Trends In The Industry : Specialized companies from the IT and industrial sectors and market research companies have summarized, the most important technology trends for the industry. This will occupy businesses and companies in 2021. In terms of digitization, the following trends will play an important role in the coming year—the first deals with hybrid multi-cloud architectures and, associated with this, IT security. Different cloud solutions offer the possibility of pulling together large applications and data clouds.
Scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency are only three reasons companies have increasingly used cloud applications in recent years. However, this also means that more importance must be attached to the issues of IT security and data integrity. Server and cloud applications must be protected against unauthorized access and at the same time be securely networked with one another if they are to be used sensibly as a homogeneous system. The stronger networking and increasing complexity of the solutions will bring further challenges in the coming year.
Digitization is changing numerous previously known applications and automatisms. In industry, it takes care of the automation of processes. This means that machines are intelligently networked. There is a huge amount of data. A special security concept is necessary for this if you want to avoid financial damage and production downtimes. Currently, 80% of cyber attacks focus on human vulnerability – and are therefore successful. First and foremost, companies should train and sensitize their employees in addition to the necessary security measures.
When it comes to the use of IT, considerations also play a role in how it can be made more energy-saving and resource-efficient and how it can be made more durable and more recyclable. There is also the question of how new software and IT solutions can help make a company more sustainable. One possibility is, for example, sustainability-oriented production planning, which also includes supply chains and logistics processes. Anyone who wants to make their company climate-neutral must consistently offset all climate-damaging emissions that have arisen during operations or activities. On the one hand, this works by saving energy sensibly, using alternative fuels, converting to green electricity, and recycling more. Alternatively, instead of reducing your emissions, compensate for this by actively supporting climate protection projects. However, the subject is controversial.
Machine production is networked with modern communication technology. This makes it possible for production systems to exchange information with work parts. A self-learning system is created as a so-called smart factory. The basis for this is the Internet of Things (IoT). It enables the constant exchange of data between all parties involved—the result: an industry that is becoming smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, every fifth German company has already taken its first digitization measures. Companies must always keep an eye on data security. It is important to optimize security systems and develop defense strategies.
With Logistics 4.0, there is also a trend towards more digitization and automation in supply chains. The goal: to connect processes across company boundaries and coordinate them as optimally as possible. This enables material flows to be improved and collaboration with customers and partners to be made more efficient.
According to the market research institute Gartner, hyper-automation has been an important technology trend since this year. What is meant is the possibility of fully automating work steps with the help of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Machine learning can make predictions based on large amounts of data. Artificial intelligence is based on pattern recognition and can independently generate knowledge from experience. The technology is already in use in industrial processes. This also applies to maintenance and support services. Here, AI can help to record energy consumption using sensors on individual machines, analyze maintenance cycles, and optimize them afterward. In the future, it will be a matter of combining all these possibilities in a meaningful way.
The corona pandemic has clearly shown that anyone who wants to remain competitive needs smart workplaces. This means that access to IT must be possible from anywhere, there must be no more media disruptions. Therefore, the work platform of the future should be digital, supported by voice bots, chatbots, and virtual assistants that handle administrative tasks and services. At the same time, they simplify communication and enable even greater process automation.
The largest German Internet hub is in Frankfurt. The amount of data here has almost doubled over the past five years. While the corona pandemic almost paralyzed economic life in the spring, ten terabits per second of data flow were measured here—more than ever before. So companies have to expand their data networks and be more and more able to manage the data competently and interpret and use it. Real Time intelligence is what we call it when information is analyzed in real-time. The so-called predictive analytics is added when it becomes possible to make forward-looking future forecasts. At the moment, insurance companies and health insurance companies are particularly concerned with it. Ultimately, it can be used to expand data-based knowledge about customers.
The goal: to reduce the weight of the end product while maintaining stability and reliability. To achieve this, it depends on the optimal mix of materials. It is not primarily about saving material or energy. Today, the combination of aluminum, steel, magnesium, and special plastic (CFRP) replaces expensive, monolithic materials. Components are created that are stiffer, tougher, and stronger, or that vibrate better. Lightweight construction is an important trend, especially for aircraft and automobile manufacturers. 3D printing and inspiration from bionics offer practical support.
So that IoT can become the standard in networked companies, the 5G mobile communications standard is an important prerequisite for Industry 4.0. 5G stands for faster transmission speeds and lower latency times. This makes completely new applications possible – especially real-time applications.
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