Recent discoveries from Schneider Electric, a prominent figure in energy management and automation, have suggested that the digitalisation of industrial companies will play a critical role in the development of new operational technology (OT) job roles within the next three years. A survey conducted by global research leader Omdia, on behalf of Schneider Electric, engaged with over 400 industrial companies, unveiling that 45% of them believe digitalisation will be the primary driver of new OT job roles.
The research not only brought attention to the anticipated job openings resulting from digitalisation but also shed light on the significant challenges in recruiting talented individuals faced by over half of the surveyed companies. With 52% of industrial companies encountering difficulties in talent acquisition, the study emphasised the immediate need for technological solutions. Fortunately, the survey also revealed that digitalisation is seen as a means to address talent shortages, offering potential benefits beyond solely productivity and efficiency.
As the industrial landscape rapidly transforms, objectives relating to sustainability and advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital twins, are being increasingly integrated into the workforce. The study indicated that nearly half of the respondents believe that meeting environmental and social sustainability objectives will result in a substantial expansion of current job roles within industrial companies.
Ali Haj Fraj, Senior Vice President, Digital Factory, Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, stressed the diverse benefits of digitalisation beyond just enhancing productivity. He emphasized the potential for digital tools to address the human-centric challenges experienced by industrial businesses, as well as contributing to a more sustainable future.
The survey also noted that a majority of industrial companies believe that OT roles will undergo significant changes, with over half of the respondents foreseeing the need for new skills in areas such as robotics programming and integration, as well as data processing, visualisation, and analytics. Despite recognizing the importance of investing in these areas, the study revealed that robotics programming and integration were only considered a medium priority for almost half of the surveyed companies.
In light of these findings, the survey recommended that industrial companies collaborate with partners across the industrial ecosystem to bridge technology skills deficits through solutions, training, and other capabilities to prepare their workforce for the future. Alex West, Senior Principal Analyst, Industrial IoT and Sustainability at Omdia, reiterated the importance of investing in digitalisation to empower staff and enhance productivity and efficiency in response to the changing nature of the industrial workforce.
The full report, entitled The Future of Work in Industry, offers further insights into the implications of digitalisation in the industrial sector and can be accessed on the Schneider Electric website. For more updates, you can also follow Schneider Electric on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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