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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

Woolworths Group reported Australian Food sales of $53.85 billion for F26, up 4.6 per cent, with segment EBIT of $2,953 million up 8.5 per cent on the prior year. Group sales reached $71.5 billion, up 3.6 per cent, with group EBIT before significant items of $3,105 million, up 12.7 per cent. Net profit after significant items was $1,138 million, up 18.1 per cent. 

Dr Mark Krstic, MD of the Australian Wine Research Institute, will be stepping down from his position at the end of 2026, following seven years of leadership and a total of 15 years of service to the Institute.

Asahi Beverages has switched to recycled material for all of its plastic soft drink bottles in a major sustainability milestone for the company.