Authors: Jeffrey Hojlo, Heather Ashton, Naoko Iwamoto, Sampath Kumar Venkataswamy, Lorenzo Veronesi

Abstract

This IDC study provides IDC's top 10 predictions for manufacturing product and service innovation for 2018.

"It's not data deluge itself that is driving interest in innovation accelerators — it's the common challenges and business drivers that manufacturers face every day: enterprise quality, understanding customer needs, improving productivity, and ensuring a good customer experience. Machine learning, combined with IoT and cognitive analytics, will become a tool for effectively managing these challenges," said Jeff Hojlo, program director, Product Innovation Strategies.

"Manufacturers are actively applying innovative technologies to their service processes and starting to see measurable results. Companies that haven't yet started experimenting with augmented reality, service bots, or blockchain for improved customer engagement will fall behind their peers quickly as this technology continues to evolve rapidly," said Heather Ashton, research manager, Service Innovation and Connected Products Strategies.

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