For my entire career I’ve watched industry sectors turn to dust, not because of cataclysmic events, but simply by incumbent suppliers being technologically leapfrogged. This phenomenon has, and continues to, reshape global manufacturing sectors, offering late adopters a chance to surpass established players by skipping process steps.
I remember how, during the first wireless telecom boom, how developing countries skipped wired telecom networks and moved directly to mobile communications, creatingfaster, cheaper and more efficient telecom systems. Right now, I’m watching how China is bypassing wide-scale internal combustion engine car production by focusing on electric vehicles to become a global EV leader.
Some desk research highlights how India’s digital payment ecosystem leapfrogged conventional banking infrastructure, enabling widespread cashless transactions. Likewise, in Africa, drone technology is revolutionizing logistics by bypassing traditional transportation infrastructure to reach remote areas.
So, for manufacturers who would rather not be leapfrogged, here are some obvious things to keep an eye on.
• A specialist subject of mine, additive manufacturing could help industries skip large-scale factories and adopt decentralized 3D printing hubs for customized, on-demand production.
• AI-driven automation has the potential to allow adopters to implement fully automated, AI-driven factories without transitioning through earlier industrial automation stages.
• Advanced robotics and cobots are helping reshape labour- intensive industries facing demographic decline.
• An interesting one, biomanufacturing may let countries adopt bio-based production methods, bypassing petroleum-based manufacturing entirely.
Leapfrogging will continue reshaping industries, levelling playing fields and redefining competitive advantages. My advice is to always have eyes in the back of your head.