How UK Manufacturers can Drive Digital Transformation

The UK's manufacturing sector is undergoing significant digital transformation, enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation and creating a collaborative ecosystem.

Unisys helps UK manufacturers navigate this landscape by integrating new technologies and managing organisational change.

Davoud Pourhossein, Global Director, Strategy and Innovation, Digital Workplace Solutions explains more below.

What are the key strategies Unisys employs to support UK manufacturers in their digital transformation journeys?

Unisys focuses on four strategic areas: cloud management, digital workforce transformation, workplace services and change management and data analytics. Diligence in these areas is necessary for manufacturers to adopt new technology efficiently.

Effective cloud management is essential in today’s environment.

To help businesses stay ahead of industry cloud practices, Unisys offers vendor-neutral guidance, real-time insights and predictive analytics that improve manufacturers' resource allocation.

The shift to remote work has made digital workplace transformation necessary.

Unisys provides tools like identity and access management, cloud collaboration, unified endpoint management and virtual digital assistants for secure remote operations.

Unisys also delivers touchless experience and workplace services including on-site and remote end-user computing, proactive experience management and collaboration tools.

However, true digital transformation also requires strategic change. Unisys integrates change management and data analytics into its efforts, creating a secure, adaptable and user-friendly workplace.

Unisys provides tools like identity and access management, cloud collaboration, unified endpoint management and virtual digital assistants for secure remote operations.

Unisys also delivers touchless experience and workplace services including on-site and remote end-user computing, proactive experience management and collaboration tools.

However, true digital transformation also requires strategic change. Unisys integrates change management and data analytics into its efforts, creating a secure, adaptable and user-friendly workplace.

What are the most significant challenges manufacturers face when integrating digital innovation into their operations?

Selecting the right technology and integrating it into existing operations can be complex.

Many manufacturers work with legacy systems and diverse environments requiring tailored technology solutions. Unisys provides customised support when integrating endpoint management and virtual digital assistants.

Manufacturers in the early stages of digital transformation often struggle with awareness and readiness. Unisys uses the ARTO model (Awareness, Readiness, Technology and Operations) to guide the process and ensure all potential roadblocks are addressed upfront.

Data analytics and AI also present challenges, as manufacturers may lack the tools or expertise to implement the technology. Unisys can step in here with AI-driven analytics so manufacturers can fully realise the technology’s potential across their operations.

How does Unisys create digital solutions to address the specific demands of different manufacturing sectors in the UK, such as automotive, aerospace or pharmaceuticals?

Manufacturers require tailored digital solutions that address specific industry needs to innovate and modernise truly. Unisys customises its approach for these sectors, particularly within the UK:

Automotive: Unisys can provide advanced analytics and AI solutions to optimise supply chains, predict maintenance and enhance customer experiences. Additionally, Unisys cloud management services ensure seamless integration and scalability of these digital solutions.

Aerospace: Unisys provides robust cybersecurity solutions including endpoint security and GDPR compliance to protect sensitive data and adhere to regulatory requirements. Unisys also offers digital workplace services to enhance employee collaboration and productivity.

Pharmaceutical: Unisys can tailor its solutions to support research and development, regulatory compliance and supply chain management. Its data analytics and AI solutions accelerate drug discovery and development and cloud management services ensure secure and efficient data storage and processing.

What steps can manufacturers in the UK take to speed up their innovation processes, and how does Unisys facilitate faster adoption of cutting-edge technologies in this region?

Here are seven steps that UK manufacturers can take to accelerate innovation — and how Unisys can help:

Embrace organisational change management: Successful technology adoption hinges on a strategic implementation plan.

Unisys integrates change management with IT solutions to properly equip stakeholders, minimise resistance and ensure lasting adoption.

Leverage data analytics and AI: Innovation requires real-time, data-driven decision-making. Unisys offers advanced analytics and AI solutions designed to produce timely, actionable insights.

Adopt proactive experience management: Ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience is crucial for innovation. Unisys offers proactive experience management and seamless collaboration tools to enhance productivity and satisfaction.

Strengthen security and compliance: Maintaining security and compliance is essential in a digital environment. Unisys offers robust security services including GDPR compliance and endpoint security.

Optimise cloud management: Navigating the complexities of cloud computing can be challenging and failure to do so can prevent a favourable return on investment. Unisys provides expert, vendor-neutral cloud management guidance for real-time insights and predictive analytics.

Use the Made Smarter Adoption Programme: This UK-specific programme helps manufacturers grow in the current market through grant funding, training programmes and access to resources. This type of education, partnered with Unisys industry expertise, can unlock tremendous opportunities for manufacturers to evolve with the market.

Implement a roadmap for digital transformation: A roadmap for digitalisation, such as the one provided by the Made Smarter Programme, can help manufacturers use digital technologies to solve problems and create growth opportunities. Through partnering with Unisys, manufacturers can also access customised plans for digital transformation that address their specific needs.

Through partnering with Unisys, manufacturers can also access customised plans for digital transformation that address their specific needs.

How is Unisys preparing manufacturers for the future of Industry 4.0 and emerging trends like AI, IoT and digital twins, particularly in the UK market?

Unisys has been helping manufacturers integrate new technologies for nearly forty years. Unisys uses several new tactics to deliver better service, operational efficiency and profitability.

IoT and digital twins: Unisys integrates IoT-enabled devices and digital twins to empower field teams with precise insights, enabling proactive service delivery and increasing customer satisfaction.

Intelligent automation: Unisys provides skilled technicians with intelligent automation to reduce downtime and improve first-time fix rates through real-time data insights and guided workflows.

Data-centric approach: Manufacturers can create a single version of the truth by pulling, linking and managing all data in one place.

This approach also helps teams better ensure data security and predict future patterns based on live data.

Smarter monitoring and actionable insights: Comprehensive monitoring paired with advanced analytics can more effectively address issues, identify agile recommendations and optimise the manufacturing environment.

Unisys harnesses the power of intelligent monitoring to generate useful outputs for operations, logistics, sales, marketing, finance, supply chain, HR, R&D and customer after-sales.

Future-proof and sustainable technologies: To ensure agility and resilience, Unisys encourages manufacturers to invest in IT and OT (e.g., IoT, sensors data technologies, image recognition) and explore alternative technologies like blockchain.

How does Unisys foster collaboration between manufacturers, technology providers and governmental organisations to create a thriving ecosystem for digital transformation and innovation in the UK?

Unisys collaborates with technology providers and governmental organisations to co-create joint solutions through marketing events, global sales alignment and regional interlocks.

For instance, through our long-standing partnership with Dell, we can offer global high-end storage and field services across regions.

We prioritise this collaboration because it helps reduce innovation risks and accelerate technology adoption – ultimately benefiting the entire digital ecosystem.

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