Trends and technology for the manufacturing industry

Knowledge is the basis of informed decisions. That's why Aptean had B2B International conduct a study of the manufacturing industry in Belgium (49% respondents) and the Netherlands (51%). They wanted to know what challenges they see ahead, what technology can answer them and how they view digital transformation. Conclusion? Manufacturing companies see automation as the answer to the shortage of personnel. In doing so, they look primarily to industry-specific solutions, because these lead to more sales.

Manufacturing companies are feeling the pressure to innovate. Customer demands are evolving, requiring them to respond faster and communicate better. To do so, they need real-time data and flexible processes, but that's where the current infrastructure often bumps up against limits. Investing in new technology and in automation is crucial to maintain or build a competitive advantage. 

Addressing staff shortages

Automation and digitization are also the key words to address the shortage of personnel. The motivations behind them are diverse: improving the work environment, securing knowledge, making better use of employees' talents and attracting new employees who have grown up in the digital age. Although 60% of manufacturers are already using technology to automate more tasks, there is still plenty of work to be done. The survey shows that only 48% of operational processes are automated. Belgian manufacturing companies, incidentally, are already a bit further along in this (61%) than their Dutch counterparts (35%). 

More revenue with industry-specific software

The technology priorities for 2025 - 2026 are to maintain and improve quality and increase employee productivity. For the period 2026 - 2028, improving customer satisfaction is added. Industry-specific solutions score best in these areas. The study shows that those who opt for this technology see their annual sales grow more on average (11.3% versus 9.7% for horizontal solutions and 8% for customization). Industry-specific software thus arguably generates higher revenues. This is mainly due to shorter implementation times, faster time-to-value and easy sharing of best practices with other users. 

Choose a partner with expertise

Software will also become more important in the future. After all, integrating AI requires strong data generation and integrated infrastructure. If this foundation is right, companies are best positioned to successfully implement AI solutions and start with small-scale AI pilots. Aptean understands manufacturing. The company's dedicated professionals and experts possess the market knowledge and in-depth experience with industrial and process manufacturing processes. More than a supplier ready to sell a product right off the shelf, the company is driven to achieve mutual success and help maximize ROI. Aptean is proud to be a long-term partner. 

The full trend report

Wondering what the other insights from Aptean's trend research were? You can find the full report on their website or download here.