IDC Manufacturing Insights has published its "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Supply Chain 2017 Predictions," report to offer the 10 predictions that provide the framework for IT and line-of-business (LOB) decision makers' and influencers' planning and execution of technology-related initiatives in the year ahead.
IDC Manufacturing Insights is offering a new MaturityScape platform to aid companies in developing effective "next-generation" product-lifecycle management (PLM) strategies.
The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought with it increased focus on "connected products." As manufacturers work to retrofit existing products with connectivity and build it into new products, they are faced with the question of how these connected products will transform the after-sales services they provide, and possibly even their business models.
In the manufacturing environment of today, robotics are now playing a significant role, taking on jobs beyond assembly and helping to drive efficiency, consistency, and productivity across the supply chain.
The transition to "cloud also" or "cloud first" is well under way for manufacturers around the globe, according to survey results from International Data Corporation. In fact, in the United States, 41 percent of manufacturing respondents indicated they are accessing IT resources via the public cloud, based on the IDC Global Technology and Industry Research Organization IT Survey, 2014.
As manufacturing firms evolve towards an integrated approach to supply chain management, it is important to consider the role of third-party logistics in the value chain as well as the enabling technologies that support this evolution. A new report from IDC Manufacturing Insights, Perspective: Use of Mobility Tools in the 3PL Industry, examines the role of mobile technology in supporting integration and performance improvements in the 3PL industry.
As manufacturers continue to competitively differentiate themselves within various industry settings, after-sales service will increasingly become more important in their overall business and profitability strategy, according to Business Strategy: Spare Parts Planning for Service Excellence, a report from IDC Manufacturing Insights. In fact, many discrete manufacturers can expect to capture upward of 30 percent of revenue from service and service-based product strategies.
A report from IDC Manufacturing Insights evaluates the progression of commerce networks for manufacturers from traditional point-to-point communications to collaborative commerce networks that support many-to-many interactions among manufacturers and their trading partners.
Operational resiliency will be the focus of supply chain strategies this year and beyond, according to IDC Manufacturing Insights, which released its top 10 supply chain predictions for the year.
Building 3D value chains is perhaps the first among the top 10 trends that analysts at IDC Manufacturing Insights see for the manufacturing sector in 2014.
