B+P Consultants survey shows: 89% of machine manufacturers regard digital transformation as a growth opportunity
Thomas Reiner | 08.01.2021
The machine manufacturing industry is clearly at crossroads. On the one hand, digital transformation has finally arrived. On the other hand, the need to catch up is still extremely high. And even those who lull themselves into a sense of security should not put their feet up.
A survey of 270 packaging industry executives conducted by B+P Consultants in October 2020 shows that 89 percent of packaging machine manufacturers see digital transformation as a growth opportunity. At the same time, however, only 42 percent feel sufficiently prepared with the topic of digital transformation.
What the study by B+P Consultants also shows is that sales and communication are the areas of digital transformation that are currently most pressing for machine manufacturers. 67 percent of machine manufacturers describe sales and communication as their current primary digital field of action. The reasons are obvious. The loss of trade shows and the uncertainty about the future of trade shows and events are hitting the industry much harder than others.
Machine manufacturing is clearly at a crossroads. On the one hand, digital transformation has finally arrived as a topic and field of action. The Corona pandemic has accelerated development by around six years. And it has also finally anchored the topic in the minds of management. That is a valuable and important step. In the meantime, the digital transformation of sales is also about strategically maintaining and expanding companies‘ competitiveness in the long term.
On the other hand, the need to catch up is still extremely high. The fact that 58 percent of those surveyed do not see themselves as sufficiently positioned is a clear alarm signal.
At the same time, the 42 percent who believe they are well equipped in terms of digital transformation should not be too sure of themselves. Digital transformation is extremely dynamic and disruptive. More than in other areas, it is true that a feeling of control can lead to a failure to move quickly and decisively enough along the chosen path. Resting and resting are not an option.
