There’s a lot of myths, hyperbole and hype surrounding digital transformation. In this Flow Control article, 7 digital transformation myths exposed, Emerson’s Brian Joe digs into these to help you uncover some of the true potential for business improvements.
Brian opens highlighting the lack of clarity with digital transformation (DX) for many.
Specifically, the lack of a clear path for executing DX projects has left many companies uncertain about the best ways to get started. For some, this has resulted in a reluctance to deploy digital solutions. For others, it has caused disappointment when projects fail to deliver the expected results.
These myths include:
- Basic lick-and-stick sensors are the solution to everything
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are necessary to identify and solve every problem
- Jobs will be eliminated
- Technologies are unproven
- Every sensor must be connected directly to the internet
- Digital transformation is strictly top-down and must be implemented all at once
- Digital transformation is too expensive with substantial hardware and IT costs
I’ll highlight the first myth and invite you to read the article for more on the rest.
The notion of lick-and-stick sensors comes from our interactions with wireless sensors in consumer applications. Brian notes that these:
…applications are all built upon inexpensive and basic plastic devices. Potential benefits are intriguing, but the mere increased availability of sensor technology does not equate to sensor viability — that is, the need for sensors, especially in an industrial environment, to continuously perform in rugged conditions.
For industrial applications, wireless:
…instruments cut the installation cost of vibration, pressure, temperature, flow, level, acoustic and many other sensor types dramatically by eliminating the need for expensive communications and power wiring.
And installation cost reduction is but one aspect. It’s important to:
…consider the entire framework of costs associated with adding measurements. This includes reliability, safety, reduction of wiring costs, ease-of-use and installation, while also accounting for total return on investment instead of simply looking for the lowest capital cost.
Read the article to help bring clarity and get your organization on the right path your digital transformation journey.
Visit the Industrial IoT and Digital Transformation section on Emerson.com for more on the technologies, services and solutions to help you drive business performance improvements. You can also connect and interact with other digital transformation experts in the IIoT & Digital Transformation group in the Emerson Exchange 365 community.
