Although many manufacturing organizations have held firm to traditional operational processes for generations, the time has come for transformational change. There is an ongoing shift in cultural expectations of how, when, and where work happens, and it is driven by consumer choice. Industry analysts have begun to refer to this evolving digital workplace as the enablement of “industrialized choice.”

Most IT leaders say they are committed to achieving a digital workplace, but many are struggling to find success. A recent IDG Research Services study of senior IT and business leaders, conducted in 2017, examines the approach of manufacturing and energy firms and the obstacles they encounter.

Digital workplace transformation

Despite many manufacturers committing to digitally transforming their workplaces, the budgeting commitment to this is not met with the same enthusiasm. In fact, manufacturing organizations are typically allocating only small portions of their IT budgets toward these initiatives during the next 12 months.

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