The IFS-owned industrial technology company introduces Poka AI Studio, enabling manufacturers to build governed AI agents without coding. The platform has been tested with companies including Mars and Nestlé and connects shop-floor data to enterprise AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot.
Industrial technology company Poka has announced the global launch of Poka AI Studio, a no-code platform designed to help manufacturers build and deploy artificial intelligence agents for everyday factory operations.
Unveiled at IFS Unleashed in Orlando on 14 October 2026, the platform enables plant managers, supervisors and continuous improvement teams to create AI agents without specialised programming expertise. The technology is designed to support troubleshooting, quality management, workflow monitoring and other processes involving frontline manufacturing workers.
Poka AI Studio also introduces a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, allowing organisations to connect operational data and workflows to existing enterprise AI assistants, including ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot and proprietary models.
According to Poka, the platform has been developed using 12 years of frontline workflow data and tested through its Early Access Program with major manufacturers, including Mars and Nestlé.
Bringing AI Agent Development Directly to Manufacturing Teams
One of the central features of Poka AI Studio is its no-code development environment, which allows industrial operations teams to build their own AI agents using templates or custom configurations.
Rather than relying on external consultants or dedicated data science teams, manufacturers can use the platform to develop agents around specific operational challenges.
Poka says customers can typically build an initial agent prototype within days, with broader deployment possible within weeks.
Antoine Bisson, Co-founder and CEO of Poka, explained:
“We envision a future where every frontline worker can reach their full potential through AI, becoming empowered, augmented, and increasingly autonomous.”
He added that AI Studio gives plant managers and operations teams the ability to create AI applications directly, without requiring costly consulting projects or specialist technical resources.
The platform is intended to make AI development more accessible to the people responsible for overseeing manufacturing processes and supporting frontline workers.
AI Agents for Troubleshooting, Quality and Continuous Improvement
Poka AI Studio provides tools for creating agents that perform operational tasks using information already captured through the company’s Connected Work platform.
These agents can help manufacturing teams identify problems, monitor workflows and respond to operational issues.
| AI agent capability | Industrial application |
|---|---|
| Scheduled monitoring | Reviews open issues and escalates them to relevant personnel |
| Form analysis | Identifies abnormal values and turns them into actionable insights |
| Troubleshooting | Supports operators through multi-step problem-solving processes |
| Quality management | Helps teams identify and respond to quality-related issues |
| Continuous improvement | Supports the analysis of recurring operational challenges |
| Workflow assistance | Provides contextual guidance based on established procedures |
The company highlights a Scheduled Agent that automatically reviews unresolved issues and directs them to appropriate personnel.
Another example involves an agent that examines information submitted through digital forms, identifies unusual values and helps operational teams determine which actions may be required.
These capabilities are designed to support workers and supervisors rather than replace their responsibilities.
Connecting Factory Data to ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot
Alongside AI Studio, Poka has introduced a production-ready MCP server that connects its operational data and workflows with enterprise AI systems.
Model Context Protocol provides a standardised way for AI applications to access external tools and information.
Through the new integration, manufacturers can make Poka’s shop-floor information available to AI assistants already used within their organisations.
For example, a plant manager could ask an enterprise AI assistant which production lines missed their changeover targets during the week and what contributed to those delays.
The assistant could retrieve relevant information from Poka and return an answer based on operational records, subject to authentication and permission controls.
The integration is designed to support secure access through governance measures applied to each request.
For manufacturers, this approach could reduce the need to move between separate software applications when investigating operational issues.
Built on 12 Years of Frontline Manufacturing Data
Poka says its AI capabilities are grounded in more than a decade of operational information collected through its Connected Work platform.
The company provides digital tools for frontline workers, enabling manufacturers to manage standard operating procedures, training materials, operational knowledge and production workflows.
By connecting AI agents with these existing resources, Poka aims to provide responses and recommendations that reflect the procedures used within individual manufacturing environments.
Bisson emphasised the importance of governance and operational context:
“Every agent is grounded in real frontline Standard Operating Procedures and governed by default, so operators get actionable answers and compliance gets complete peace of mind.”
The technology has already been tested at plant level through Poka’s Early Access Program, with multinational manufacturers Mars and Nestlé among the participating companies.
Poka has not disclosed specific productivity improvements or quantified performance results from these tests in the announcement.
Poka’s Global Industrial Footprint
Poka’s Connected Work platform supports more than one million frontline workers across over 3,000 industrial sites in more than 70 countries and 17 languages, according to the company.
Its customers include Nestlé, Bosch, Mars, Danone, L’Oréal, Tetra Pak, Coty, Hitachi and Flora Food Group.
The company was also recognised as a Leader in both the Growth and Innovation indices of the 2025 Frost Radar for Connected Worker, according to its announcement.
This established industrial presence provides Poka with a foundation for introducing AI agents into manufacturing environments where digital workflows and operational knowledge are already available.
Poka’s Role Within the IFS Industrial Technology Ecosystem
Founded in 2014, Poka became part of enterprise software company IFS following its acquisition in June 2023.
The acquisition expanded IFS’s capabilities in connected worker technology, adding digital tools focused on manufacturing operations and frontline workforce management.
Poka continues operating as part of IFS, with its latest AI Studio launch extending its existing Connected Work capabilities into autonomous and agent-based applications.
The platform’s introduction reflects a broader shift in industrial technology, as manufacturers explore how AI can support human processes alongside existing production automation.
Rather than focusing exclusively on machines and equipment, Poka’s approach targets the workflows, knowledge and decisions involved in daily factory operations.
The Future of AI Agents in Manufacturing
The launch of Poka AI Studio demonstrates how agentic AI is expanding beyond office productivity tools into industrial environments.
For manufacturers, the potential value lies in making operational knowledge easier to access, identifying issues earlier and reducing the manual effort involved in routine monitoring and coordination.
However, successful adoption will depend on reliable operational data, appropriate access controls and effective integration with existing manufacturing processes.
By combining no-code agent development with governed access to frontline information, Poka is positioning AI Studio as a way for industrial teams to introduce AI into everyday operations without requiring extensive technical development.
As manufacturers increasingly explore intelligent automation, tools that connect AI capabilities with the practical needs of frontline workers could become an important part of the next phase of industrial digital transformation.
About Poka
Founded in 2014, Poka is an industrial technology company specialising in Connected Work solutions for manufacturing organisations.
Its platform supports workforce training, operational knowledge sharing, standard operating procedures and continuous improvement.
Poka serves more than one million frontline workers across over 3,000 sites in 70 countries and operates as part of IFS.
More information: https://www.poka.io/
