How do frontline-workforce digitization and integration with the overall digital infrastructure help manufacturers get more value from their transformation?  

One of the things that each and every manufacturer, whether a single-plant production setup or a global network, has realized by the end of 2022, is that digital transformation can deliver immense value if done right. Companies that complete this transformative exercise become more competitive and experience massive internal efficiency gains across their value chains. They are saving more, producing more, and inventing faster than their peers, and the value they generate will only be amplified as their transformations mature and become more ubiquitous across their worldwide manufacturing locations.

As soon as we hear the words “artificial intelligence,” we picture robots and machines taking over like in Terminator or a hallucinogenic super-software controlling our world like in The Matrix. However, the current truth is far from the fictional accounts. AI is already all-pervasive and influencing our decisions and destinies, whether while shopping online or while deciding what meal to order from an app. AI is certainly here to stay and will forever change the way the world works. Manufacturing will particularly see the immense impact of machine learning, process automation, and robotics.   

ESG has become a ubiquitous aspect of global business for a good reason: consumers and employees are more aware of the impacts companies can have and are holding them accountable. Governments around the world are creating more stringent norms to protect people and the environment and are looking for transparency from corporations and conglomerates. Companies are realizing that acting on ESG initiatives should not only be seen as a compliance measure. Rather, staying ahead of the competition might actually help them create better value, attract superior talent, and gain a larger market share.