At this point, there is very little doubt that digitally-focused Industry 4.0 strategies are the way of the future for businesses. There are simply too many benefits to digital transformation to ignore, with most of the largest companies today being among the first to embrace Industry 4.0. Buyers also benefit, so it’s a win-win proposition – once it’s implemented.
However, a major changeover like this is not easy, and there are a lot of issues businesses can become hung up on. These are some of the most frequent problems and objections we hear, when discussing digital upgrade strategies with our own clients.
1. A lack of benchmarks
Planning for a digital upgrade can be difficult, because of a lack of standardized roadmaps and benchmarks. Because each digital transformation is different, companies can often feel like they’re flying blind, without enough data.
This is true to an extent, but the best way to overcome it is to remain goal-focused. Have your sights set on clear end goals for your transformation, and benchmark your own progress in relation to those goals.
2. Inconclusive pilot programs
Another frequent issue is that a company will attempt a pilot program for a digital rollout, but end up with inconclusive results, or not know the best path forward towards wider implementation. This can cause these pilot programs to seemingly fizzle out.
In our experience, this boils down to an – understandable – fear of failure. This is a mindset that needs to be set aside for a digital transformation! There will undoubtedly be some stumbles and setbacks along the way, but such eventualities should be seen as learning experiences. If your test programs don’t work out as well as they should, that’s an opportunity to refine your strategies and try again. As long as they’re pilot programs, this is merely experimentation that will lead to better long-term implementations.
3. Being misled by peer pressure
The worst reason to implement a digital transformation strategy is because someone else is doing it. You need to keep up, yes, but you need to keep up in your own way. Too often, we see companies implementing a plan or policy simply because others have done it – but without a clear need, or an understanding of how that new plan will improve their own business processes.
Again, every digital transformation is unique. Your Industry 4.0 policies need to be derived from your own technological situation, and your own business needs. Trying to play follow-the-leader won’t work.
4. A lack of implementation skills and expertise
This is probably the most serious problem facing companies today when they look towards Industry 4.0 strategies. Expertise is hard to come by, and this can make it difficult to develop a solid roadmap towards implementation.
There are two basic options here. One is to focus on self-education, creating a team tasked with first learning more about digital transformation strategies before proposing any specific plans. This will likely pay off in the long run, but you will need patience while they get up to speed. The alternative is hiring a consulting firm to help devise those strategies – a faster path to the same goal.
FUSE Creates A Foundation For Ecosystem Growth
One critical factor in any digital transformation is the need for communication, education, and collaboration. This is exactly what FUSE provides. FUSE is a first-of-its-kind platform aimed specifically at providing the tools your company needs to grow its ecosystem and find its path towards embracing Industry 4.0 strategies.
To learn more, sign up for a free account, or contact us if you have specific needs or concerns.
