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Being aware of developments in other industries as they’re happening can help you anticipate new solutions to improve efficiencies and add value in your business. Aside from the Internet of Things (IoT), information-driven manufacturing (iDM), social robots and Internet 5.0, here are three trends manufacturers need to watch:

1. Rapid prototyping + crowdfunding: Together, these two trends allow almost anyone to bring solutions to market quicker than many organisations can develop counter measures. It is the very definition of “disruptive innovation”.

2. Cradle-to-grave traceability: Every recall hitting the headlines reminds manufacturers of the critical need for end-to-end traceability to mitigate the risks to consumers and businesses. Intensifying this need are the proliferating counterfeit markets, worth US$32 billion and causing one million deaths annually. Traceability can counteract this.

3. Beyond the IoT: Blockchain is an emerging technology beginning to play a major part in IoT, especially with its potential to overcome many manufacturers’ concerns around data security. Another IoT evolution is machine learning, which falls under the wider artificial-intelligence umbrella. While adding natural language processing to machine learning gives a whole new opportunity: cognitive learning systems.

Find out more about these trends by reading the full story here and watching this video:

 

Food & Drink Business

A lot of food and beverage brands look strong when they’re small. They have one product, one pack, one clear idea and then they grow. That’s usually when things start to unravel, not all at once, but quickly enough to matter. The Creative Method founder and creative director, Tony Ibbotson, explains why – and growth is not the problem. 

Victorian-based Aquafab has completed a $620,000 Series A raise through Birchal, supported by over 300 investors. The company told Food & Drink Business that the funds will support continued national growth and plans in place to enter the US and UK markets this year.

Rumin8 is accelerating its methane reducing feed additive commercialisation progress in New Zealand, garnering $4.4 million (US$3 million) in investment as the company prepares to enter the final trial process.