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Digitization will deepen and cloud Usage will mature Digital capabilities strengthen resiliency. 2021 will pave the way for further digital transformation within the industrial sector organisations. Across industries, business leaders are also turning to technologies such as AI and 3D modelling to understand their production processes and plans. To adjust to an environment CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, where the supply of raw materials is AVEVA volatile and demand for end products is focussed on the essentials, businesses must understand their production facilities better than ever before. Cloud is not necessarily a prerequisite for digital transformation but an enabler. Cloud technology accelerates time to value, increases collaboration and reduces costs. What’s been evident Combination of digitization, automation, sustainability, and in 2020 is that a cloud platform allows organizations to consolidate data from data will be the key differentiator multiple sources into a central location for improved transparency and accessibility – at any time, any place and from any secure device. echnology has become deeply embedded in almost The current crisis is accelerating the every facet of life and plays an intrinsic role for use of cloud and data in increasingly many businesses across the globe. Digital transfor- sophisticated ways to help provide vismation is enabling organizations, particularly in ibility and certainty into operations. The the industrial sector, to enhance their capabilities, adoption of analytics is said to be one of and increase their returns across their assets and operations. the greatest drivers of digital transforThe use of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) through mation, as businesses seek greater datareal-time analytics has had a profound impact, by improving driven insights. Data acts as a source response times to potential issues and minimizing possible of truth that aids teams to focus on the damage to the environment, which has resulted in the critical factors that determine avoidance of costly unscheduled shutdowns, while business resilience. There has improving profits. also been a fundamental “An increased As we look ahead into 2021, four key techshift in mindset: customfocus on digital nology predictions stand out for the Industrial ers now understand where transformation and sector. they need to get to and data-driven insights First, digitization will continue to spread how quickly they need to will be a gameand mature within organizations – Connected get there. In an age where changer” IIoT will go deeper and wider across the core of time is of the essence, an inmany businesses. creased focus on digital transSecond, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine formation and data-driven insights Learning (ML) enabled technologies will continue to automate will be a game-changer. processes to deliver improved performance and agility. Third, there will be a greater focus on sustainability busi- Automation will pick up pace nesses looking to become cleaner and more efficient in their According to Gartner, “By the end of use of natural resources. 2024, 75% of enterprises will shift from Fourth and not least, businesses will look to unlock critical piloting to operationalizing AI, driving a insights from data. 5x increase in streaming data and analyt-
CRAIG HAYMAN
THE POWER OF FOUR
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