To say technology has improved the way we do business is perhaps one of the biggest understatements ever made. Whether you work in retail, business to business operations, or the government and public sectors, men and women in all fields now have access to a wide range of tools to increase the efficiency of the processes they engage in.
For instance, a long list of online vendors is now using product information management software or PIM to monitor the quality of product content and identify opportunities for improvement. In addition, these programs help companies gain instant clarity on what works and what doesn’t, therefore boosting the chances of their success.
As we keep that in mind, let us look into the ever-increasing role of technology in the medical, manufacturing, business services, and city infrastructure industries.
Medicine: An Endless Stream of Possibilities
In the past year and a half, the medical industry has been slingshot to the forefront of all news. We are talking about the covid-19 global pandemic and its effects on individual nations and the world. In these difficult times, we have all been reminded about the fragility of life and the importance of a sound public healthcare system to meet the many challenges that lay ahead.
But also, for the first time in our history, we now know that we have the technology and ingenuity to prevent our own demise. Several companies have developed vaccines in record time, and with a bit of luck, we might make it through this incredible ordeal. In addition, the medical industry continues to evolve in areas like artificial intelligence or AI, robotics, predictive diagnostics, and remote health services.
Manufacturing: Safety and Efficiency
In 1913, inventor and vehicle pioneer Henry Ford created the first-ever moving assembly line for the mass production of a modern-day car. And with it, he reduced the time it took to build a vehicle from over 12 hours to a little over 90 minutes. One is left to wonder whether at the time he knew the enormity of his accomplishment or if he was oblivious to it. Still, what is certain is that he changed the manufacturing industry forever.
Fast forward more than 100 years, and technology continues to influence how all kinds of products are made. From high-tech robots that build complex items and provide real-time maintenance to assembly and packaging systems that help decrease time and costs ten-fold, the future of production looks brighter than any other moment in our history.
Business Services: The Online Revolution
If businesses are to survive the current changes in the global marketplace, they need to come up with solutions that are much faster and more efficient than before. In a world defined by the internet, this entails the exponential growth of online services both from an internal and a customer-based perspective.
Once again, we can find the answers to most, if not all, of these and other pertinent issues in existing technology. Internally, companies big and small can use human resources, process automation, and accounting software provided by state-of-the-art cloud systems. These speed up internal processes and gather data much more accurately, which leads to better decision-making.
From a client viewpoint, customer relationship management platforms or CRM help businesses identify, manage, and better deal with their potential and existing clientele.
Infrastructure: Better Living for All
People have been talking about smart cities for decades. From self-sufficient neighborhoods to environmental protection and sustainability, building a better living place for future generations remains one of the biggest priorities for all societies. Either that or we accelerate the race to space and the colonization of other planets.
As with the industries previously mentioned, the key is technological development, most of which is already available to us. As with most things, the challenge is putting everything together and knowing how to manage it properly.
For example, if hospitals, law enforcement agencies, traffic control systems, and schools can all work together under one umbrella, there is no limit to how much we can develop and what we can do. The result would be cities that are better places to live and work in.
We have taken a look at the role of technology in four of the most important industries today. They are medicine, manufacturing, business services, and public infrastructure. Regardless of who you are, what you do, or where you call home, these are four areas that greatly impact any society and have a long-lasting effect on its people. As more and better things come about, technology will continue to provide us with the tools to face all challenges head-on and thrive as a civilization.
