Door Industry Journal - Spring 2020

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal spring 2020 Industry News 8 As Steve Hudson, MD of JD (UK) and Alutech Systems explains: “It’s really important that as a business you establish a number of channels through which you are exposed to new innovations. Some will help you to do what you’re already doing but that little bit more efficiently, while others will change the rules of the game entirely. In this article we’ll begin with some of the technologies you should already be leveraging before moving onto a couple that are just creeping onto the horizon and will represent a huge competitive advantage for those that move quickly.” 1. Cloud computing Cloud computing has been a key driver in the democratisation of the web, with small businesses now being able to tap into technology that was previously reserved for huge corporations. Cloud computing gives companies the ability to store and access data and tools via the web rather than having them stored directly on your computer. The three main providers are Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, so whether it’s building apps, storing data, managing your emails, hosting your website, sharing spreadsheets and slide decks, it’s all possible via the cloud by using one of these digital giants. The costs are remarkably affordable for small businesses. In fact, a firm of ten to twenty people, for example, will probably find that they can get everything they need for less than £100 a month. 2. Manufacturing Automation In the fabrication industry, for example, a great deal of the innovation is concerned with the physical process of manufacturing, whether it’s in finding better ways to use existing tools, or in discovering new tools entirely. Perhaps the biggest shift in recent years has been the trend towards physical automation, which is not only transforming productivity levels but also, in many cases, improving the quality of the end product. Computer Numerically Controlled 4 Ways for Firms to Reduce Costs via Technology While technology may not be the solution to every challenge, there’s no question that those companies with a finger on the technology pulse will be at a significant advantage in the years ahead.