Why Your Business Needs to Embrace Digital Transformation

The Manufacturing sector is experiencing a revolution through digital transformation. But before the technology of Industry 4.0 began to change our working lives, it was saving lives out in space.

Apollo 13 was the third NASA space mission intended to land on the moon.

On its second day after launch, an oxygen tank malfunctioned, causing a string of technical issues that threatened not only the mission but the lives of everyone onboard. Obviously, NASA’s ground team couldn’t fix the problems on the craft in person – it was on its way to the moon. Luckily, they had an answer.

The team had created a ‘digital twin’ of Apollo 13 that mirrored the spacecraft’s system on their own computers. This allowed them to figure out exactly what was going wrong, test out a complex fix, and then communicate the fix to the crew onboard.

Thanks to digital twinning, the crew made it back to Earth safely.

But today, digital twins aren’t reserved for situations where a multimillion-dollar product could explode into flames and take down three astronauts in the process.

Now everything is digitalised

Driven by the desire to make working life better for everyone.

During the digital transformation of the late 20^th century, businesses benefited from the digitisation of analogue processes like the filing of paper records and receipts. Now data is stored in digital filing systems rather than space-consuming cabinets.

And as the rate of technological advancement increases, so too must business adoption.

In the early 2000s, businesses began to wake up to the idea that digital transformation has to be an ongoing strategy rather than a one-off upgrade. It’s a cultural shift, and one that must permeate your entire organisation.

Adapt your culture first to leverage digital transformation

Empower your customers, employees and partners by thinking digital-first.

Social media has upturned sales, marketing and customer service systems by putting power at the customers’ fingertips. And progressive companies have acknowledged this change, extending their service offerings and alleviating strain on their resources in the process.

By using AI technology to address basic customer queries, employees are able to answer up to more complex and engaging tasks. Further fulfilling team members working lives and encouraging them to strengthen their skillset.

With the introduction of cloud PLM platforms, the entire team will have access to up-to-date information at any time from any location. This is an environment that employees actively seek out, and thrive in. The ability to actively share information, collaborate, and work from anywhere, at any time is now a common expectation of employees. One which breeds success as a state-of-mind.

It’s not rocket science

But the results just might make you over the moon.

Your PLM provider should be as synchronised with your own team’s needs as NASA was with Apollo 13. They need to visualise what you’re trying to achieve so that they can pre-empt problems and help you implement the technology in the most effective way.