The manufacturing landscape has changed as a result of Industry 4.0, commonly referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Manufacturers can automate the shop floor, get rid of manual procedures, improve product quality, and cut waste by using intelligent technology and machinery and the businesses that want to fully realize Industry 4.0’s promise are going further.
In any firm, the consumer is always put first. Leading businesses are aware that in order to retain today’s clients, they must regularly offer thrilling and motivating brand experiences. The product experience, which has something to do with production, makes up a portion of the brand experience. Even with a sole focus on operations, there is still a lot more to the brand experience, such as on-time delivery, a willingness to respond to customer needs, and innovative business models that simplify life. These can be completed more efficiently and effectively by incorporating Industry 4.0.
A Primer on Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 combines the Internet of Things (IoT) with relevant physical and digital technologies, such as analytics, robotics, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and cognitive technologies, advanced materials, and augmented reality, to integrate digital data from numerous sources and locations and drive the actual act of manufacturing.
The idea of Industry 4.0 expands and integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) within the framework of the physical world, including the physical-to-digital and digital-to-physical transitions that are relatively specific to manufacturing processes. The heart of Industry 4.0, however, is the transition from connected, digital technologies to the production of a physical object.
Positive Impacts of Industry 4.0 on Customer Experience
Customer experience can be improved with Industry 4.0. Let’s see how!
Improved Customer Understanding
According to estimates, 60% of the purchase process for B2B customers is finished before they even contact a salesperson, with 90% of their product research taking place online. When it comes to having an internet presence, manufacturers have historically been sluggish to adapt. However, it’s obvious that the B2B audience strongly prefers digital engagement.
E-commerce platforms could be useful. They will not only enable manufacturers to reach a larger audience with a digital catalog, but they will also enable them to collect information on consumer behavior. Examples include the most popular items by demography, demand spikes, and whether those correlate with the larger market. All of these can assist manufacturers in becoming more customer-centric and enhancing the entire customer experience.
Better Customer Engagement
A customer always wants to be engaged with, regardless of where they are in the purchasing process. Here, various Industry 4.0 technologies can be useful. Artificial intelligence and virtual reality might be useful for customers who are just starting out on their trip. Customers continue to want perfection even after they have made a purchase. Customers want proactive help in addition to the obvious well-functioning product, flawless quality of service, and a frictionless experience. It demonstrates how highly their preferred employer regards them. A few examples of Industry 4.0 technology that can assist manufacturers in doing this are Trackers with RFID and GPS, augmented reality, and predictive analytics.
Fleet managers and operators can use solutions to gather essential data in one location, improving their understanding of resource utilization, team availability, and asset maintenance needs. Manufacturers can prevent equipment failures by using this in conjunction with IoT-enabled equipment that can collect real-time data on machine performance and productivity, as well as perform root cause investigation and hasten remediation.
Conclusion
There is pressure to keep up with technology in most sectors because it is constantly evolving. This makes sense because the correct technology may increase a variety of things, including process efficiency, internal productivity, cost effectiveness, product quality, and data quality. Don’t forget, though, that a company’s ability to stay ahead of the competition depends on factors other than technology. Instead, the ultimate decision-makers in determining a company’s long-term viability are its customers. Manufacturers ought to view Industry 4.0 in that light. It’s a means for them to maintain their business over the long run as well as improve it.