COVID-19 Catalyzing Change
In the past seven months, COVID19 has brought a major shift in the way we live and work. Many of us have started working from home and virtual meetings have become a part of our daily lives. Companies are also redesigning their business processes given that the idea of digital transformation is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
In the last one decade, a series of innovative technologies including Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning etc. have been adopted widely to encourage innovation-driven growth strategies. With the added impact of the pandemic several manufacturers and entrepreneurs are describing industry 4.0 as an integral element of their strategy to adapt to the new normal and serve the society better.
Role of Industry 4.0 For Crisis Management During COVID19
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges. With the overburdened health infrastructure and a tanking global economy, technologically enabled, largescale, sustainable solutions is the only key to India’s economic resurrection.
Even in the short run, AI enabled Industry 4.0 technologies have helped in understanding the biological structure of the coronavirus better which is crucial for the expediated development of an effective vaccine. The Industrial Internet of things (IIoT) enabled smartphones have proven quintessential in contact tracing and syndromic mapping of the virus. With the norms of social distancing in place, remote monitoring of operations aided by IIoT is being implemented on priority. Further, with the tech world steering rapidly to a newly discovered wave of convergence, information and network security is gaining prominence. There is a need to adopt the latest technologies to remain connected and also to keep our industrial networks secure against the latest threats.
However, while most of the businesses are fast adapting to the innovative technologies
offered by Industry 4.0 some are nervous about the change owing to financial complications
or lack of skill. Considering the rapid loss of revenue due to low production and largescale
business shut downs many manufacturers are skeptic to investing in new technologies.
Agility the Key to Fighting this Crisis
In our report on ‘Impact of Industrial Revolution 4.0 on the IT/ITes sector, we had concluded that technological innovation will not lead to job loss as long as the workforce is reskilling and upskilling itself.
Industry 4.0 has four pillars that add value to businesses. It helps in designing intelligent products for consumers and intelligent assets that are useful for capturing real time data, increasing automation and improving productivity of intelligent factories. These innovations help in empowering the people with the requisite information and tools to perform better at their jobs and make more informed decisions across the supply chain.
Certainly, the key to handling any complex challenge is agility and innovation and the COVID19 pandemic is testamentary to this finding. When restaurants were shut down during the initial period of lockdown, companies like Zomato and Swiggy demonstrated agility by evolving their business model to include supply of essentials like vegetables and groceries in the list of services provided by them. Similarly, adoption of industry 4.0 technology in the education sector has transformed the lives of millions of students. Be it the online classes in schools and colleges to promote social distancing and protect children from the virus, the AI proctored exams or the UGC mandated Learner Management Systems, e-learning is the new normal.
The Way Forward
Per the martial arts philosophy, disruptions are resolved when one exhibits the ability to change, rather than resisting the same because resisting in response to pressure causes distress. The COVID19 pandemic has been instrumental in compelling manufacturers to evolve and change. Even the government has been enthusiastic in encouraging citizens in general and entrepreneurs and businesses in particular to adopt the latest technologies. The rapid development of the State’s policies around the National Open Digital Ecosystems, National Health Stack, Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture, and Non-Personal Data among others demonstrates the seriousness and agility of our lawmakers to tackle complex challenges through technological innovations. The most crucial requirement at this juncture is the enactment of a robust Data Protection Law and the appointment of an independent Data Protection Authority to ensure transparency and accountability in this era of rapid technological innovation and to secure both user privacy and national interest.
Shruti Shreya, Policy Research Assistant at The Dialogue
