Top 5 challenges for IT pros

The manufacturing and industrial sectors face unique IT challenges due to the complexity of processes, reliance on legacy systems, and the need for real-time decision-making. Efficiency, adaptability and interoperability are key for an efficient IT management.

Here’s where low-code platforms come into play and can be a powerful solution to reduce your IT project backlog without sacrificing quality, security and control.

Let’s delve into the top 5 obstacles IT pros encounter and how low-code can help them.

1. Legacy systems & integration

Many manufacturing and industrial companies continue to rely on legacy systems that are costly and challenging to maintain, integrate, and scale.

Operating in silos, these systems limit seamless data sharing and restrict access to essential information, significantly hindering efficiency and stalling innovation across the organization.

2. Data management & monitoring

In many manufacturing environments, data is siloed across departments and systems, including IoT devices, making it challenging to achieve a unified, real-time view of operations.

Seamlessly integrating operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems is complex, and infrastructure failures can disrupt decision-making and production, leading to costly downtime and financial losses. Continuous 24/7 monitoring is essential to ensure availability and reliability.

3. Security & compliance

As manufacturing systems become increasingly interconnected, they are more vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and lead to significant financial losses. Implementing and maintaining robust security measures to protect the organization’s assets is critical.

Ensuring robust security and compliance with strict industry standards and regulations is essential but can be time-consuming.

4. System reliability

Global supply chains are increasingly complex and vulnerable to disruptions, making it challenging to maintain visibility, agility, and efficiency.

Inefficient processes can lead to significant cost increases and reduced productivity. Optimizing processes across the production line while maintaining quality and reducing waste remains a significant challenge.

5. Collaboration

IT pros must coordinate with various departments like production, supply chain, and quality control to align technology initiatives with business goals.

However, differing needs, priorities and communication styles can make collaboration challenging, potentially leading to misaligned tech solutions.

In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, IT departments must adapt swiftly to meet complex challenges. This underscores the need for IT departments in manufacturing to be highly adaptable and continuously innovating to meet the evolving needs of Industry 4.0.

Low-code platforms provide an effective solution, bridging the gap between operational needs and IT capabilities. By empowering teams to quickly build secure, tailored applications, low-code enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and allows IT departments to focus on innovation over maintenance. Ultimately, low-code helps foster a more agile, resilient production environment, keeping manufacturers competitive in a fast-evolving landscape.

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