Industry 4.0 Project Stuck In Pilot? Address These 5 Challenges

By Torey Penrod-Cambra, Chief Communications Officer, HighByte

The conversation around Industry 4.0 and digital transformation is far from over—in fact, we're just getting started. Industrial companies are optimistic about the possibilities, with research from IndustryWeek showing that: 86% of manufacturers are moving forward with digital transformation initiatives. 45% of manufacturers report a positive attitude, with larger teams actively engaged.

Despite this enthusiasm, many organizations face significant hurdles when it comes to managing and scaling their data. According to the World Economic Forum, 70% of Industry 4.0 projects fail to move beyond the pilot phase. This "pilot purgatory" has many causes, but at its heart is the lack of a solid industrial data strategy.

An industrial data strategy can’t simply be bought or outsourced; it's a discipline that requires IT/OT collaboration and a commitment to solving data problems from the edge to the cloud and back again. It's the key to building a resilient data architecture.

To understand why a data strategy is so crucial, explore the top five challenges that prevent industrial companies from scaling their Industry 4.0 projects.