How developing a digital strategy improves automation efficiency

Digital strategy insights

• A well-developed digital strategy aligns automation with business goals, ensuring streamlined operations, enhanced customer experience, and regulatory compliance, especially with upcoming FSMA Rule 204.
• Selecting the right technology and skilled team is crucial for successful digital strategy implementation, enabling scalable and secure automation that drives innovation and competitive advantage.

Automation in manufacturing has become a necessity rather than a luxury over the last few years. Regardless of what is being manufactured—be it food production, or the pharmaceutical industry — implementing automation can enhance efficiency and effectiveness. System integrators are often tasked with helping to develop a digital strategy for manufacturers. As companies enter 2025, a digital strategy connected to automation is more important than ever.

What is a digital strategy and why is it important?

A digital strategy is a comprehensive plan that uses the latest technologies to improve business processes and achieve organizational goals. It involves leveraging digital tools and methods to optimize operations, enhance customer experience, and drive innovation. Without a well-thought-out digital strategy, automation efforts can become disjointed and ineffective.

A clear plan ensures all automation initiatives are aligned with the business objectives, which makes it easier to measure success and adjust as needed. For food manufacturers, there are also upcoming regulatory changes that will make a digital strategy a vital component of their operations.

Changes coming with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204 will go into effect and become enforceable in January 2026, leaving about 12 months for food manufacturers who sell product in the United States, to prepare for these updated regulations. Among other things, FSMA Rule 204 will require data tracking and data transfer. Companies should expect an emphasis on due diligence in ensuring the safety and quality of ingredients from suppliers as well as electronic traceability.

If the FDA asks, manufacturers will need to provide the records and those key data elements electronically to FDA within 24 hours. This means manufacturers still using paper records will be at a disadvantage because it will be difficult to search paper records, gather details and send the details to the FDA within 24 hours. Electronic records will make data much easier to search, report on and share while also making this requirement much easier to meet.

Nine components of a digital strategy

A successful digital strategy will include these key components:

1. Assessing the current situation: Learn what the current system can and can’t do.

2. Defining clear goals and objectives: Establish clear and measurable goals.

3. Choosing the right technology: The tools and platforms that will be used.

4. Building a skilled team: Identify current gaps and improve collaboration.

5. Implement the digital strategy: Implement the digital strategy in a phased approach.

6. Ensure data security: Make sure the strategy meets security standards.

7. Enhance the customer experience: Automation can enhance the customer experience.

8. Leverage data analytics: Use analytics for accurate real-time insights.

9. Futureproofing the digital strategy: Stay ahead by monitoring trends and ensure it’s scalable.

1. Assessing the Current Situation

Before companies can create a digital strategy, they need to understand the current systems. What technologies are being used and how effective are they? Conduct a thorough audit to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Once the current system has been evaluated, look for gaps. Are there areas where manual processes are still the norm? Are there technologies that are outdated or underutilized? Identifying these gaps is crucial for planning their automation strategy.

Establishing baseline metrics will help measure the digital strategy’s success. These metrics could include production speed, error rates and customer satisfaction levels. Knowing the starting point makes it easier to see the improvements the strategy brings.

2. Defining clear goals and objectives

The digital strategy should align with the company’s overall business objectives. Is it about increasing productivity, reduce costs, improve product quality or some combination of them? Having clearly-defined goals will help guide automation efforts and ensure they contribute to your broader business aims. One way to achieve success is using the SMART framework to define the goals for the digital strategy:

• Specific: Make sure it’s clear and concise.

• Measurable: Quantifiable indicators of success.

• Achievable: Realistic, given available resources.

• Relevant: Aligned with business objectives.

• Time-bound: Specific deadlines.

Not all goals are created equal. Prioritize them based on their potential impact on the business. Start by focusing on the goals that will bring the most significant benefits.

3. Choosing the right technology

With so many automation technologies available, choosing the right ones can be daunting. Start by researching the options most relevant to the industry. Look for technologies that have been proven to work in similar settings. Choosing the right vendor is just as important as choosing the right technology. Look for vendors with a solid track record, strong support services, and a commitment to ongoing development.

Ensure the technologies can integrate with existing systems. Integration issues can lead to delays and increased costs, so it’s crucial to get this right from the start.

4. Building a skilled team

A successful digital strategy requires a team with the right skills. Identify any current skill gaps and plan to fill them through hiring or training. Invest in training programs to equip the team with the skills they need to implement and manage the digital strategy. Continuous learning is essential in the fast-evolving world of technology. Effective communication and collaboration are crucial for successful automation. Companies should ensure members understand the digital strategy and their role in its implementation.

5. Implement the digital strategy

Implement the digital strategy in phases to minimize disruption. Start with a pilot project to test the waters and make any necessary adjustments before rolling out the strategy on a larger scale. Automation often requires changes in workflows and processes. Implement change management strategies to help the team adapt to new ways of working. Regularly monitor the progress of the digital strategy. Use the baseline metrics established earlier to track improvements and make any necessary adjustments.

6. Ensure data security

Automation often involves the handling of sensitive data. Implement robust security measures to protect this information from unauthorized access and breaches. Ensure the digital strategy complies with all relevant regulations. This is important in industries such as pharmaceuticals where regulatory requirements are stringent. Conduct regular audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities. This will help companies maintain a high level of data security.

7. Enhance the customer experience

Use automation to enhance the customer experience. Personalized interactions can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Automation can significantly reduce response times. Whether it’s customer inquiries or order processing, faster responses lead to happier customers. Automation helps maintain consistent quality in their products and services, which is crucial for customer retention.

8. Leveraging data analytics

Automation generates a wealth of data. Use data analytics tools to gain real-time insights into operations to make better and more informed decisions. Predictive analytics, for example, can help companies can anticipate future trends and make proactive adjustments to their strategy. Track key performance metrics to measure the digital strategy’s success. Use these metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize operations.

9. Futureproofing the digital strategy

The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Stay ahead by continuously improving digital strategy. Regularly review and update goals, technologies and processes. Companies also should make sure the digital strategy is scalable, which will allow companies to expand their automation efforts as the business grows. Companies also should encourage a culture of innovation within the organization. This will help companies stay at the forefront of technological advancements and maintain a competitive edge.

Conclusion

Creating a digital strategy for effective automation implementation is a complex but rewarding process. By following the steps outlined in this article, manufacturers across various industries can harness the power of automation to achieve their business goals. Working on these digital strategies and improvements now can also help put manufactures in the best position to success, as regulatory changes such as FSMA Rule 204 start to go into effect.

Bryon Hayes is an Industry 4.0 consultant at Grantek.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Understand what a digital strategy for automation entails
• Learn why a digital strategy for automation is important
• Learn how to implement a digital strategy for automation.

Original content can be found at Control Engineering.

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