Keeping up with industry trends is essential for you and me to stay competitive, identify new opportunities, make informed decisions, and continue to prosper in constantly evolving markets. We can find articles about industry trends with one Google search. But I’ve saved you the trouble — because that’s why we publish The Journal, to help you do your job — by including an article in our February issue about 8 important industrial automation trends that are affecting you every day.
It's crucial to keep up with trends for several reasons. Trends often signal new technologies, processes or consumer preferences, as you’ll see when you dive into my article starting on page 25. Understanding these shifts can help you adapt and innovate.
Trends can also help identify new opportunities and growth strategies as they reveal new technologies, markets, customer segments or business models to explore. And staying informed provides insights that can support strategic decisions, such as resource allocation, investment strategies and risk management.
Of course, while it’s important to know how technologies like AI, edge computing and private 5G wireless connectivity are influencing our industry, a rip-and-replace approach is neither necessary nor advisable. A more measured and strategic implementation is key.
And hey… I did a companion “Automation Chat" podcast episode talking about these trends. Just search “Automation Chat” on your podcast app or listen on the web.
Also in this issue, you’ll find our 2024 Automation Fair® wrap-up starting on page 16. And you can watch all the Keynote Addresses on demand.
Until next time ….
Theresa Houck
Executive Editor
The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork
