Automation Expo Connect – Taking the Show to the Audience
Published on : Wednesday 11-08-2021
Instead of visitors travelling to the show, Automation Expo Connect brings the event to its target audience in the safety of their offices and homes.
This is the digital era. From securing the seat of choice on long flight to pre-booking a meal of choice, everything is now accomplished digitally. When Covid-19 suddenly crippled most business activities, those who were already digitally transformed could absorb the impact without any serious disruption. On the other hand, companies that were still following the conventional methods had serious problems in keeping the operations running. Votaries of digital transformation were quick to point out how Covid-19 actually helped many companies make the decision to embark on the digital transformation journey.
The writing on the digital wall was there long before the pandemic, which only convinced the fence sitters about the inevitability of it. The future is digital. The services sector, the BFSI segment in particular, is digitalised to a great extent today and could ride the lockdown with relative ease. For industry, increasing productivity and competitiveness requirements make digitalisation inevitable. This shift has also accelerated the need for updated systems, including increased cybersecurity efforts and stronger, more sustainable networks. With every passing day, organisations are continuing their individual journeys aimed at bridging the gap between their pre Covid-19 plans and strategies and the unpredictable post-pandemic industry.
Technology is evolving at a pace faster than once can explain the change. In this scenario, those who hesitate to participate in digital transformation will be left behind. Businesses need to increase productivity and decrease the operation costs to sustain in a rapidly changing environment. All organisations need to understand that automation has its advantages in terms of operational agile. Automation proves to be a suitable solution to this challenge. Automation has helped companies to increase productivity and simplify workload, responsibilities and tasks. Traditionally, exhibitions and conferences have served as important industry forums to introduce latest products and technologies and disseminate information to user industries. The long drawn lockout and safety protocols have temporarily forced the cancellation of all such events. But technology has once again shown the way in the form of an alternative.
Automation Expo Connect
If visitors cannot attend physical events, the solution is to bring the events to them in the safety of their offices and homes – in virtual format. Since the Covid protocols rule out the hosting of a physical event, IED Communications has announced South East Asia's first Virtual Automation Expo, “Automation Expo Connect”, to be held from 22nd to 25th September 2021.
“The Virtual Edition, Automation Expo Connect will provide the biggest Automation platform for manufacturing and process automation enterprises a wide range of solutions from the entire global manufacturing fraternity on a common platform for knowledge sharing and business transactions over four days,” said Dr M Arokiaswamy, Managing Director, IED Communications and the visionary founder of this iconic event.
“With the rapid evolution of Automation technologies in the IIoT era, and global concerns over environmental degradation, the demand for technology solutions is growing with each passing day. Automation is key ingredient for sustainable development with effective solutions for energy efficiency, improved productivity and optimised use of precious resources. Digital technologies are thus helping individuals, organisations and nations achieve sustainable development goals. Automation for a better tomorrow is the goal,” he added.
Automation Expo Connect is organised in 2 broad sections – Factory Automation and Process Automation – making it convenient for visitors to concentrate on their area of focus. For those enterprises straddling these two divisions, navigation back and forth is easy and hassle free, at the click of the mouse.
Experts show the way
The convergence of information technology and operations technology (IT/OT convergence) is progressing rapidly as manufacturers realise it is key for successful digital transformation. Connectivity and/or convergence between OT and IT is essential for businesses to compete with the increasing demand for tighter integration and more information that leverages Industrial IoT, Industry 4.0, 5G, cloud, edge, additive manufacturing, advanced analytics, digital twin, AI, AR/VR, AI, ML and other emerging technologies.
Remote operations require appropriate enabling technology for a connected and remote workforce, facilitate collaboration and reduce paperwork, provide secured access to information from anyone, anywhere, and support interactions with remote experts. Edge computing platforms and applications continue to grow rapidly, but these often require support from corporate IT personnel with specialised skills to install, program, operate and support them. Cloud computing provides more flexibility and agility to deal with present and future economic and business uncertainties. It has become a business imperative.
5G means that services relying on advanced technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality as well as cloud-based gaming platforms. Complex machine learning applications relying on real-time access to Big Data sources can be conducted in the field, via automation. Convergence between power and automation also provides an integrated, digitalised approach that increases interoperability and flexibility, reduces capex and opex expenditures, increases production efficiencies, decreases unscheduled downtime and improves overall profitability.
The organisers have formed a panel of experts to elaborate upon all these technologies and the emerging trends that will impact the industry in the years to come. Each virtual conference will be followed by an interactive Q&A session to address specific issues arising out of the conference talks.
Carrying forward the legacy
Automation Expo Connect thus continues the two decades of rich legacy of the Automation Expo Series of events organised by IED Communications since 2002. The world will now have to live with Covid, now that the danger is still not abated as shown by successive waves of different strains of the virus. But the human spirit has always triumphed over such adversities and not only survived but flourished. The big tech companies – Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet – have just had a record breaking quarter, indicating the potential of digital technologies. Amidst this scenario, Automation Expo Connect aims to recreate the magic of the show in the virtual format, even though not physically present but experiencing all the interaction live.
In times of this unprecedented pandemic, Automation Expo Connect seeks to offer an effective alternative to showcase progress and cooperation after a period of major upheaval. Join the 4-day automation technology fair and have interaction with the experts, exhibits and stay ahead of the pack, from the comfort of your home or office, or the home office, or anywhere, for that matter.