Strategic Focus: How COVID-19 Boosted Digital Strategies For Industrial Firms
Hugo Fuller
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Executive Summary
This report examines how industrial firms have moulded their digital strategies around COVID-19 restriction challenges, using data from the 2020 editions of the Verdantix EHS and Operational Excellence surveys. Despite the issues firms have experienced owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have chosen to accelerate their digitization initiatives. Providers of digital technology including industrial software suppliers shifted their priorities to help customers handle pandemic specific tasks, either through development of existing solutions or through standalone COVID-related releases. Technology for remote and safe operations received a large amount of investment during the pandemic. However, despite increased spend on digital strategies within firms striving for operational excellence, certain adoption trends will normalize as vaccination efforts reduce COVID-19 outbreaks, while others will maintain their momentum over 2021 and 2022.COVID-19 Accelerates Operational Excellence And EHS Digitization Initiatives
COVID-19 Spurs Adoption Of Innovative Technology
Vendors Readjust Their Offerings To Cover Pandemic Usage Scenarios
COVID-19 Expedites Investment In New Technology For Remote Operations
Adoption Trajectory Of Newly Implemented Technology Will Vary By Use Case Over The Next Two Years
Figure 2. Impact Of COVID-19 On Digital Technology
Figure 3. Growth, Normalization And Decline Of Use Cases In The Next Two Years
About the Authors
Hugo Fuller
Senior Analyst
Hugo is a Senior Analyst in the Verdantix Industrial Transformation practice. His current research agenda explores the technologies within the industrial asset management soft...
Malavika Tohani
VP Research
Malavika is a VP Research at Verdantix, guiding research that explores how digital technologies and services are reshaping industrial operations to become safer, more efficien...
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