Industry 4.0 is about harnessing data throughout your business and digitizing paper-based analysis to increase productivity. It was once a distant future we were all collectively planning for. Those days are over. It’s something we’re living in right now.
As a division of Agilix Solutions and an expert in manufacturing technology, we’ve seen companies in a wide variety of stages of their digital transformation journey. Some have all the bells and whistles deployed and are constantly looking for the next piece of technology to help them gain an edge. We see a few who haven’t really gotten started yet. But most of the manufacturers we meet with are somewhere on the spectrum between the two, working to identify the best next step.
Is your organization trying to identify the right time to get serious about your digital transformation initiatives? In this article, we present the three most compelling reasons NOW is the time to invest in Industry 4.0.
REASON #1: Automation is More Accessible Thanks to Advances in Technology
There was a time when investing in digital transformation was not for everybody. It was reserved for a huge corporations with big budgets and an appetite for spending. Those days are behind us. New technology has made digital transformation more accessible than ever with cost-effective solutions that can fit almost any budget. We now have cloud-based platforms and software-as-a-service solutions that afford manufacturers the opportunity to get started with minimal upfront hardware and software costs.
We’re also seeing new automation solutions designed with modularity as a priority. This allows your company to get in on the ground level with a basic automation system or solution to solve an immediate need, and add on new functionality over time as your budget allows.
Industry 4.0 no longer needs to be an insurmountable commitment of time and money just to get started. We are now living in an era where right-sized solutions can be built for where you’re at today and scaled for where you want to go when you’re ready.
REASON #2: Labor Challenges Aren’t Going Anywhere
Finding and hiring qualified labor is more difficult today than ever before. But signs point to this being a new reality rather than a temporary trend. The U.S. unemployment rate sits at just 4.1%. A competitive labor market is likely part of the long-term future of manufacturing that we need to prepare for.
As a secondary component, inflation and scarcity of qualified employees is making it more expensive than ever to staff your facility. Digital transformation is, by design, intended to enable your organization to accomplish more work with less headcount. This is your opportunity to upskill your current workforce and help the people you have prepare for higher value positions. Modern Industry 4.0 solutions also often feature remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities. This minimizes the need for on-site personnel and travel costs. This can be especially impactful if you have multiple locations in rural or remote communities.
Workers care about your Industry 4.0 investments as well. As competition for labor goes up, so will the things a job candidate looks for in an employer. How well you’re using available technology will factor into their decision, so it’s smart to approach automation and digital transformation proactively to make it a competitive advantage instead of a weakness.
REASON #3: Your Competitors are Already Investing in It
The “wait and see” days of Industry 4.0 are behind us. Whether you’ve been afraid of the unknown or just averse to taking on additional risk, you now face the risk of obsolescence if you bury your head in the sand. There’s no longer safety on the sidelines.
We get it. We’ve met with manufacturers who’ve been sold a solution in the past that didn’t live up to the hype who are now scared to make another wrong and expensive decision. But as everyone around you is starting to realize the long-term operational and financial advantages of investing in Industry 4.0 initiatives, there is a wide and growing chasm between the haves and the have nots.
It’s not too late to get started, but it will be soon. Remaining competitive depends on your ability to adapt and thrive.
Industry 4.0 solutions today have the power to start delivering ROI on Day 1, quickly reducing costs and increasing profitability by delivering actionable data-driven insights. If you’re still asking “Can we afford to invest in this?” it’s time to start asking “Can we afford not to?”
Where to Start?
Applied Technologies and Agilix Solutions understand your challenges. We know that one of the biggest roadblocks on your journey to digitize and upgrade data analytics throughout your enterprise is fear of making a bad decisions and not reaching the full potential of your digital transformation investment. That’s why we’ve developed a complimentary Digital Transformation Discovery Workshop, designed to help your company’s leaders walk through the decision-making process to uncover your organizational priorities and identify a step-by-step plan for tackling them.
You need a partner who understands what’s available and is able to provide you with a low-risk entry point for your digital transformation journey. You need Applied Technologies. Reach out to your Account Manager or contact us online to connect with our team of experts and schedule your complimentary Digital Transformation Discovery Workshop.