Eureka, UK: Cognizant’s Head of Innovation for Manufacturing and Logistics Says Organizations Need to Rethink, Reimagine and Reinvent Themselves to Stay Competitive

“Given that advancements in next-generation technologies are continuing to emerge, it is reasonable to envision a data-driven future where all internal and external activities are connected through the same information platform,” says Prasad Satyavolu. “However, for this to become reality, manufacturers globally must fully embrace the digital revolution.” Excerpts:

“We look at the five key technology trends that will drive innovation and opportunity for manufacturers in 2017, inside, around and beyond their product lines.

Many companies are increasingly applying AR (augmented reality) tools to create effective training initiatives that drive employee engagement. AR can help industrial designers experience a product’s design and operation before completion. Volkswagen, for example, uses AR to compare calculated with actual crash test imagery.

While the 3D printing of products does require a major shift in organizational design, we expect to see many firms look to set up a supply chain for it in the next six to eight months.

Every manufacturing organization is looking to strengthen its capabilities in managing data, with several firms looking to hire Chief Data Officers in 2017 to ensure the data collected is being used effectively, and monetized where possible.

Driverless and connected cars were high on the news agenda throughout 2016. We are now reaching an inflection point where there has been so much hype around driverless cars and the potential benefits they may bring in terms of mobility and independence.

For car manufacturers, security will be crucial. If consumers do not trust them to protect their data, the adoption of connected and driverless cars may not accelerate in the way it is predicted to.

Throughout 2017, organizations will need to rethink, reimagine and reinvent themselves to stay competitive. Therefore, manufacturers must fully embrace digital technologies to achieve the customer-centricity and operational excellence required to remain relevant with customers, business partners and the entire manufacturing ecosystem.”

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