Digitalization is just one part of the new industrial era. The strategy changes the perspective: a new socio-productive paradigm emerges that focuses on the human impact.

When we talk about Industry 4.0, we highlight the fact that such high levels of intercommunication and data exchange have never existed. It is the era of “siliconization” and “digitization” of the world, with large technology companies relying on algorithms and intelligence to create developments that radically modify the lives of people and consumers. Everything-as-a-service models are emerging everywhere under this framework, and technologies like cloud, 5G, robotics, and the Internet of Things are changing the dynamics of entire industries and economies.

Since the rise of digitalization in society, There are important socio-technological changes that also require a response from the industry.  The convergence of disruptive technologies radically modifies the usual practices of operation, maintenance, logistics and distribution. Resources and processes are optimized and products and services aligned with the real needs of the market are created. But all this enormous transformation far exceeds the technological aspects, given that it has consequences among the different actors that make up the socio-productive ecosystem, which represents a paradigm shift.

In this sense, it is interesting to highlight the model of “double ring” to think about Industry 4.0. This metaphor condenses technological enablers on the one hand and strategic thinking on the other. The strategic level or “strategic ring” contains the key factors to generate the appropriate context. The practical-technological level or “technological ring” is made up of the technologies that enable innovative industrial development. It is in the combination of both levels where we find the holistic vision of the 4.0 ecosystem.

What underlies this concept is that technologies are the tool that enables new possibilities, developments, economies and business models that were not possible before they emerged, however, They are not useful by themselves if they do not have a strategic framework, a why. What needs to be emphasized is that this objective is human. If industry 4.0 implies a paradigm shift, this socio-technological transformation puts people at the center.

The real-time interconnection of enormous volumes must be administered and managed but from a single perspective. holistic, who is able to see interrelated cause-effect schemes. Empathy, collective thinking and collaborative vision are essential parts of this new vision, where it is necessary to build relationships of trust between people, companies, institutions and with clients and suppliers.

The pandemic was in some way the impetus to understand this perspective. Yes, on the one hand, it accelerated the digitalization processes It also showed all our fragilities and weaknesses. It highlighted the need to rethink the human ties that shape societies and the productive ecosystem.

The vision of Industry 4.0 requires changing mentality and focusing on more aspects that go beyond the commercial or technical.: The search is towards more sustainable, simple activities with an idea of a living ecosystem, where technology is only one part of the whole mechanism.

 Julio Cesar Blanco – November 1, 2022