Kicking off 2024 with a recap of 2023

As the newest member of the Thought Leadership team, I had so much to learn in 2023 and had a lot of fun doing it. In 2023, I had the privilege of helping cover the automotive and transportation industry as well as the buzzworthy topics of IT/OT convergence and digital transformation. In addition, I spent the past year absorbing information and acquiring an understanding of the different challenges these industries face and the opportunities and trends that are on the horizon.

Drawing from various podcasts between our most experienced industry leads, dozens of blogs and interviews with our experts, here is a brief recap of all the major industry takeaways from 2023.

Intelligence is key: Automotive and transportation industry

To echo my colleague Conor Pieck’s end of year summary, 2023 really pushed the automotive and transportation industry to develop smarter and safer products at a faster pace than ever before. Today’s tech-savvy consumers anticipate automobiles equipped with cutting-edge features such as in-vehicle connectivity, real-time traffic monitoring and driver assistance, thereby escalating the complexities of vehicle design. So, how can manufacturers tackle the challenges of intricate designs? The solution lies in embracing digital tools and harnessing data.

Indeed, 2023 spotlighted digitalization, the digital twin and data as crucial drivers within the automotive landscape. These advancements have the power to expedite the verification and validation processes for new vehicle designs, enabling engineers to meet evolving demands more efficiently. For a deeper dive into the transformative role of digital tools in the automotive and transportation industry, listen to our podcast, “The power of simulation to AV design and development” here.

Having simulation tools that allow you to think bigger and bolder with very little cost and environmental impact helps really breathe that environment for active and outside the box innovation. 

Eryn Devola

Adjacent to soaring consumer expectations, sustainability emerged as a major priority for the automotive industry. New government regulations and increasing consumer awareness have propelled auto manufacturers to ensure their products are produced with the environment in mind.

In a podcast episode, Nand Kochhar, VP of Automotive and Transportation industries and Eryn Devola, Head of Sustainability at Siemens DISW discussed the influence of sustainability on the automotive industry—and these impacts will certainly remain a core focus in 2024 and beyond.

IT/OT convergence

I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of IT/OT convergence—and if there’s one thing I can say about the fusion of IT and OT is that it’s not just a passing trend; it’s a gamechanger for factories. Balancing the age-old tug-of-war between legacy systems and agile IT technologies is essential for future business success.

By weaving cutting-edge IT technology into a reliable, robust OT environment, manufacturers can minimize risk while staying at the forefront of innovation and leading their industries to a more intelligent future. 

Intro to IT/OT convergence: Bright future for factory automation

In today’s volatile business environment, agility, innovation and resilience aren’t just desirable—they’re imperative. Embracing IT and OT convergence connect the top floor to the shop floor, giving factories a holistic view of their operations so they can discover where costs can be saved and areas where improvements can be made. If you want to learn more about IT/OT convergence then this blog is where you should start.

An exciting year ahead

While 2023 has come to an end, the topics of sustainability, digitalization and IT/OT convergence will continue to be core industry topics for years to come. To discover what 2023 brought to other industries, check out these recaps from other writers on the Thought Leadership Team: