In order to navigate challenges and take advantage of opportunities brought forth by the industry, equipment manufacturers must develop a deep understanding of these trends and how they will evolve over time. More importantly, players in the industry must be able to evaluate their potential impact on the industry and the customers that they serve. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at the five key trends that are poised to impact equipment manufacturers the most this year:
The Evolving Manufacturing Workforce
The equipment manufacturing industry continues to struggle with a significant skills gap. Many experienced workers are retiring, and there is a shortage of younger workers with the necessary technical skills for the job. This requires a focus on upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce, as well as pushing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation forward. AI and automation can significantly offset the diminishing and less experienced workforce in manufacturing by taking over repetitive, hazardous, and time-consuming tasks. This allows human workers to focus on more complex and strategic activities that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Companies must also invest in continuous learning opportunities and partnerships with educational institutions to bridge the skills gap and prepare the workforce for the evolving technological landscape. The integration of AI and automation is transforming job roles and creating new opportunities within the industry. While some traditional roles may become obsolete, new positions requiring advanced technical skills will continue to emerge.
Agriculture's Focus on Interoperability
When looking at the agricultural landscape over the course of 2025, there are a number of things that will continue to impact the way agricultural equipment manufacturers operate. Things like commodity prices, tariffs, and regulation are certainly all very important topics – but one topic that may not come to mind, although it should, is interoperability. Today’s equipment customers are used to a certain level of interoperability due to the connected world that we live in today. These expectations are no different for their operations; farmers and contractors alike expect a certain level of seamlessness, from machine-to-machine connection to data-to-data platform connection. As machines and operations become increasingly interconnected and diversified, it is important that these connections, whether digital or physical, happen seamlessly. Fortunately, this is an area where our industry is already doing a great deal of work. From the physical side with ISOBUS, or High-Speed ISOBUS, to the digital side through projects like AgIN or Mic 4.0, the industry is working through both sectors to make integration of new pieces of equipment and data sources easier than ever. With farmers and contractors continuing to diversify their equipment lines, and the need for data rising to continue to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s equipment customers, the need for interoperability of these various platforms is only going to increase in the future.
Pour lire l'article complet : 5 Equipment Manufacturing Industry Trends to Watch in 2025 - AEM | Association of Equipment Manufacturers
