Adrian Park
Vice President-Pre-sales EMIA, Hexagon
Digital transformation can enable companies to operate more efficiently and attract and retain the best talent.
A broad range of challenges and considerations need to be taken into account as companies undergo digital transformation.
Factors such as bringing together information from diverse locations, cybersecurity, sustainability and compliance are key issues that need to be addressed.
Technical specialist Adrian Park warns that companies that are slow to make the transition could also miss out on recruiting and retaining talented staff.
Improving operational efficiency
Companies can have poor operational efficiency because data is retained in multiple isolated silos around the organisation with information that is not consistent and may be outdated, leading to delays in fulfilling tasks.
“People have to be able to show demonstrable compliance of what the regulatory authorities require,” adds Park, “that requires them to have a lot more digitisation than they have had in the past.”
If a company wants to attract and retain the best talent, then that information has to be available to the people who are going to use it.
Plugging the knowledge drain
Digital data readily available is also important when modifying and extending facilities, while the ‘knowledge drain’ from a company as older employees retire is also a risk.
“When people leave, the knowledge can go with them,” he says. “But the new generation of people coming in are used to having all the information at their fingertips.
“If a company wants to attract and retain the best talent, then that information has to be available to the people who are going to use it; they will not tolerate the old ways of working and going through mounds of documentation.”
Building a digital twin
Park, an Industry Consultant with technology company Hexagon PPM, says building a “digital twin” or digital counterpart of physical objects or processes, is a prime solution for companies and manufacturers making the digital transition.
“By consolidating information from these multiple isolated information silos and validating that information into a digital twin, makes it available anytime, anywhere and more accessible,” he says.
“It helps people access more information and make decisions faster, reduces risk and enables people to work safer and in a more efficient way.”
Utilising visual tools
From there, other information – such as maintenance, sensor or reliability information – can be pulled out from other systems when needed and displayed on role-based dashboards.
A 3D model offers an intuitive and contextual way of looking at information and is a powerful visual tool to interpret information.
Customers also want sustainability; digitisation facilitates that by making best use of scarce resources, enabling remote working and cutting carbon footprint with fewer journeys. Additionally, cybersecurity is critical and is factored in to protect data, systems and information.
