Going Digital: Manufacturing is Taking the New Connected World Very Seriously

B. Washburn

Summary Bullets:
• The manufacturing sector is pulling far ahead of other vertical segments when it comes to going digital.

• Manufacturers are working new digital business on two vectors: Intelligence on their factory floor; and embedded in the products they build and ship.

Here at Current Analysis, we’ve been hearing our share of hype related to the Internet of Things (IoT). As interesting as sensors and connectivity and analytics might be individually, it’s really about the combination of these elements to create totally new digital business models. There’s no shortage of service provider and vendor pitches for going digital. The industry has its photogenic poster children, like Progressive’s behavior-based insurance program; GM OnStar connected car and telematics; and GE Predix with its comprehensive aircraft engine analytics.