Insights

The effective application of artificial intelligence, as we’ve argued at length elsewhere, has already begun to reliably distinguish forward-looking businesses from those still coasting on the momentum of previous successes. Of course, this level of operational advancement remains difficult to achieve, as the integration and scaling of AI solutions represent a long and complex journey — though it is well worth the investment when implemented skilfully.

By empowering employees, eliminating waste, and improving processes, organisations can prosper in today’s rapidly changing landscape.

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing has been at the forefront of innovation. New technologies that improve efficiency and productivity have always been enthusiastically implemented, leading to great benefits for both producer and consumer. Today, an important new dimension is at play, as manufacturers find themselves in the midst of the digital revolution. Those who embrace the forces of disruption will prosper, while those who resist the inevitable will fall by the wayside. Digital transformation is the only way to ensure lasting success, and manufacturers need to take every step necessary to ensure it is done correctly. Manufacturers that do not commit to digital transformation will not be able to keep up with competitors who can offer data-based services to their customers. If they do not offer the latest services, buyers will find someone else who does.

True business transformation requires change to an organisation’s culture, processes and strategies in the face of shifting norms, digital disruption and evolving consumer needs. If done effectively, the benefits can be both immediate and long-lasting. However, transformation for its own sake is not a sustainable recipe for success. Before they begin the change process, companies must set clear goals to determine where they want to go and what enablers they will need to get them there. A clear plan for benefits realisation is critical to successful transformation.

For many manufacturers, cash flow is the limiting factor that determines how many new business opportunities they are able to pursue, and how ambitious their strategy can be as they plan for the future. The demands of Industry 4.0 require data-driven management both inside and outside the factory, requiring continuous capital investment to keep pace with a fast-moving business environment. Pricing pressures add to the challenge, reducing margins even as customer demands increase ever more quickly. Even the most forward-thinking manufacturers will have trouble staying ahead of the curve if they cannot access enough internal cash flow to keep the wheels of innovation turning.

In Part 1 of this article, we examined the importance of speed, flexibility, and successful adaptation in the current business climate.

In the natural world, the big winners are not always the strongest or fastest, but rather the ones that are best at adapting to changes in their environment. The business world follows similar rules – and its current environment is changing more rapidly than at any time in history, thanks to the digital revolution.

The vision for Thailand 4.0 is certainly ambitious, and is extremely well adapted to the digital economic stage that the world is now entering. But is that vision also well adapted to Thailand itself? Can this moderately advanced Southeast Asian nation handle the weight of its own development plan?

The global demand for Robotic Process Automation is rapidly increasing as businesses seek to harness enterprise technology to streamline processes and increase productivity.

A thought leadership, article and research from our experts to help empower your business strategy.

After deciding on a vision, there are two main barriers that generally prevent companies from following through on their initial ideas: Money, and expertise.

The reluctance is understandable. Your business has showed good signs of health for years (or decades), in large part because you’ve concentrated on creating value in the field you know best. Within a short span of time, you’ve begun to hear plenty of talk about the need for businesses to transform themselves for entry into the digital world.

Many organisations have placed tremendous efforts in implementing a new ERP system or improving their current system. They correctly believed that the ERP system would bring lots of advantages to their organisation, such as process efficiency improvements, benefits of a single database, and data analytics capabilities for corporate strategy.

Automating and optimising your supply chain can help save money and facilitate growth. So could it work for your business?