The always-connected consumer and popularization of ecommerce platforms has resulted in increased supply chain pressures, with manufacturers needing to output goods faster and more efficiently to meet elevated demands. Consequently, manufacturers are turning to implement end-to-end digitization within their own supply chains to ensure agility and faster processes. The path towards this digital supply chain is no longer locked in manufacturers’ imaginations, but achievable by adopting a new generation of intelligent, connected equipment. These four leading technologies help guide manufacturers into digital supply chain transformation, essential in optimizing efficiency, agile operations and increasing total production output.

1. CLOUD CONNECTIVITY & IOT TECHNOLOGIES are the backbone for a new generation of connected manufacturing and prescient maintenance capabilities. By implementing Internet of Things technologies into service equipment, manufacturers can enable remote operation and servicing, enhance production flexibility and customization capabilities, while democratizing secure access to essential information throughout the entire supply chain.
2. BIG DATA ANALYTICS empower manufacturers to extract actionable insights from troves of information. Whether optimizing production output and efficiencies through real-time monitoring of operations, influencing the product development pipeline or antici- pating future outcomes based on the study of historical tendencies and current behaviors in the marketplace, these tools ensure com- panies are better positioned to take advantage of coming shifts and opportunities for long-term success.
3. MACHINE LEARNING is not only accelerating the path towards ultra-efficiency, but is paving the road towards a new generation of manufacturing as a service, extending the life of a product beyond a one-time purchase. By fitting end products with sensors and connected capabilities, manufacturers can remotely monitor the effectiveness of finished products and derive usage patterns and insights to inform performance refinements, maintenance schedules and future product creations.
4. REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS enable remote teams and cross industry partners to share ideas or work together on projects in secure, virtual environments. By accel- erating the speed of collaboration, research and development teams can reduce development cycles and lower product development costs, while ensuring multiple iterations throughout the process result in a high-quality end product. The technologies can also be leveraged to simulate and test future production infrastructure when looking to scale or implement new operational capabilities.