5 innovations for companies that we will see in 2019

The evolution of the industry has always been based on innovation. The first industrial revolution was based on the steam engine. That is when the true industrial processes of the modern era began. From that industry to the current one, called industry 4.0, innovations for companies have framed the course for change.

Today, we are witnessing a scene in which the digital era frames most changes. The new line of the modern company is aimed at optimising processes and preserving the environment. These two fundamental objectives are sometimes the same: more business but more sustainable, everything in one.

1. The commitment to clean energy

2019 will be remembered as the year of the company's definitive commitment to clean energy.

On one hand, clean energy promotes a considerable savings in business expenses. Why? Because it is more flexible in prices and easier to measure and control than any other type of energy. This allows the company, through digital meters, controllers and sensors, to monitor their consumption and establish the ranges in which their peaks of consumption for production should coincide with the most favourable energy tariffs.

On the other hand, these energies are infinitely less polluting than fossil fuels. They favour the reduction of CO₂ emissions and definitively contribute to improving companies' environmental footprint, their reputation and image.

In this field, innovations are constant. Some are related to improving storage or energy conduction systems. Others are connected to measurement and control systems that, when closely combined with new technologies, allow analysing and optimising processes.

2. Big data and ERP systems

The technologies aimed at big data will experience great progress this year, supported by the definitive implementation of the ERP systems (planning of business resources). These systems allow for an exhaustive control of all processes, their constant analysis and improvement.

Developments like SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and ID Edwurds from Oracle are unstoppable in their evolution toward an open system of infinite cloud solutions for any type of need and activity.

3. Machine learning and artificial intelligence

Closely related to the previous point, Closely related to the previous point is becoming increasingly broader and more clear. The Internet of Things, controllers and sensors capable of collecting thousands of data points and making them into useful information are being imposed on the business scene.

This is combined with analysis tools intended to make automatic decisions by directly improving the processes through what we know as machine learning.

4. Interactivity with the customer

The improvement in relations with customers shifts from promoting interactivity to offering advising, service and support solutions twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

The latest business trends in this field are represented in the proliferation of chatbots, and especially in the appearance of new technologies, spearheaded by the Internet of Things and the connectivity with the clients themselves. This is the case with the Amazon and Google virtual assistants.

On the other hand, beacon technology solves the issue of the geolocation of single devices in indoor spaces, like shopping centres. This allows companies direct communication with the customers close to the establishment through low-consumption bluetooth.

They are all innovations that optimise the effectiveness of marketing and commercial actions.

5. Blockchain

Blockchain is a distributed accounting system that records data, such as transactions, files or information through a network of connected devices. Every participant can see the data and verify it by using an algorithm.

It is a record of purchase and sale transactions, as well as others, where the approved data is inserted in a large ledger as a group of blocks. Later, the data is stored on a chronological chain and secured through cryptography.

The benefits for the company are:

• Faster transaction processes.
• Greater transparency.
• Return on investment in less time.
• Fewer intermediaries.
• Greater security (encrypted data).
• Automation of actions.