In February 2021, a report published by Connected Enterprise found that nearly half (49%) of manufacturing industry C-suite executives, directors and senior managers were sceptical about the benefits of implementing new business technology – attitudes that could limit the textile & apparel industry and its digitalisation strategies.
But convincing executives is not the only hurdle that digitalisation faces. Although regions like Europe have created a unique environment for Industry 4.0 growth, continents like Asia and Africa face bigger obstacles in their way, according to primary research conducted by WTiN set to be published later this month.
As with all paradigm shifts rooted in advanced technologies, there are inaccessibility issues around the globe related to cost, infrastructure and skill.
These accessibility issues are not minor – it is the responsibility of the whole textile & apparel value chain to create an environment capable of incubating Industry 4.0. After all, digitalisation is not something that one company can achieve alone but requires close collaboration within the value chain, noted WTiN’s Digital Transformation Outlook 2019 report.
These inaccessibility issues mean governments and industries are becoming hyper-aware of the risks they face if their digitalisation goals are not reached. In the Digital Transformation Outlook 2019 report, Dr Richard Soley, executive director at the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) notes: “It is better to embrace industry disruption than be a victim of it.”
But what happens when it is not so easy to embrace change?
WTiN will explore the paradigm shift towards Industry 4.0 and how global regions have adapted to – or faced inaccessibility around – industrial digitalisation strategies. The report will be made available from 21 June 2021.
