The enablers of connected enterprise are the disruptive technologies, which consist of big data, cloud, social, analytics and mobility.
Big Data: The connected enterprise will produce massive amounts of structured and unstructured data in real time. Harnessing the power of data into insights will require analytics. Let's take an example of component manufacturer, who has 30 manufacturing sites globally. The highly automated sites will be able to produce shop floor data, which can be connected to the enterprise level.
The enormous volumes of data generated and shared across intelligent devices and systems can now be analysed, and the untapped value extracted to serve the business. This enables companies to provide better products and services enabling new business models and enriched consumer experiences. Finally, with data being generated, real time, around the clock, knowing when to react to which data is necessary to obtain a true competitive advantage. The right way of merging unstructured and structured content is also becoming a competitive advantage for businesses.
Cloud: Cloud computing offers a platform to collect, store and retrieve data from physical device, machines and enterprise layer. The new technology enables to create applications, Analytics and storage. Hi-tech manufacturers are using cloud computing for enterprise applications but are still reluctant to use it to gather information across manufacturing sites, as they are not sure about security and regulations pertained to manufacturing data. Most of the Hi-tech manufacturers have expensive assets in global manufacturing sites; one quick application on cloud can be asset management.
Mobility: The use of rugged tablets and hand held devices in manufacturing has been prevalent more than a decade but the data was always contained within the four walls of manufacturing plants. Mobility has created new ways of extending the manufacturing data to operators and supervisors in new platforms like smart phones and ipad. Extending information to mobile devices presents Plant operators, supervisors and managers to manage and control their physical infrastructure, equipment's, systems and applications remotely. This can increase visibility and efficiency for hi-tech manufacturers. Proactive maintenance, remote monitoring and plant level dashboards are examples of applications which can be extended to mobile devices.
Social Platform: Social technologies like Crowdsourcing can increase collaboration and allow designers and engineers to bring the next cool product in the market. On the other hand the use of social technologies raises concern regarding compliance and patent issues.
In summary, Hi-tech manufacturers should use new technologies to improve business performance and extract more value from existing hardware and software investments. Many organisations can also enhance cross-functional and cross-organisational collaboration, in addition to creating new customer-focused products and services to seize opportunities in an always changing, increasingly interconnected world.
The author is General Manager & Senior Vice President, UST-Global
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