Accelerating Industry Transformation with AI, Open Automation and Sustainability
In an era where the digital frontier continuously reshapes industries, ARC Advisory Group’s 22nd India Forum emerged as a champion of insight and innovation.
Held on July 10th and 11th, 2024, the event, aptly themed “Accelerate Transformation in the Age of AI, Open Automation, and Sustainability,” attracted a robust turnout, with a significant 82% representing non-sponsors. The excitement among suppliers and end-users underscored a shared commitment to navigating the evolving landscape of digital transformation.
Setting the Stage for Digital Evolution
The forum commenced with an unconventional yet symbolic inauguration – an eco-friendly watering of plants by the event’s five sponsors. This act resonated with the overarching theme of sustainability, setting a tone that permeated the subsequent discussions.
G. Ganapathiraman, Vice President and General Manager of ARC Advisory Group, India, delivered the welcome address, followed by keynote speeches that framed the event’s core agenda. Over two days, around 25 executive speakers and panellists from various industries shared their experiences and insights, covering a spectrum of topics including digital transformation, industrial AI, energy transition, software-defined architecture (SDA), digital twin initiatives, and Open Process Automation (OPA).
Core Themes of the Forum
- AI: Revolutionising Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands on the cusp of revolutionising industrial operations, offering vast potential for optimisation, automation, and innovation. Industrial AI, a specialised subset, is particularly transformative, augmenting the workforce, enhancing customer service, and driving growth, profitability, and sustainability. Companies that successfully integrate AI into their operations can expect to achieve unparalleled business agility and competitive excellence.
- Open Automation: A Collaborative Future: Open process automation, characterised by its standards-based, collaborative, and interoperable nature, emerged as a pivotal topic. Embracing open automation is not just a technological shift but a strategic necessity, ensuring the future viability and competitive edge of organisations. The forum highlighted how failing to adapt to these changes could jeopardise long-term success.
- Sustainability: The New Business Imperative: The growing demand for sustainable products and services, coupled with stringent regulatory mandates, has positioned sustainability at the heart of corporate strategies. Energy transition and sustainability initiatives are no longer peripheral but central to the core business strategies of leading industrial companies. Executives underscored the dual mandate of addressing environmental and social challenges while capitalising on commercial opportunities and competitive advantages offered by sustainability efforts.
Insights and Best Practices
The interactive nature of the forum allowed attendees to glean valuable insights and best practices from early adopters. Panel discussions following each session provided a platform to address doubts and explore how new technologies can be implemented responsibly and sustainably.
Key takeaways included:
- Strategic Alignment: Organisations need to align their digital transformation goals with broader strategic priorities to address challenges effectively.
- Technological Integration: Leveraging technologies such as AI, digital twin, cloud, edge computing, and IoT can drive business agility and resilience.
- Sustainability Investments: Increased investment in sustainability initiatives is critical, requiring both innovative technologies and fresh perspectives on legacy systems.
Voices from the Field
End-user executives shared their plans for ramping up investments in sustainability-related initiatives, all of which demand cutting-edge technologies and a forward-thinking approach. The discussions highlighted how energy transition and sustainability are integral to business strategies, offering not only a pathway to tackle environmental challenges but also significant commercial benefits.
The Role of Sponsors
The success of the forum was largely attributable to the unwavering support of its sponsors. Their participation facilitated meaningful interactions with a global audience, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to sharing knowledge and fostering innovation.
Platinum Sponsor
- OPC Foundation
Global Sponsors
- Siemens
- SMAR
- Universal Automation
Silver Sponsor
- ABB
Media Sponsors
- Chemical Industry Digest
- Chemical Today
- electronicspecifier.com
- Highways Today
- Industrial Automation
- IED Communications
- Industrial Products Finder
- Technology Record
- World of Chemicals
The Future of Digital Transformation
ARC Advisory Group’s 22nd India Forum was not just an event but a crucible of ideas, where the future of digital transformation, AI, open automation, and sustainability was both envisioned and debated.
The convergence of industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators created a fertile ground for collaboration and progress, underscoring the forum’s pivotal role in shaping the future of industries in the digital age.
The insights gained and connections made during this forum will undoubtedly propel organisations towards a more agile, sustainable, and technologically advanced future. As the digital transformation journey continues, events like ARC’s India Forum will remain indispensable in guiding industries through the complexities and opportunities that lie ahead.
