Enterprise 4.0: the future of the digitalization of companies in phase 2
The 4.0 company must continue to grow in order to facilitate the development of the country’s economic system. However, it seems that the driving force of digitalization is slowing down precisely this year, despite showcasing its full potential during lockdown. In reality, the forecast 20/25% growth on the 3.9 billion euro turnover generated in 2019 will not be practicable and analysts are divided: some forecast linear stability compared to
last year, while others predict a 5/10% contraction.
To get growth moving again, the return of hyper and super depreciation along with significant reductions in labour costs seem to be indispensable, as well as the reduction of taxes in upcoming years. In 2019, 60% of the market concerned the Internet of Things (Industrial IoT), 16% Industrial analytics (i.e. the application of intelligence to the data collected) and 9% Cloud Manufacturing (which concerns the techniques and technologies of analysis, programming, automation and connection).
From online platforms for sharing study and work, to remote testing (made possible thanks to virtual or augmented reality), the changes that have taken place under COVID have heightened the ability of digital innovation to provide efficient, low-cost responses.
In fact, the emergency made digitalization unavoidable for many businesses, overcoming the combination of knowledge gap, mental laziness and limited farsightedness that had held them back to date.
Indeed, the extent of the urgent changes has generated a great awareness of the decisive importance of innovation, which is going to impact on new organizational models, streamlining costs and procedures. To continue on the path taken, however, important financing and targeted investments are needed that pave the way for strategic change.
