What is Industry 4.0 and how does it affect our business?

Industry 4.0 has the power to change the world of work in which we live.

Workplace? Oh, no! Wait. Let’s start over.

The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is already changing our daily lives for the better.

You may be working in an organization that is immersed in this revolution and you may be lucky enough to see the industrial evolution that it brings to the working life of individuals and companies.

Or perhaps you sense that something is changing around you, technological changes: in your city, on the TV you have just bought.

However, as a company, you either adapt to industry 4.0 or you can hardly reap its benefits.

In this post we are going to understand what is the industry 4.0, what technologies it uses to generate the current industrial revolution we live in and in which areas it affects our current business.

What is Industry 4.0

Even if you don’t know exactly what industry 4.0 is, I imagine you must sense that it has to do with technology and the digital transformation of companies. And, yes, you’re right.

There was talk of this concept in Germany, referring to smart factories. This concept referred to communication between machines, to enhance it. But it didn’t go beyond that, it didn’t extrapolate and it didn’t come out of that factory.

It was the 4.0 concept and Digital Marketing that led to this new interpretation of the industry.

It’s a term we could define as such:

Industry 4.0 is an efficient model of production that
involves the integration of new technologies for maximum benefits.

What does industry 4.0 have to do with the 4th industrial revolution?

Industry 4.0 revolutionizes our understanding of manufacturing. It is the fulcrum of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Basically, we seek to develop programs that allow the analysis of Big Data to provide useful and valuable information for the manufacture of industrial products. It seems logical to think that incorporating values improves decision-making, right? We confirm this a few lines below.

The automotive, pharmaceutical and electronics industries are surely the most sensitive to this digital mobilization.

The 5 technologies affecting the industry 4.0

Without a doubt, the penetration of new technologies in the manufacture of products represents a profound change. That is why we talk about the 4th industrial revolution.

But what are the technologies that have turned the model of industry we had until now around?

#1. Internet of Things (IoT).

I like to talk about the Internet of Things as an invisible superhero. You don’t see it, but you feel its effect.

If we apply it to the business world we are faced with a new concept, the Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT). If you already know the power of the IoT in people’s daily lives, you understand the IIoT. We refer to its application in the productive processes of companies.

It is based on the fact that the M2M model, the machine to machine communication, takes advantage of all the data available to the company and combines it with technological innovation. We are looking for intelligent machines that optimize business efficiency.

#2. Big Data

If you’re thinking you’re hearing about Big Data again and you don’t have that much data, I have an answer for you today.

If you’re an SME.

Of course you have databases! Confirmed orders, offers sent, shipments made (if you are a logistics company), registrations in your blog and, in general, don’t you have a customer history? Use it.
If you are an entrepreneur: I understand that your listings are shorter than those of a company. But have you considered using LinkedIn or Twitter as Big Data? Think about Social Selling.
Of course, you need to analyze that data and interpret it in a beneficial way for your company. You can give it a focus to improve your:

Supply Chain

If you segment that huge information and analyze it in smaller packages, you can apply improvements in the supply chain.
Internal and external online communication. The first one has an impact on the improvement of the working environment, because it takes place between people. But also in the optimization of resources, when you direct it towards the IIoT. External because, with this data, you detect the doubts and concerns of your clients, so that you can respond to them by providing solutions through the blog and social networks.

Internal training

A few lines above we talked about using social networks as data sources. Consider training in Social Selling for your sales team. But the Big Data in the industry 4.0 allows you to improve the training of all departments.

#3. Artificial Intelligence

It could not be otherwise: Artificial Intelligence appears as one of the technological pillars of the 4.0 industry.

Applications such as Microsoft’s “Cortana” show us that we can design intelligent machines that learn automatically from the given inputs. In fact, they are already used in production lines.

#4. Cobots

Cobots are the new generation of collaborative robots that work together with people. They are easy to program and very flexible, providing extra support in industrial production. They are designed to act safely with humans, so that they stay still when they detect arms or any other part of the body.

They are currently helping to install the Ford Fiesta’s shock absorbers at the factory in Cologne, Germany.

#5. Virtual and augmented reality

Both are helpful in optimizing industrial processes. The first, adding a virtual environment. The second, virtual elements to reality.

There are sectors whose evolution and progress require the construction of expensive prototypes. This technology allows them to be made at much lower costs. BMW already uses it to visualise vehicle interiors.

It is common to hear that this new industry model generates more unemployment. However, experts are already explaining that this is not what happens. New professional profiles are needed that are capable of managing this change that is taking place. Engineers and programmers are the most in demand.

Above all, the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors are the ones that incorporate the most automation in their processes.

3 leading companies in the industry 4.0

In this post we have already mentioned the powerful Ford and BMW as references of the industry 4.0.

Which is the group of companies that accompany them in this leadership?

/*/ SEAT

Seat is one of the most recent examples of a company determined to become an industry 4.0. Its logistics building in Martorell is on its way to becoming the highest automated warehouse in Spain.

It is scheduled to open at the end of 2018 and will have a capacity of 199,999 boxes.

/**/ Lego

Lego is an example of evolution. Video games began as a strong threat to his classic pieces. But they have managed to reinvent themselves and are currently participating in gamification programs for companies and universities.

They have also managed to develop it on a virtual plane.

/***/ John Deere

John Deere is a name we’ve stamped on the tractors we’ve seen all our lives.

They too have been able to offer the farming world a plus, taking advantage of new technologies. Today we see how these vehicles have built-in weather sensors or crop advice.

How does industry 4.0 affect Digital Marketing?

When we look at any company that is heading towards digitalization we see that there is one element in common: the commitment to digital marketing.
Not only do users use the Internet to solve their doubts or satisfy their needs. Also in the B2B model is used to find suppliers or strategic partners to help develop our business.

They are not impulsive purchases, but decisions are meditated and assumed after a negotiation. And, with this environment, having a solid brand with a good reputation is the first step to being chosen.

There are 15.4 million residents in Spain who use social networks. And we can reach them thanks to the implementation of an appropriate Social Media Marketing Plan.

With a specific strategy aimed at achieving business objectives, we manage to attract our potential client in a non-intrusive way. This is Inbound Marketing.

But our work in Digital Marketing does not end there. Once we have attracted them, we must convince them that we are their best answer. And to do that, keeping an active blog and a good conversation in social networks are essential.

Conclusion

The path towards the digitalization of companies seems inevitable.

I would be satisfied if after reading this post you have many more doubts than before about the 4.0 industry. That means that I’ve been able to transmit you some clear idea about what it is and what tools it is based on.

Obviously, when we take a first step into a new field, 1,000 doubts are opened. And that’s great because it means you’re concerned about how it can make you better.

Go ahead. Take that first step and don’t hesitate to ask for external collaborators, if that helps you grow and find new business opportunities for your company to become a 4.0 industry.

Fuente: https://soniadurolimia.com/que-es-la-industria-4-0/?utm_source=blogsterapp&utm_medium=twitter