STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

Companies can take advantage of the opportunities offered by the increasing level of digitalization to optimize existing potentials. SF helps them do this, working with them to identify the associated challenges and risks at an early stage. In close cooperation with our customers, we define the concrete, enterprise-specific aims that are to be achieved through digitalization and formulate both the objectives and the resulting tasks that are to be entrusted to the various departments in the company. In doing so, we are guided by a survey conducted by the Bavarian regional subsidiary of the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) that identifies the needs of small and midsize companies in the capital goods industry.

70% believe that the greatest potential for optimization lies in the service sector.

The respondents see the service field as having the highest potential and the working world and business models the lowest.
A striking number of respondents saw no potential in the field of production.

Source: VDMA

Service

The greatest potential is thought to lie in the fields of data acquisition and analysis, remote maintenance and diagnostics/predictive maintenance.

Processes

In the field of processes, the most urgent areas of activity are identified as data, acceleration, standardization and transparency.

Products

When it comes to products, there is not yet any widespread call for more complex Industry 4.0 functionality. The greatest importance is attached to state-based maintenance, communication/networking and unique identifiability.

Production

In the case of production, focus is placed on process monitoring and a standardized digital workflow with end-to-end data formats. Respondents to the survey did not place any great emphasis on cloud solutions and virtual reality.

Business Models

At present, traditional business models are still leading the way. The optimization of customer processes and increase in demand for additional services are of primary importance.