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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

French food and beverage giant Danone has acquired the UK-based meal replacement and functional nutrition brand, Huel, in a deal reported to be worth approximately €1 billion (AUD$1.2 billion).

The class action against Woolworths Group over the underpayment of salaried store managers has been extended in scope, with the claim period now running through to September 2020 following a Federal Court hearing on 20 March.

Melbourne-based independent brewery, Stomping Ground Brewing Co., has completed a $1.5 million crowd-sourced funding campaign through OnMarket, supported by more than 640 investors. The company is preparing to scale up, as it celebrates a decade of beer.