27 Aug
2018

Five Digital Transformation Predictions for 2018 and Beyond

Digital trailblazers are making an impact across industries now. When it comes to manufacturing, digital solutions don't have to be remote. Consider how implementing a smart factory, the principles of lean manufacturing, & continuous improvement technology can fit into your production goals.

Industry 4.0
Smart Factory
Five Digital Transformation Predictions for 2018 and Beyond

Digital trailblazers and Industry 4.0 are making an impact across industries now. When it comes to the manufacturing industry, digital solutions don't have to be remote. Consider how implementing a smart factory, the principles of lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement technology can fit into your production goals. The infographic and corresponding points below, courtesy of Appian, round-up up details and statistics from studies, thinkers, industry leaders, and investors on where and how tracks are being made.   

 Traditional industries will be hit hard by emerging technology in 2018.

  1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) will dramatically transform knowledge tasks.
  2. “Despite some foretellers’ projections, RPA will not cause catastrophic global unemployment, with mankind becoming idle while machines do the work. Rather, by automating low-level activities, RPA will ultimately free employees to focus on higher-value work or discover innovative ways to provide value.”  

    Source + read the report by KMPG.
  3. With cloud computing expected to surge from $67B to $162B by 2020, the gap between startup and large companies will shrink faster than ever.


  4. In 2017, Louis Columbus of Forbes wrote, “Cloud platforms are enabling new, complex business models and orchestrating more globally-based integration networks...than many analyst and advisory firms predicted. Combined with Cloud Services adoption increasing in the mid-tier and small & medium businesses (SMB), leading researchers including Forrester are adjusting their forecasts upward.”
  5. Read Columbus’ “Roundup Of Cloud Computing Forecasts, 2017” in Forbes.
  6. In 2020, AI will become a net job creator, creating 2.3M jobs while only eliminating 1.8M jobs. Net job creation will vary by industry, with manufacturing experiencing the biggest impact. 

Kasey Panetta wrote in October 2017 for Gartner Digital Business, “The continued evolution of digital innovation has resulted in seemingly endless options and technologies available for companies. This trend won’t end anytime soon, and IT leaders need to adjust their digital strategies to develop a reasonable pace for adoption and bimodal development.”

Read “Gartner Top Strategic Predictions for 2018 and Beyond,” by Kasey Panetta.

Global spending on digital transformation technology will surge to $1.2 trillion this year, and hit 2 trillion by 2020, according to IDC. 


  1. In an IDC media release from February 2017, Eileen Smith, program director in IDC's Customer Insights & Analysis Group said, "Changing competitive landscapes and consumerism are disrupting businesses and creating an imperative to invest in digital transformation, unleashing the power of information across the enterprise and thereby improving the customer experience, operational efficiencies, and optimizing the workforce."


Want to learn more?
Download the ebook
Related blog articles

Related articles

Back to the blog
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
9
Jan 2024

Manufacturing Trends to Lookout for in 2024

English
3
Aug 2023

Embracing IIoT: The Smart Path for OEMs to Thrive with a Leading IIoT Smart Manufacturing Partner

English
21
Jul 2023

CDAP: $15,000 Grant To Jump Start Canadian Manufacturing Digital Transformation Projects

English

Related articles

Back to the blog
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
7
Sep 2023

Mitigating Debt Servicing Challenges with Production Monitoring

Interest rates are up, and demand is down. Strapped with higher loan repayments many of today’s manufacturers are caught in the middle. Read how optimizing manufacturing operations is mitigating the challenges of debt servicing.

English
24
Aug 2023

Simplifying Adoption of Smart Technology for Manufacturers of All Types and Sizes

It's time we stopped talking about the challenges plaguing manufacturers and started focusing more on the solutions and opportunities that can help mitigate them.

English
17
Aug 2023

Weathering the Storm: Responding to Inflation's Effects on Manufacturing

There are many things that manufacturers cannot control. Such as inflation. What you can control is how you prepare for it. Companies with an eye on growth understand that these are the times to invest in technology. Read this blog to see why.

English