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The increasing use of data is transforming how industries operate and interact with customers. At the recent DINO Talkx webinar hosted by Dinolift, industry experts shared their insights on how digitalisation, human-machine interaction and IoT are shaping the future.
With the rise of data, connectivity, analytics and human-machine interaction, how are different industries harnessing the potential to make customers’ lives easier? This was one of the questions asked in the April DINO Talkx webinar, a live event hosted by André Noël Chaker in Dinolift’s virtual showroom, DINO Hub.
Human-machine interaction and collaboration
The event opened with keynote speaker Maria Ritola, a board member and co-founder of Iris.ai, emphasising how the digitalisation wave impacts how humans interact.
“What’s going on in the digital realm is jaw-dropping and worrying. The increasing unpredictability generates a spectrum of strong feelings, such as excitement, anxiety and fear. We’re asking questions like, ‘Am I part of this? Will I be able to keep up?’ Change is knocking at the door.”
The human-machine interaction is moving towards a world where AI systems are becoming our assistants. However, we must understand what this collaborative intelligence can do and what must be left for humans to decide.
DINO Talkx keynote speaker Maria Ritola encouraged everybody to predict what will change in work life before warning that how we organise society will need to change.
Credit: Dinolift
Ritola warns that technologies like machine learning aren’t a silver bullet that will instantly solve all our problems. Still, they can help to build a better society and move industries forward if we are smart.
“The increased level of automation, learning machines and Industry 4.0 all impact how we approach problems and lead our organisations. They don’t solely make us more efficient, but also change how humans and machines interact going forward.”
Role of digitalisation and data in enhancing efficiency and safety
DINO Talkx continued with a panel discussion on digitalisation, IoT and the future of industries. Talking about those industry trends and drivers were Liisa Paavilainen, Principal Consultant at Futurice, Giles Councell, Director of Operations at the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), Juho Perälä, Product and Purchasing Manager at Renta Suomi Oy and Dinolift’s Commercial Manager Ville Inkilä.
L-R: Host André Noël Chaker was joined in Dinolift’s virtual showroom by Renta Suomi’s Juho Perälä, Futurice’s Liisa Paavilainen and Dinolift’s Ville Inkilä.
Credit: Dinolift
Host Chaker began by asking Paavilainen how Futurice harnesses the potential of these new technologies to make their lives easier.
She replied that they typically start by looking at how to bring more efficiency into operations: “We look at where the industry is going, what’s happening in the customer’s business and how to make them more competitive. How can we harness data to predict maintenance needs and avoid unexpected downtimes? It’s always user first, technology second.”
Inkilä agreed, highlighting the necessity to consider the customers, the customer’s customers and the end users. “With the sales team, we try to be the customer’s voice inside Dinolift to bring new ideas and meet their needs. Other departments say whether it’s possible now or maybe later.”
IPAF’s Giles Councell (right) joined the DINO Talkx event from the UK, and host André Noël Chaker (left) ensured he was included in all the panel discussions.
Credit: Dinolift
With safety a priority for all the panellists, Chaker invited Perälä to describe how technology like IoT can help to reduce industrial accidents: “From IoT, we know more about how operators are using the machine, such as how long, the location, are they overloading and are they operating at wrong angles and levels. Soon, we will probably be able to see whether their safety harness was hooked on.
These data points can be shared with the construction site manager or organisations like IPAF. “When information comes from manufacturers or rental companies on how operators utilise the equipment, we can develop our safety training courses,” says Councell. “We’ve introduced e-learning and smart card technology. I’m excited about the operational data we can get from the manufacturers to improve how operators work.”
Proudest digitalisation achievements
Before Chaker brought the panel discussion to a close, he asked each expert to name their company’s proudest achievement in digitalisation.
For Paavilainen, she listed Futurice’s cooperation with Bosch Power Tools in developing a data platform that has allowed the German firm to reconsider its business model and see how they can change the way people own tools, such as leasing instead of purchasing: “It is becoming more outcome-oriented rather than product-oriented.”
It was IPAF’s digital advances, such as their new e-PAL app that offers the latest safety information and best practice advice, for Councell. At the same time, Perälä is proud that Renta is working in the circular economy with its renting sustainability. “We are a young and modern company so we can electrify our fleet faster than other companies,” he says.
Dinolift’s Inkilä expressed pride in being an industry forerunner by providing telematics as standard for every machine: “Our machines can easily last 15 to 20 years by which time, telematics and IoT will be in everyday use. The future is already here in our machines today.”
Importance of cooperation and sustainability
The event was closed by Karin Nars, Dinolift CEO, who raised the issue of technology not being equally distributed, warning that there’s no shortcut to solving that challenge.
“The first step is to talk, which is at the heart of DINO Talkx. Next, as an organisation, we must harness these technologies. By talking to customers and understanding their problems, we can look for solutions bit by bit. It’s about celebrating the small successes and moving forward.”
Dinolift CEO Karin Nars (right) explained some of the biggest industry challenges going forward to host André Noël Chaker (left).
Credit: Dinolift
Cooperation is vital here, stresses Nars: “When people see something is being done, they are excited, engaged and want to try the next thing. We have a whole ecosystem; nobody can do anything alone, especially in technology.”
She concluded the webinar by saying that the equipment industry must increase the uptime and efficiency of its machines, predicting that fewer machines will be manufactured going forward: “Instead, they will be used more sustainably and smarter to help save the planet. Everybody wins.”
Did you miss the DINO Talkx April webinar? Watch the recording here and catch all the insightful discussions.
