In contrast to disinfectants and diagnostic reagents manufacturers, which have seen significant growth, automotive, refining, and construction end industries have seen significant declines. Regardless of whether a company is preparing for a sudden surge in demand or is just trying to hang on, both results have caused considerable disruption, including investments in maintenance and services such as industrial painting and many more. In only a year, so much has changed. There is no longer any use relying on tried and true methods. The epidemic uncovered flaws in the industry and spurred efforts to remedy them. Digital transformation proved to be a lifeline for companies as they ventured into new terrain. One of the five major trends that will influence the chemical industry in 2021 is digital, which will continue to hurry across all sectors.
Reasons to believe that 2021 will be different from the other years
The chemical sector has to concentrate on these five areas, which will be important in 2021 and beyond, even if last year’s problems haven’t been fully overcome.
An Increase in the Use of Digital Media
Everyone became acutely aware of the critical role played by technology as a result of the outbreak. Because of the crisis’s extraordinary scope and pace, technological investments have seen a massive uptick. This past pandemic year was an exception to the rule of seeing a rise in digital transformation in GDP statistics.
While few companies would have anticipated a catastrophe of the magnitude of COVID-19, digital pioneers were much more prepared than their counterparts. However, most importantly, they had put more robust infrastructure to cope with the sudden shift to remote labor and remote operating activities.
Adapting structures and processes — linking the front, middle, and back offices — will be the digital emphasis in 2021—this aids in the availability of all necessary information for making decisions, planning, and assisting. Emerging technologies like robotic automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing will undoubtedly be more critical for a related business. As a result of these expenditures, the company expects to see increased revenue and efficiency and improved customer service.
It is imperative that the chemical sector, which has lagged behind many others in adopting linked enterprise practices, learn from industries like media, telecom, and technology.
Plan of Action
- Acquaint yourself with every product and choice you have—a digital improvement does not need an ERM “big bang” update.
- Use technology in all areas of the business, from the front desk to the back office. Set your sights higher than bots in shared service centers or predictive maintenance alone. You can use digital technologies to enhance the employee experience or consumer analytics to increase revenue and profits if you’re a company.
- Link to return on investment: use digital investment measures based on the chemical industry’s critical indicators for product profitability.
More Diversity in the Ranks of the Executive
Despite recent improvements, however, the percentage of women and minorities in chemical leadership positions remains persistently low. Because most leaders have chemical engineering degrees and similar work experience, they tend to think in silos. This can lead to a lack of variety of viewpoints, which can be detrimental to an organization.
In the present dynamic climate, more diversity is required to offer new views and ideas to provide better agility in reaction to further problems. Diversity increases creativity, helps retain and attract top personnel, and strengthens customer relationships with a more ethnically and culturally varied clientele.
There must be an equal representation of all people in the organization. When it comes to competing for diverse and digitally savvy people, chemical firms that succeed will be those that can do so across various sectors.
The following actions should be taken:
- Set high standards for diversity in the workplace, and hold executives accountable for achieving them via their pay.
- Set up a mentoring program to promote equality at all company levels by putting money into training new executives.
- Recruit from places other than the usual sources, such as non-traditional colleges and majors, and industries with a significant internet presence.
Several long-held ideas were challenged by COVID-19, which also shook up value chains and spurred governments to take action, and upended several consumer habits. As time went on, companies and governments understandably concentrated on safeguarding people and figuring out how to recover from significant health, economic and social shock. If the chemicals and performance technologies sector is to recover from the most disruptive year in recent memory, its work will be cut out for it.
Fortunately, a clear way forward has been identified. The trends listed above will help your business stay on top of new possibilities and make the world a better place by quickly evaluating and responding to them.
