professionals across various industries, highlights an intriguing trend: maintenance and operations teams are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) more rapidly than their organizations as a whole.

Key Statistics from the Study

According to the report, a significant 67.8% of those surveyed utilize AI at least occasionally in their work, while 55.4% operate in environments where no AI is integrated into maintenance or operations practices. Notably, over a quarter of the respondents, 27.8%, find themselves straddling both categories—using AI while still in organizations that lack comprehensive implementation.

Leadership Concerns and AI Implementation

The report emphasizes a notable gap at the leadership level, particularly among Directors and VPs of Operations. A striking 56.0% of these leaders expressed increased anxiety over falling behind in AI adoption over the past year. In contrast, only 29.7% of the general respondents shared similar sentiments. Furthermore, only 13.7% of leaders are in roles where AI is regularly utilized in daily operations, compared to 27.4% overall.

Ryan Chan, CEO and founder of UpKeep, noted the historical context affecting AI adoption. "Most maintenance operations run on software chosen years or even decades ago, and replacing it has been perceived as cost-prohibitive. AI has altered this perception, leading to changes across all organizational levels. The best initial step is to ask teams what AI applications they currently utilize and integrate those insights into systems that enhance visibility and accountability across operations."

Motivation Behind AI Adoption

Among the driving factors for AI adoption, the study found that 42.9% of respondents cited the pursuit of improved efficiency as their primary motivator. Comparatively, pressure from competitors, directives from leadership, and compliance obligations accounted for only 15.3% collectively. The report further uncovered that for many, the status quo remained largely unchanged, with 55.1% to 72.9% of participants indicating no significant change in external pressures over the last year.

Priorities for AI Implementation

Participants identified paperwork as the primary area where AI could offer assistance, with 43.1% expressing that this aspect of their work would greatly benefit from AI integration. This includes tasks such as drafting work orders, retrieving information from manuals, and reporting to leadership. In stark contrast, only 13.7% believed diagnosing equipment warranted AI support. Notably, majorities—69.3%—reported adjusting their processes to accommodate existing software, with only 11.0% noting that the software adapts to their needs.

Grassroots Innovations in AI Applications

An encouraging finding from the report indicates that maintenance supervisors and managers are pioneering AI applications. Approximately 10% of respondents have developed working apps within UpKeep Nova, with 40.4% of those being leadership roles. Strikingly, around half of these builders acknowledged they would have continued performing tasks manually had the app not been available.

According to Nachiket Shiralkar, CTO of UpKeep, "When AI utilization increases one user at a time, the benefits often stay with that individual, creating outputs that exist outside conventional operational systems. Hence, we are focusing on creating an all-encompassing platform that manages these operations effectively, using real asset and work order data. Those engaged at the work level understand better where AI can contribute, and they need a well-governed platform to create and manage these solutions."

Case Study: From Disorganized Parts to Smart Solutions

The report features a case study on Axon Enterprise, which operates eight robotic production lines. Previously, technicians would rummage through drawers for components, often struggling to match parts with their correct work orders. Inventory Supervisor Joshua Stewart spent around eighteen months developing an innovative tool dubbed "Dewey." This tool allows technicians to place a part under a camera for instant identification, streamlining inventory management.

A Structured Approach to AI Rollout

The report also outlines a three-tier strategy for implementing AI in maintenance operations. Level 1 focuses on automating write-ups that crews already perform each shift, mitigating the need for extensive retraining. Level 2 involves automating multi-step workflows while maintaining human oversight at each decision juncture. Finally, Level 3 utilizes produced records to identify bottlenecks in work processes, paving the way for further automation.

For those interested in further insights, UpKeep’s full report, "AI In Operations: Teams Are Leading The Way," is openly accessible at UpKeep's Insight. Conducted between September 1 and September 14, 2026, the survey reflects a spectrum of responses from various industry sectors, gathering meaningful insights about the current state of AI in operations.

About UpKeep

UpKeep is an industry-leading Asset Operations Platform designed to connect maintenance, safety, and reliability within a unified system. The platform's AI capabilities enhance workflow automation and empower teams to customize the application according to their specific operational needs, providing invaluable assistance to everyone from managers to technicians.