The Need to Manage Accelerated Disruption

IDC research has shown that 70% of manufacturers in EMEA are aware of the impact that the digital revolution is having on their processes and have accelerated technology investments to respond to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, industrial companies in the region show a pragmatic approach, looking for proven solutions that can add quick value to the business.

Overall, these changes entail a big shift not only in spending but also in the way companies measure their investment. We are also witnessing a surge in ROI and time to value as the key metrics when selecting technology, compared with pure price and costs.

What’s Your Target?

Industrial organisations need to increase agility to respond to changing market and customer requirements, and create transparent, responsive, and customer-centric processes.

A majority of EMEA industrial companies are focusing technology initiatives on taking advantage of competitors’ weaknesses and capturing market share. In addition, these companies want to:

• Make data and data analytics a central pillar of strategy execution companywide.
• Increase the efficiency of operations on the shopfloor or in the warehouse.
• Increase transparency and visibility in the supply chain.

Guidance for Digital Transformation in a Post-Pandemic World

Companies are reassessing processes and adapting for a socially distanced world, where technology can enable operations to be more autonomous and remotely controlled. 

Perhaps you are one of the companies experimenting with new business models, or collaborating in new ways to innovate and offer more supply-chain flexibility and agility? No matter where you are on the digital transformation journey, IDC research offers guidance for your next steps:

Invest in digital, now.

• For “digital” organisations: Invest in technology to take market share and introduce disruptive new business models.
• For “early digital” organisations: Look for an ecosystem partner that can help you ramp up innovation.

Consider the implications for your processes.

• For “digital” organisations: Leverage the opportunities derived from optimal data integration that can contribute to building a differentiating edge to your company’s competitive position.
• For “early digital” organisations: Consider data excellence as the pivot to achieve new business models.

Take time to innovate and evolve your business model.

• For “digital” organisations: To speed up execution, consider working with technology partners able to bring in the latest industry knowledge at scale.
• For “early digital” organisations: Redefine your current technology initiatives portfolio by reassessing stakeholders’ needs, paired with the long-run business viability.

Transforming the Employee Experience

Improving the employee experience will reduce internal and external friction, which translates to improved customer experience.

While "digital-first" prevails in every experience, 60% of enterprises will invest heavily in digitalising employee experience in 2021, transforming the relationship between employers and employees.

Transforming the employee experience and enabling ‘work from anywhere’ models require giving workers more digital literacy and tools. That’s because, as much as we focus on the ‘digital’ part of transformation, people remain at the centre of the work.

Future-Proof Your Business

What are your goals for 2021, and beyond?

Do you want to create high-impact processes? Support autonomous operations? Transform the employee experience? Futureproof your technology stack?

The IDC research provides context, examples, guidance and use cases that are already proving value. Download the report for insights from analysts focused on the adoption of the technologies that are relevant for the production company of the future, and on the connection between strategy, technology, and workforce.