| | AUGUST 20228IN MY OPINIONBy Sanjay Agrawal, Technology Head, Hitachi VantaraWith over 28 years in the business, Sanjay effectively revamped the pre-sales team for next-generation consultative selling, focusing on future trends & technology.TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL BOOST DIGITALIZATION ACROSS INDUSTRIES he pandemic forced companies worldwide to transform their businesses, as consumers moved to online channels, accelerating digital technology adoption. About 74 percent of businesses accelerated their digital technology adoption by months or years, found a KPMG survey. About 66 percent of those surveyed adopted automation aided by Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create new workforce models. Companies underwent digital transformation to continue functioning, stay ahead of the competition, and maintain market share during the pandemic. Industry leaders say that this transformation is here to stay and will pave the way for global industry adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies. In the long run, this digitalization is expected to pave the way for improved business output with maximum efficiency and minimum wastage.Automating for the Future For businesses, it is essential to identify change in advance and adapt accordingly. Historically, the manufacturing sector has been the driver for new technology adoption and course correction strategies. Today, this transformation is led by industry 4.0, revolutionising the way companies manufacture, improve, and distribute their products. It is being done by integrating the latest technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, AI/ML and analytics into production facilities and operations. Manufacturing companies are using IoT assets to connect machines and systems together, enabling real-time asset monitoring that achieves zero defects and reduces downtime, emissions and accidents at production facilities. Automation in the industrial automation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3 percent from 2020 to 2027 to reach $306.2 billion by 2027, suggests a report by Meticulous Research. Automation has enabled improved decision-making aided by real-time data on various metrics resulting in improved productivity, sustainability, and the use of fewer resources. In the automotive industry, for example, the use of advanced automation technologies, such as machine vision, collaborative robots, AI for driverless/autonomous cars and cognitive computing in IoT connected cars have become the norm.Boosting Efficiency Using Sensor IoTThe use of easy and quick integrated sensors and devices that monitor equipment and produce user-friendly data, graphics and more in real-time helps automotive manufacturers connect production lines more efficiently. Managing materials in inventory or at a workstation using monitoring devices helps reduce downtime. Real-time data on equipment run times allows organisations to adjust workflows at their manufacturing units, reduce changeovers or track equipment performance to plan maintenance. It helps understand lead times and provides more accurate estimates and timelines. The increased T
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