It’s the beginning of2021, and we’re right atthe brink ofthe Fourth Industrial Revolution, which welike tocall “Industry 4.0”. With increased automation, utilization ofartificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the emergence ofthe Internet ofThings (IoT) and expectations of5G services, Industry 4.0has become the new reality. How has this affected business? How are these technological advances influencing industries such astelco and IT, and their ways ofworking?
Business asusual?
With every industrial revolution come business changes, and Industry 4.0will benodifferent. In2021, itwill bring anew business model – Business 4.0– which will most likely bethe hot topic ofthe year. What does business 4.0include and what opportunities will bring?
“Business 4.0will beanew business model that emerges from Industry 4.0. Inthis concept, where everything isconnected, businesses will have tobemore united aswell. Itisnot only about utilizing new technologies, such asthe IoT, 5G, AI, ML, etc. – it’s about bringing anew business model tolife. This business model will beall about cooperation and togetherness.”
source: 2021 Telecom Predictions Ebook
In Business 4.0, connectivity isthe key
The new business model will revolutionize the way digital/communication service providers work asitwill dramatically change their services. Complex, highly distributed infrastructure, multiple devices and networks, new disruptive technologies and innovative services – these all drive change inbusiness operations.
Industry 4.0business model will impose anew way ofworking, one that isremote, distributed, automated, and, above all, connected. Organizations from different industries and sectors will need tocooperate more closely than ever. Astheir services will change, sowill their cooperation. Everyone will bedependent oneveryone else.
Security and separation will becrucial
In all this connectiveness, itwill beimportant tokeep businesses secure and separate. Secure communication and cooperation will bethe key tosucceeding. Asthere will nomore beisolated businesses that can depend only onthemselves, security will safeguard the chain reaction.
Business 4.0use case example
This may sound abit complicated. So, toput itsimply, let’s think about anexample from our telco field. InBusiness 4.0, one telecom (T1) may provide anetwork for many others. Another one (T2) provides optical fiber. Many other telcos (TX) use the network and the infrastructure inorder toprovide different services totheir customers. All ofthose CSPs – T1, T2, TX- are connected. But atthe same time, they all need tostay separated and secure inorder toprotect their customers and their business. Their commercial value and intellectual property must stay secure.
As you can see, Industry 4.0and the new business model that itentails provide communication/digital service providers with fresh challenges, but also many benefits. And itisinthis year that operators should take ahard look atthis concept.
Would you like todiscover more expert predictions for 2021? Download our free ebook here and learn what the future holds.
Author
Having gained solid team-building and management skills in previous roles, Rajmund Zieliński brought his holistic approach to business analysis to Comarch. With a firm grounding in project implementation and transitioning and a sound understanding of the agile management philosophy, his economic and telecommunications industry expertise allow him to strike the best strategic balance that delivers on the aspirations of clients and the interests of his own organization.
