The Gatherer - Volume 8

Take a generator, for example, the traditional model is to sell to the customer or to rent it for a certain time frame. The company that retails or leases out the generator didn’t know if it used for 1 hour over the rental period or if it was running 24/7. By turning the generator into an IoT device it is possible to rent out to the generator only for the time it is actually being used and possibly to multiple consumers. This reduces the investment and financial risk for the customers. In turn, the producer can generate multiple revenue streams and obtain more data about how the generator is used, which allows for the optimisation of the product and a better understanding of the customer which can lead to a more comprehensive offering. The Future of Australian Manufacturing Servitisation is a pretty big trend around Australian companies too. Most recent example in the consumer space is Nuraphone who is offering its high-end headphones on a monthly fee instead of $500 upfront. If the customer decides not to pay anymore Nuraphone will simply disable your headphones and you can send them back. Focusing on providing a service rather than just selling a product usually generates larger value because the customer is engaging in a longer relationship.

There are some excellent Australian organisations that provide help to Australian manufacturers who are on the journey of transforming their organisations for a digital and service oriented future. The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre just launched the Manufacturing Academy, an online platform showcasing the stories of manufacturers on their digital transformation journey. The Innovative Manufacturing CRC developed FutureMap, a tool to help manufacturing SMEs to assess their current state of business and identify areas to transform and future-proof their business. At Sheda we help traditional manufacturing and product businesses transform their operations through digitalisation, Industry 4.0, IoT and human-centred design techniques. For manufacturers to take advantage of Industry 4.0, we believe you have to take a long term strategic view and focus efforts on R&D, product/ service design, offer new business and customer service delivery models. By discovering a clear value proposition through R&D and delivering your value proposition through marketing, sales and customer service, you provide more value for customers and generate a robust and defensible service offering for your business.

WOMEN IN TECH

R ecently, I was given the opportunity to engage in a cause that I feel overwhelmingly passionate about – using my skills and energy to support Women in Technology WA. WiTWA is a not-for-profit organisation that is bringing women together in a positive environment, seeking to drive change and pave the way to make a career in STEM part of the broader conversation, and hopefully a prominent choice, for the women of tomorrow.

We live in an extraordinary time. A time of exponential technological change, where glass ceilings are no longer insurmountable barriers, and where the possibilities for women – especially women in STEM – are unchartered. Yet, if we focus solely on the women in STEM, we have a long way to go. You may be aware that in Australia only 16% of STEM graduates are women – and only 27% of the total STEM workforce is female. While these figures may seem disheartening, they present great opportunity for growth and disruption. Inspiring the next generation of women to leap boldly into this ever-changing landscape – we need opportunities for women to bring, and continue to bring, their unique upbringings, their skills and their personalities to the technology community. And it is organisations like WiTWA that are seeking to generate this change.

WiTWA, the champion for diversity and equality for women in tech, creates a magnificent forum where we can seek to change the status quo together. Through education, support and ‘women in tech’ initiatives – initiatives just like WiTWA – I believe that we can generate the positive change that is needed for the future. I am incredibly excited to be involved with the very talented and welcoming team – a team of like- minded passionate professionals, working together for a common cause. Watch this space!

EIKE ZELLER Head of IoT Product Development at Sheda

REBECCA HEMBLING Head of Business Development and Marketing

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