Manufacturing Insights: How SMBs Are Using Technology
Want to find out what manufacturing technology SMBs are using to improve their business? Check out these manufacturing tech insights to see what you can do.
Blog Post
9 minute read
Feb 17, 2025
Manufacturing has always been an industry directly tied to technology—from production floors that use machines to make other machines to large scale assembly lines full of automation and data analytics that report on inefficiencies. Manufacturing and technology truly go hand-in-hand, and as smart technology continues to advance, its role in production only continues to grow.
Smart technology is popular in manufacturing because of the way it elevates operations, reduces errors, and removes inefficiencies. By improving the processes involved in manufacturing, from production to delivery, smart technology like automation and AI are revolutionizing the industry.
Join us below to further explore the role of smart technology in manufacturing and the benefits that stem from implementing new-aged technologies into operations.
Benefits of Adopting Advanced Technology in Manufacturing
Before looking at these technologies individually, though, let’s go over some of the benefits that smart manufacturing technology brings to operations when implemented effectively.
Increased Productivity: Overall production increased throughout processes due to the automation of more mundane tasks that free up the human workforce to focus on things that provide more value and require more intense thought and creativity. By streamlining processes with better technology, you can empower your workers to complete more meaningful tasks instead of having to spend time on things that act only as busywork.
Better Customer Service: Smart technology in manufacturing gives customers more access and visibility into the organizational processes with order tracking, customer communication, and improved customer service.
Reduced Errors: Removing the human element from data collection and analysis means fewer errors in areas like stock tracking, shipments, and supply purchases.
Better Reporting: Similarly, automating data collection and analysis gives you more access to cleaner data that provides for quicker, more accurate reporting.
1. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
The Internet of Things is one of the biggest buzzwords in the industry, but have you heard of the Industrial Internet of Things? Let’s take a look.
The IIoT has several uses in the manufacturing sector and is more of an exercise in common sense than it is of the frivolous implementation of technology in manufacturing. Essentially, the Industrial Internet of Things is the backbone of smart manufacturing, connecting industrial machines, sensors, and software to create a network of intelligent, data-driven operations.
Unlike consumer IoT, which powers smart homes and wearable tech, IIoT focuses on heavy industries like manufacturing, energy, and logistics. It integrates live data collection, cloud computing, and automation to enhance efficiency, reduce downtime, and optimize production lines.
In manufacturing, IIoT plays a critical role in predictive maintenance, quality control, and process optimization. Sensors embedded in machinery continuously monitor performance, detecting early signs of wear or failure before breakdowns occur. This minimizes costly downtime and extends equipment lifespan.
Advanced analytics also refine production by identifying inefficiencies, automating adjustments, and ensuring products meet strict quality standards.
Beyond the factory floor, IIoT fosters supply chain transparency and energy efficiency. Precision tracking of materials and shipments enhances logistics, which prevents bottlenecks and improves inventory management. Meanwhile, smart energy monitoring reduces waste by optimizing power consumption.
Ultimately, IIoT transforms manufacturing into a more responsive, cost-effective, and sustainable industry—driven by data and powered by connectivity.
2. Big Data & Analytics
Data in manufacturing doesn’t end at IIoT implementation, either. The role of big data and analytics has had an enormous effect on the ways manufacturers conduct their businesses, particularly with regard to supply chain management.
Because of the vast proliferation of data over just the last two years, businesses find themselves sitting on a mountain of valuable information that often goes unused by organizations that don’t have the right technology.
This is why enterprise resource planning (ERP), which can help provide you with actionable insights, is vital. Businesses can analyze their data in order to find insights and determine their supply chain needs, discover potential disruptions, and prevent common issues like overstocking or overproducing.
At the end of the day, more advanced data allows you to cut waste and prepare for inevitable supply chain disruptions within your organization.
3. The Cloud
Cloud technology is revolutionizing manufacturing, offering a scalable, data-driven foundation for smarter, more efficient operations. By shifting data storage, computing power, and software to the cloud, manufacturers gain access to critical information without delay, breaking down silos between production lines, supply chains, and business management.
This connectivity enables seamless collaboration across multiple locations, ensuring factories, warehouses, and corporate offices stay aligned and agile in decision-making.
Beyond efficiency, the cloud enhances flexibility and scalability. Manufacturers can rapidly adjust to demand fluctuations by integrating cloud-based ERP and MES (manufacturing execution systems). This allows businesses to scale production up or down without costly infrastructure overhauls.
Additionally, cloud-powered cybersecurity measures protect sensitive industrial data, using encryption and real-time threat detection to safeguard against cyberattacks.
Ultimately, cloud technology is transforming manufacturing into a more agile, cost-effective, and resilient industry. By centralizing data, automating decision-making, and enabling stronger collaboration, the cloud empowers manufacturers to stay competitive.
4. Automation & AI
Artificial intelligence might be the single hottest topic there is right now and understandably. AI went from a low use-case pipe dream, playing a little role here or there in operations, to having one of the most profound impacts in the technology and business spaces since the invention of the wheel.
In manufacturing, these technologies are transforming traditional production lines into intelligent, self-optimizing systems. Automation—through robotics, conveyor systems, and computer-controlled machinery—eliminates repetitive manual tasks, increasing efficiency, precision, and output.
Meanwhile, AI-driven analytics and decision-making take automation to the next level, enabling machines to adapt, learn, and optimize operations.
In smart factories, AI-driven robots work alongside human employees, handling complex assembly tasks with speed and precision while humans focus on higher-level problem-solving and innovation.
By seamlessly integrating automation and AI, manufacturing is becoming faster, smarter, and more adaptable. Companies can reduce costs, improve product quality, and respond more swiftly to changing market demands—all while enhancing workplace safety and efficiency. The result is a manufacturing landscape that is not only more productive but also more resilient in the face of global challenges.
5. Low Code Apps
Low code applications are accelerating the digital transformation of smart manufacturing, enabling businesses to build and deploy software solutions with minimal coding expertise. Traditionally, manufacturers relied on complex, custom-built software to manage operations, which required extensive development time and technical resources.
Low code platforms simplify this process, allowing engineers, operators, and managers to create tailored applications using visual drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates.
One of the most significant advantages of low-code in manufacturing is process optimization. Manufacturers can quickly develop applications to track machine performance, automate workflows, and analyze production data—without waiting for IT teams to build custom software.
This agility enables faster decision-making, allowing factories to respond to equipment failures, production delays, or supply chain disruptions right away.
Ultimately, low code technology makes smart manufacturing more accessible, adaptable, and efficient. By reducing reliance on traditional software development, manufacturers can rapidly innovate, scale operations, and improve overall productivity—driving a new era of digital-first, data-driven manufacturing.
A Few Final Words on Smart Manufacturing
As manufacturing continues to evolve, the integration of smart technology is no longer just an advantage—it’s a necessity. From AI-driven automation optimizing production lines to low-code applications enabling flexibility and adaptability, these innovations are reshaping the industry.
The ability to reduce inefficiencies, enhance precision, and improve decision-making is what makes smart technology an essential driver of modern manufacturing.
By embracing these advancements, manufacturers can unlock new levels of efficiency, agility, and sustainability. As the landscape shifts toward a more connected and intelligent future, the role of smart technology will only continue to expand. Stay ahead of the curve by exploring how these innovations can transform operations and drive success in the ever-evolving world of manufacturing.
