Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry

Adopting Exponential IT is critical for business growth and sustainability.

Analyst perspective

Enable value creation through Exponential IT.

In an era where the digital and physical realms are increasingly intertwined, the adoption of advanced, exponential technologies is no longer a luxury but a necessity for survival and competitive success.

The manufacturing sector stands at a crossroads. Industry 5.0 has begun to usher in a profound paradigm shift that challenges traditional manufacturing philosophies. The integration of technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and advanced robotics enable a level of precision, efficiency, and customization previously unimaginable.

The role of IT in this transformation is nothing short of critical. Advanced IT maturity will be essential in the effort to integrate new technologies into existing manufacturing ecosystems and enable seamless connectivity, data integrity, and system security.

While Food & Beverage manufacturers have seen improvements in throughput over the last couple of years, a majority of them are also seeing their profits decline because of increasing material costs per product. Executives from the industry believe that smart factory solutions will drive exponential benefits over the coming years. CIOs are beginning to take center stage in navigating these complexities effectively and steering their organizations toward a future that is more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. This is why it is crucial for CIOs to understand the working priorities that underpin the use of Exponential IT and use these concepts to their advantage.

Shreyas Shukla

Principal Research Director, Manufacturing Practice
Info-Tech Research Group

Executive summary

Info-Tech Insight

The food & beverage manufacturing industry is facing unique challenges, from technological adoption and workforce adaptation to ethical considerations and sustainability goals. Understanding the barriers and embracing the opportunities presented by exponential technologies will allow manufacturers to optimize their operations and drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.

Info-Tech Research Group: EXPONENTIAL IT

What is Exponential IT?

Exponential IT is a framework defined by Info-Tech Research Group.

The technology curve has recently bent exponentially.

Generative AI has been the catalyst for this sudden shift, but there are more and more new technologies emerging (e.g. quantum computing, 5G), putting significant pressure on all organizations.

Speed is now imperative. All IT leaders and organizations are at risk of falling behind if they do not adopt new technologies fast enough.

Our framework instructs all IT leaders on how to transform their organization and elevate their value-creation capabilities, to close the gap between the exponential progression of technological change and the linear progression of IT’s ability to successfully manage that change.

This research provides IT leaders with industry-specific priorities for Exponential IT and how to begin an effective Exponential IT transformation, resulting in value creation.