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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

Austrade’s latest report highlights the international growth potential for Australian agribusiness and food businesses, with new markets, agreements and partnerships creating opportunities for exporters.

Perfection Fresh has admitted to cartel conduct in supplying vegetables to ALDI and will jointly ask the Federal Court with the ACCC to impose a $12 million penalty. The NSW-based wholesaler is Australia’s second-largest fresh vegetable supplier.

Lark Distilling net sales fell 4.5 per cent to $3.5 million in the September quarter, ending eight consecutive quarters of growth, as export sales stalled while it brings on a new distributor in China.