Supercharge your Lean Journey with Digitalisation

The apparel manufacturing industry has evolved over time, especially with the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies in recent years. But this evolution was slowed down by the pandemic, when the entire industry came to a standstill, thus exposing the fragility and operational instability of apparel factories, and as a consequence, many in the industry are skeptical of the industry's future.

The technological innovations of the last decade have paved the way for the smart factory vision of manufacturing pioneers through the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. Players in the apparel sector, like other labour-intensive sectors, are now looking for ways to get ahead in the race of productivity, efficiency, and profits leveraging these technologies.

The world witnessed the near-collapse of several industry value chains amidst the pandemic. And the Apparel sector was one of the worst-hit sectors. Analysing this impact on industries worldwide, Mckinsey released a report stating that digital transformation would be critical for businesses to survive now. And, safe to say, every business owner in the apparel sector experienced this escalating need to digitise the apparel value chain as well.

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.” – Steve Jobs.

In case you haven’t heard, the fourth industrial revolution — also known as Industry 4.0 — is well upon us. This significant milestone symbolises a transformation in the way products are manufactured and represents an evolution in the digitisation of manufacturing. Like every defining era before it, a natural curiosity surrounds Industry 4.0 and its impact on the supply chain, production output and stakeholders. Manufacturers are eager to take the plunge and be trailblazers in their respective sectors, but the question is, how?

Digital disruption comes for every industry eventually. Just ask a taxi driver or a hotel owner.

The outburst and the effects of COVID-19 can already be seen in close to 100 countries globally. We thought we’d put together a quick cheat sheet to understand how it has hampered various sectors and how it may affect you, your client and your prospects.

Zilingo was founded in 2015 with the belief that the future of commerce belongs to everyone. By using smart, technology-led solutions to bridge the gap between creators and producers, our aim is to forge a more connected and technology driven supply chain.

In today’s fast paced and competitive environment, digitization is a key differentiator for manufacturers. By transforming the traditional manufacturing process into a Smart Factory is the way ahead. With recurrent everyday issues of factories big or small, automation of production processes can help solve problems in real time.

2020 was one of the worst years in our collective memory due to the rise of the highly contagious Corona virus that led to a breakdown of global systems. Two weeks into 2021, the new vaccines have finally started rolling out in many countries, a cause for relief to many of us.

With factories entering the 4.0 era, the supply chain system undergoes rapid change owing to it’s ever evolving nature. With competition and breakthroughs on a daily basis makes it even more important for companies to keep track of what kind of disruptions to expect across the supply chain. Some of the supply chain trends that will have a massive impact in 2020 include various tools such as AI and block-chain technology that would play a major role in automation of processes, increased efficiency and  transparency across the supply chain through decentralization of data. We will also be seeing more manufacturers move towards the new circular supply chain through adoption of sustainable practices such as green logistics, less factory wastage, re-using raw materials to reduce carbon footprint and sourcing from environmentally responsible partners. By incorporating the latest trends in technology and sustainability across the supply chain processes, manufacturers will be able to offer more in terms of scalability, flexibility and move towards being the leaders in the industry.